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Job outlook for senior statistical analysts in the United States
Are senior statistical analyst jobs in demand?
Senior statistical analyst job and salary trends over time
Senior statistical analyst jobs over time
Senior statistical analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,112 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,004 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,970 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,853 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,732 | 0.00% |
Average senior statistical analyst salary over time
Senior statistical analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $80,632 | $38.77 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $78,157 | $37.58 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $77,336 | $37.18 | --0.2% |
| 2023 | $77,471 | $37.25 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $76,650 | $36.85 | +0.7% |
Senior statistical analyst jobs by state
Most common states for senior statistical analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 203 | 29% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 678 | 8% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 507 | 8% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 502 | 7% |
| 5 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 639 | 5% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 307 | 5% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 50 | 5% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 36 | 5% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 865 | 4% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 416 | 4% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 402 | 4% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 329 | 4% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 276 | 4% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 235 | 4% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 167 | 4% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 133 | 4% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 62 | 4% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 53 | 4% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 41 | 4% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 37 | 4% |
Most common cities for senior statistical analysts
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Chicago | 1 | 3% | $79,731 |
| 2 | McLean | 1 | 2% | $84,719 |
| 3 | Alexandria | 1 | 1% | $84,740 |
| 4 | Palo Alto | 1 | 1% | $103,306 |
| 5 | Santa Monica | 1 | 1% | $93,079 |
| 6 | Silver Spring | 1 | 1% | $90,973 |
| 7 | Houston | 2 | 0% | $80,854 |
| 8 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $91,701 |
| 9 | Seattle | 1 | 0% | $105,195 |
Senior Statistical Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior statistical analyst experts
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Middlebury College
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Coastal Carolina University
Adelphi University
Humboldt State University
University of Mary Washington
Menlo College
Pennsylvania State University
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
Ohio State University
Missouri State University
Pomona College
Hope College
Quinnipiac University
Orfalea College of Business
What general advice would you give to a Senior Statistical Analyst?
John Lyden: Research skills (ability to find and interpret information), oral and written communication skills (ability to present information clearly), data analysis and interpretation, language interpretation and translation. Computer facility will be highly valued. Employers will include those in higher education, government, non-profits, research institutes, and museums.
What Senior Statistical Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John Lyden: You should realize that your degree can lead to many careers, and that you can even change your career direction easily. Your degree has given you important skills in communication, critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving. Employers will see that you are good at adapting to new tasks and learning new skills that go well beyond the content you have studied.
What Senior Statistical Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jeffrey Knopf: Getting your foot in the door is still the most important first step. For example, if you can get a government job, even if it's not your preferred position, it becomes easier to learn about other openings and to move lateral to something better. Doing a good job also helps. If you prove your worth to employers, they will want to keep you and promote you, or your bosses may want to bring you with them if they move elsewhere. Finally, it is good to have specific skills or training you can highlight. These might include being fluent in other languages or having data analytics skills, among others.
Giovanna Percontino
Communication Career Coach, M.Ed.What Senior Statistical Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Giovanna Percontino: The soft skills are really important now: Communication, Adaptability, Reliability, Leadership, Writing, Rigor
Bertrand Clarke Ph.D.
Professor and ChairUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln
Department Of Statistics
What skills stand out on Senior Statistical Analyst resumes?
Bertrand Clarke Ph.D.: Working with real data sets. Knowledge of fundamental techniques and how to adapt them to a new setting. Ability to learn and implement new techniques quickly. Creativity to invent new techniques when\ there is no existing technique you can modify for your purposes -- and how to validate them.
What soft skills should all Senior Statistical Analysts possess?
Bertrand Clarke Ph.D.: Ability to communicate results to the people who want the answers. Ability to outline the method you used and why you used it. Ability to work in a group that has diverse backgrounds. Less tangible, the sixth sense stats people have for how far to push an analysis, e.g., not overuse the data, not make assumptions you can't justify.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Statistical Analysts?
Bertrand Clarke Ph.D.: Linear models and their follow-on techniques -- generalized linear models, mixed models. Familiarity with nonlinear methods, including classification. Basic nonparametric techniques like PCA, clustering, etc.
Expertise in programming in various languages (R, Python, SAS, etc.)
Expertise in working with various data structures and software.
There are specialized areas as well -- time series, spatial statistics, etc. But they often rely on the methods in the first paragraph.
What skills will help Senior Statistical Analysts earn the most?
Bertrand Clarke Ph.D.: Statistical modeling -- especially predictive modeling these days --and statistical computing to implement advanced methods.
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Finance and EconomicsCoastal Carolina University
Finance and Economics Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Statistical Analysts?
Sourav Batabyal Ph.D.: In the U.S., the first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported on January 22, 2020. Since then, this pandemic has forced us to shut down many businesses and paused many economic activities. Social distancing requirements imposed to fight the epidemic have crushed many industries including airlines, leisure & hospitality, bars & restaurants, Broadway & entertainment, etc. Unemployment peaked at 14.7% in April and then eventually fell to 7.9% in September. The colleges and universities across the country have canceled in-person classes and switched to online instruction to control coronavirus spread. On June 8, NBER announced that the U.S. economy was in recession since February. This recession is different than any other recent economic downturn. It's pegged to the global health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress with bipartisan support and signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. It was an over $2 trillion economic relief package that provided direct financial assistance to American workers, families, and small businesses, and preserved jobs for American industries. The Federal Reserve lowered the target range for the federal funds rate from 0 to 1/4 percent. Interest rates near zero will likely stay in place for years, as the Federal Reserve seeks to restructure the economy characterized by low inflation and a lockdown-affected labor market. The major economies are experiencing sharp economic contractions, as evidenced by falling real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale, retail sales.
In Fall 2020, many colleges and universities announced their plans for a phased return to face-to-face (F2F) instruction. At Coastal Carolina University (CCU), we are in Phase 1 of the Coastal Comeback plan. Every one of us needs to follow the standards and guidelines for the soft comeback to F2F instruction. These standards are: wearing masks, physical and social distancing, avoid public gathering, sanitation and disinfection, personal protective equipment, health screening and monitoring, and COVID-19 testing and infection containment.
Recent graduates may find it more challenging than standard times to find their first job in a recession-hit economy. Those students who already finished an internship or have prior job experience may find it easier to be absorbed in this labor market. If they don't find the suitable jobs they are looking for, we can see a rise in graduate school enrollments in the coming semesters. The recovery process will be slower if Congress and the White House delay the second round of fiscal stimulus. It will take a long time for output to go back to the full employment level, but hiring will take momentum, once we have the vaccine and therapeutics available for everyone. The coronavirus pandemic will remain in our memories and represent not just a global health crisis, but also a cautionary tale of how society is ready to overcome such adversity in the future. Students need to be resilient, stay informed, keep faith in what they are doing; then a whole new world of opportunities will open up for them, once the pandemic is over.
Hanna Kim Ph.D.
Associate Professor, ChairAdelphi University
Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences
What skills stand out on Senior Statistical Analyst resumes?
Hanna Kim Ph.D.: Considering the undergraduate anthropology curriculum, many colleges and universities try to cover at least 2-3 of the 4 major subfields of Anthropology in their curriculum.
I say "try to" as the reality is that having faculty in all 4 subfields is not possible for many reasons. (The 4 subfields are cultural anthropology, archeology, biological anthropology (sometimes physical anthropology), and anthropological linguistics. These subfields are mirrored in graduate school where students going for PhDs will be focused on 1 subfield.)
For undergraduates with an anthropology degree seeking employment, I can speak only from the faculty side, not the employer side. My students report these factors as relevant to their being hired (and accepted into competitive schools in museum studies, social work, law school, etc.:
Analytical skills; clear writing; ability to synthesize large amounts of reading and data into well-supported arguments and interpretations; open-mindedness toward different identities and ways of being.
A hugely important skill that anthropology graduates have is the ability to be presented with a complex situation or problem, and to be able to chart a plan on how to approach the problem, gather data and other necessary information to solve the problem, and then to come up with a solution or possible strategies. Too often, particularly in situations involving human behavior, what is needed is a stronger grasp of social and cultural factors that could impede the desired outcome. Students of anthropology know that ways of doing things, and even seeing and thinking, are profoundly influenced by categories of thought that are culturally situated. This means that problem solving has to consider a network of variables that have an impact on behavior. Anthropology students, I would argue, would embrace this complexity rather than be hesitant to acknowledge it in favor of a more expedient and, in the long run, less successful solution.
What soft skills should all Senior Statistical Analysts possess?
Dr. Anne Paulet Ph.D.: In terms of soft skills, those probably won't change much, they will simply be practiced differently. Being flexible is important since jobs may switch between home and office and since one may be dealing with someone else working from home and the challenges that can present-what cat owner hasn't had their cat walk in front of the camera or step on the wrong computer key? The ability to work in groups will continue to have importance as well as the ability to manage your own time and meet deadlines. At the same time, the nature of computer camera interaction means that people will have to learn to "read" others differently than they would in an in-person environment. Many recent articles have talked about how it is harder to read facial cues or detect emotional responses on the computer. Again, those presently taking synchronous classes have the opportunity to practice these skills--providing students turn on their cameras rather than relying only on audio. If the past year has demonstrated anything, it is that people need to be more culturally aware and sensitive and also be able to work with people of diverse backgrounds. History classes are a great way for students to better understand what others have gone through and how that might impact interaction today. Additionally, history classes-as well as college in general-should provide students with the skills to help create the kind of changes in institutions and companies that need to be made to make them more inclusive. Perhaps the greatest skill college students have is the ability to learn. I never intended to teach online, yet here I am doing just that. It required learning new ways to approach teaching, reconsideration of the ways students learned in the new environment, and figuring out new online programs to make all this happen. I was forced to do this as a result of the pandemic but most students will find that this sort of adjustment-whether foreseen or not-will be a regular part of their career path. The ability to learn these new skills, to apply new methods and to approach issues in new and innovative ways will help them stand out when it comes to looking for a job.
Dr. Jackie Gallagher
Associate Professor, ChairUniversity of Mary Washington
Department of Geography
What skills stand out on Senior Statistical Analyst resumes?
Dr. Jackie Gallagher: Students need to be able to communicate well, in writing and by speaking - I think these are the most important skills for anyone. It can be hard to demonstrate on a resume, so a portfolio or web page is incredibly useful! Beyond that, the ability to find good, reliable, information, to be able to do research, to think critically, and to assess information critically. Again, these are hard to demonstrate on a resume, but individual research, internships, presentations at a conference, these are the ways that a student might really stand out.
GIS skills are incredibly valuable for geography majors, but are not absolutely essential. One or two classes in GIS are useful; our undergraduate certificate, especially if it includes Python programming language, is very valuable.
Hard skills like word processing, use of spreadsheets, production of slide shows and posters, and creation of web pages round out my list!
What Senior Statistical Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Shalini Gopalkrishnan: If you are taking a gap year, please decide the purpose. Be very clear about it. Is it for being on campus? Is it to get into a better college next year? Decide what are you going to do that year. Most students want to travel, but it is not possible now. Maybe work on a wild idea you have had and didn't have time for; start a business. If not, take courses. Go to Coursera, Udacity, Edx, or any others, and get an employment-oriented certificate now. Areas such as project management, data science, human resources, and supply chain management are needed now.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Statistical Analyst?
Shalini Gopalkrishnan: Reskilling and upskilling rather than four year degrees. Already Google, Amazon, IBM, and other firms have removed the bachelor's degree requirement. Please be agile, keep an open mind, and learn new things. You will always be a student as the pace of change is rapid. Get into a growth mindset now.
Stephen A. Matthews Ph.D.
Liberal Arts Professor of Sociology, Anthropology, Demography and Geography Director, Graduate Program in Demography Faculty Director, Graduate Programs in Applied Demography Editor, Spatial Demography Associate Editor, Mathematical Population StudiesPennsylvania State University
Department of Socilogy na Criminology
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Statistical Analysts to find work opportunities?
Stephen A. Matthews Ph.D.: Anywhere and everywhere - academia, government (local to national), NGOs, INGOs, private sector, and applied research - in the US and overseas!
What general advice would you give to a Senior Statistical Analyst?
Cheryl Dorsey: Overall, for a new graduate starting their career, I would suggest that you be flexible and try to learn as much as possible to develop additional skills. This will make you more marketable in the future.
Trey Billing Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Research FellowOhio State University
Mershon Center for International Security Studies
What experience really stands out on Senior Statistical Analyst resumes?
Trey Billing Ph.D.: An experience beyond the classroom is significant, though the relevant experience varies widely, depending on the position. For example, for a job related to human security, an internship abroad within a conflict-affected state would stand out.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Statistical Analysts in the next 5 years?
Trey Billing Ph.D.: Technological progress in recent years has dramatically increased the availability of data across the board. While STEM fields have the technical skills to work with this data, STEM graduates often lack the contextual, theoretical, and ethical training standard in social science programs. Therefore, I envision a growing demand for international relations graduates with skills usually associated with STEM programs (e.g., statistics, programming) that are also well-versed in classic social-scientific issues.
Dr. Gabriel Ondetti Ph.D.
Professor, Director, Master of Global Studies programMissouri State University
Department of Political Science
What experience really stands out on Senior Statistical Analyst resumes?
Dr. Gabriel Ondetti Ph.D.: The two things that I would say stand out are a) internships, work experience, or special skills (e.g., foreign language or statistical analysis) relevant to the job that the person is seeking; and b) signs of superior achievement like significant awards, competitive scholarships, or a high GPA in a challenging major.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Statistical Analysts in the next 5 years?
Dr. Gabriel Ondetti Ph.D.: It's tough to answer that, in part because political science is not a profession like business, law, or nursing. Our students go on to all sorts of jobs, and graduate programs and technology impacts them differently. Also, "technology" is an extensive category.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Statistical Analysts to find work opportunities?
Lise Abrams Ph.D.: Some of our students have gone on to technology-related jobs at Microsoft and Google, research jobs at corporations such as RAND, and teaching positions like Teach for America, to give a few examples. A liberal arts foundation truly helps to prepare students for a variety of careers.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Statistical Analysts in the next 5 years?
Lise Abrams Ph.D.: I suppose if I knew that, I could make a lot of money. The technology to research cognition has continually evolved in the past 50 years. We have computers whose "artificial intelligence" can be used to simulate complex human emotions. We have brain imaging machines that can answer difficult questions, such as whether patients in a vegetative state have consciousness. Whatever the next five years bring specifically, graduates need to stay on top of the ever-changing hardware and software to help scientists understand the human mind.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Senior Statistical Analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Todd Steen: In the next three to five years, data analysis and the ability to use economic reasoning, will be more critical than ever. Graduates should be familiar with economics models and should be able to use software packages that analyze data.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Senior Statistical Analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Christopher Ball Ph.D.: Economics is at the cutting edge of data science and, also, cognitive psychology or "behavioral economics." All of the artificial intelligence and network sciences are booming in our field. So any technology supporting that area will grow in importance for economists. Most students in economics today learn necessary coding in R - an open-source programming language used in statistical analysis - and slowly in Python as well, which is broader than R. Again, all the areas feeding the use of those technologies are only growing in importance for us. Finally, because all techs generate lots of data, and data continues to grow in availability, data management, and understanding both the potential and the limits of big data, will become more critical.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Senior Statistical Analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Eduardo Zambrano: Machine learning, without a doubt. Machine learning is a compelling set of tools for classification and prediction. That does not describe the future - it represents the present. What the future will bring is integration between statistical learning and econometrics. This integration will vastly improve the ability of organizations to use their data to make the right decisions. Technology companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Uber have already started profiting from this integration. In the next 3-5 years, we will see the inclusion of these methods become more known throughout the rest of the economy.