Careers in Statistics
Discover the many types of statisticians with an MS in Statistics driving innovation.
Industry
Graduates step into roles like data scientist, quantitative analyst, biostatistician, and research analyst. They build fraud-detection models for banks, forecast demand for airlines, design clinical trials, optimize ad spend, or run A/B tests that drive product growth.
Think Tanks and Labs
Others join research labs or policy institutes to do causal inference, experimental design, and high-impact modeling that informs science and public policy.
Academic Research
Still others lead careers in academia, conducting groundbreaking research and mentoring future researchers and statisticians.
What Jobs Can You Get with a Masters in Statistics?
There are many types of statisticians working in a wide range of industries that rely on data analysis, including:
- Government
- Healthcare
- Finance
- Research and development
- Education
- Technology
- Environmental sciences
- AI and Machine Learning
- And more
Statisticians are employed across both the public and private sectors and in academia, applying their skills in diverse fields such as biostatistics, market research, and machine learning.
UChicago MS in Statistics Employer Network
An MS in Statistics from UChicago dramatically expands your access to careers across sectors. Our Department of Statistics is well-connected to employers, research institutions, and other top-ranking programs. Alumni have gone on to work as Data Scientist, Quantitative Analyst, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Business/Data Analyst, and Research Analyst for diverse employers such as:
| Finance & Fintech | Tech & Data | Consulting & Analytics | Healthcare & Life Sciences | Transportation & Energy | Research & National Labs |
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Select PhD Destinations for MS in Statistics Graduates
Here is a list of example institutions where UChicago MS in Statistics alumni have gone on for doctoral study:
- University of Chicago (Statistics; Booth School of Business)
- University of Pennsylvania (Economics; Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics)
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign (Statistics)
- Carnegie Mellon University (Statistics & Data Science; Tepper School of Business)
- University of California, Los Angeles (Statistics)
- University of Oxford (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences)
- University of Washington (Statistics)
- University of Texas at Austin (Computer Science; Statistics & Data Science)
- Purdue University (Statistics)
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- Cornell University (Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management)
- Princeton University (ORFE)
- Columbia University (IEOR; Decision, Risk & Operations)
- Stanford University (Graduate School of Business—Operations, Information & Technology)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (Statistics)
- Boston University (Statistics)
- University of Toronto (Statistics)
Is the MS in Statistics Worth It?
If you want analyst/data-science/quant roles where a master’s is the hiring baseline, and you’re ready for rigorous math and computing courses, yes. Here are key things to consider:
Why It’s Worth It
- Hiring threshold: Mathematician/statistician roles typically require at least a MS, opening doors that a BA/BS often doesn’t.
- Salary & growth: Median pay is strong in adjacent roles your MS qualifies you for—Data Scientist: $112,590 and Operations Research Analyst: $91,290.
- Graduate-degree premium: Workers with an MS (or higher) earn about 20–29% more.
Who Benefits Most?
- BA/BS grads aiming for statistics, biostatistics, quant finance, ML/DS, econometrics, OR/optimization roles that list “MS required or preferred.”
- Career switchers with strong calculus/linear algebra who want to pivot into data-intensive work (and who will leverage internships/research/industry projects while enrolled).
Maximizing the ROI of Your Degree
- Prioritize programs that (a) allow internships/research credit and (b) publish real employer/PhD outcomes. Use those to target sectors like tech/data, finance, healthcare, and research labs. (These are the sectors with the strongest BLS pay/growth tailwinds tied to statistical skills.)
- Pair statistics with a domain (e.g., clinical trials, economics, marketing science, climate) to raise your ceiling and make interviews concrete.
Career Outcomes
- Math & data roles are among the fastest-growing U.S. careers through 2034 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The median annual wage for statisticians was $103,300 in May 2024.
- Graduates excel at leading universities, tech companies, and research institutions. Part of what makes this possible is the dedicated Career Services from the Physical Sciences Division.
Featured Alumni Stories
From biostatisticians who analyze health data, to econometricians who study economics, to theoretical statisticians, UChicago produces many types of statisticians who thrive in industry and academia. Wondering what jobs can you get with a masters in statistics? Hear from a few of our alumni:
PhD candidate, Department of Statistics, University of Washington
“The electives I took during the program and the research I did for my thesis gave me a valuable introduction to a variety of topics in statistics, which has been very helpful during my PhD as I work on projects, read papers, and consider research directions.”
Principal Research Engineer, Argonne National Laboratory
“The solid theoretical foundation formed during the coursework has been crucial to much of my data analysis and predictive modeling work. Also, that strong basis helps me expand and absorb new concepts from reading papers and thinking critically about the research, the experiment design, the models, and the results involved.”
PhD candidate, Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University
“The theoretical rigor of the program enhanced my love for statistics, and I felt that I gained a deep understanding of statistical theory and methods. The program provided me with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in a Ph.D. program.”
Career Support Services
UChicagoGRAD serves to promote graduate students and alumni in their academic and post-graduation careers.
- GRADUCon: The university’s annual spring career conference for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. The event features a full day of career-themed panel discussions and informal networking opportunities.
- STEM Master’s Career Fair: The STEM Master’s Career Fair supports UChicago master’s students who seek engineering or scientific research careers.
- Career Advising: What jobs can you get with a masters in statistics? Explore possibilities, get advice on job application materials, and network with various types of statisticians.
Advance Your Career with an MS in Statistics
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