Career In Statistics: Courses, Scope, Jobs, Salary

If you enjoy working with data, solving real-world problems, and have a strong knowledge of basic mathematical concepts, then pursuing a career in Statistics could be an excellent choice for you.

In recent years, Statistics has emerged as one of the top career choices among the students, with the rise of data analytics, AI and machine learning has increased demand for statisticians.

If you are also among one of them, then you are at the right place…. In this article, we will discuss about career in statistics, courses, eligibility criteria, admission process and job opportunities.

But before we begin, let’s understand about statistics.

What is Statistics?

“Statistics is a mathematical science which relates to the study of the analysis, collection, presentation and organization of numerical data. Statistics can interpret aggregates of data which are too large to be understood by ordinary observation”.

Professionals, who use statistics to design, collect and interpret data in different fields of industry are called as “Statisticians”.

Statistics include the field of marketing, economics, biology, public health, sports, medicines and many others. Statistics is a branch of Mathematics.

Statistics can be used in scientific research field such as economics, medicine, demography, psychology, advertising, etc.

It is useful to insurance companies, banker, labour unions, politicians, social workers, trade associations, chambers, etc.

You can find a career in statistics by doing activities like solving problems in a various fields & apply statistical & mathematical knowledge to social, economic problems.

Branches of Statistics

Descriptive Statistics: It uses the data to provide description of the population in a summarize way through graphs, numerical calculations, tables, etc.

Inferential Statistics: It uses a random sample of data taken from a population to describe and make inferences about the population.

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Statistics Courses

What are the courses i can pursue in this field?

The Statistics field offers a wide range of courses after 12th. Candidates can choose from a diploma, an undergraduate (UG) or a postgraduate (PG) programs.

Below is the list of Statistics courses offered at UG and PG level:

Certificate & Diploma courses

• Certificate in Statistical Methods and Applications
• Diploma Course in Statistics
• B.Sc. in Mathematics with Statistics

Bachelor Courses

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Statistics
• Bachelor in Statistics
• Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Statistics

Master Courses

• Master of Arts in Statistics
• Master in Statistics
• M.Sc. in Applied Statistics or Biostatistics

Doctoral Courses

• PhD in Statistics

The course curriculum of statistics typically covers a blend of theoretical and applied topics, including probability theory, statistical inference, data analysis, regression models, sampling techniques, and the use of statistical software such as R, SPSS or Python.

Eligibility Criteria

Students are eligible to apply for bachelor courses after 12^th with Mathematics or Statistics as a compulsory subject.

For admissions in master courses you should have a bachelor’s degree in statistics from any recognized university.

Candidates seeking for admissions in doctoral courses must hold a masters degree like M.Stat, M.Sc in Statistics.

Skills Required

• Strong Foundation in Mathematical Statistics
• Logical Thinking & Ability to Comprehend Key Facts
• Ability to Interact with peoples from various fields to understand the problems
• Strong Background in Statistical Computing
• Ability to stay updated on recent literature & statistical software
• Versatility in solving problems

Admission Process

Firstly, candidates have to meet the eligibility criteria for the course. The next step is to qualify the entrance test like CUET UG or any other university specific entrance exam.

Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), one of the premier institutions of India offers admissions on the basis of an admission test named ISI exam.

After qualifying the entrance exam, candidates have to participate in the counselling process and complete the admission formalities.

Entrance Exams

List of other entrance exams organized by different universities for admission to their statistics courses are mentioned below:

• CUET UG 2025
• Indian Statistical Institute Entrance Exam (ISI 2025)
• Aligarh Muslim University: Department of Statistics and Operations Research Entrance Exam (AMU 2025)
• Delhi University 2025
• University of Pune Entrance Exam
• Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Entrance Examination (KIITEE 2025)

Top Universities in India

Top colleges which offer courses in this field are:

• Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata
• Delhi University (DU)
• University of Calcutta
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
• Savitribai Phule Pune University
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
• IIT Bombay
• IIT Madras
• Loyola College, Chennai
• St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
• Presidency University, Kolkata
• Fergusson College, Pune
• Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi
• Christ University, Bangalore

Career & Jobs

Where i can get a job with a Statistics Degree?

In this data driven world, statisticians play a crucial role in helping organizations make informed decisions about the strategies, business operations, marketing, and resource allocation by analyzing and interpreting data.

This career offers great career opportunities in India and also in abroad. The statisticians and their analytic skills are highly demanded in today’s competitive business environment which heavily relies on data.

The statistics professionals can find job opportunities in all major sectors including Finance, IT, pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Education, Government organization and sports.

Graduates can also apply for government jobs in the field of statistics, you can apply for the Civil Services, Indian Statistical Services & Indian Economic Services exams.

Candidates can also go for higher studies and research career in popular field like Data Science, actuarial science & many other research roles.

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Career Options in Commerce

Job Titles

• Statisticians
• Business Analyst
• Mathematician
• Professor
• Risk Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Content Analyst
• Statistic Trainer
• Data Scientist
• Consultant
• Biostatistician
• Econometrician

Job Areas

• Census
• Ecological
• Medical
• Election
• Crime
• Education
• Film
• Cricket
• Tourism

Recruiters

• Deloitte Consulting
• TCS Innovations Labs
• Blue Ocean Marketing
• BNP Paribas India
• Neilson Company
• Accenture
• HP
• GE Capital
• HDFC
• Cognizant
• American Express
• RBI
• HSBC
• Indian Market Research Bureau
• Genpact

Duties of a Statistician

• Collecting and analysing the data.
• To design experiments or surveys to collect the required data.
• Applying statistical methods to solve practical problems in business, science and other fields.
• Writing reports and articles of their analysis.
• Presenting results to clients or authorities.

Salary

“The skilled Statisticians earns are well compensated in India and abroad.”

In India, the average salary of a statistician can be in the range between INR 5-10 lacs per year. Candidates with 5-8 years of experience earns in the range INR 10-20 LPA.

The salaries are among the highest in the financial services, data analytics firms, and IT/Consulting Jobs.

Professionals working in the government and research organizations are paid competitive salaries and include many other perks and benefits.

The salary in government jobs at a grade A and B posts typically starts with ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500/month (Pay Level 10) + allowances.

In the United States, the Statisticians  earn an average salary of $70k annually. Candidates with good experience and master degree in this field can earn an upward of $100K annually.

Books & Study Materials

Here we have listed the best books to study Statistics:

Statistics by Freedman, Pisani & Purves

Modern Applied Statistics with S by Venables & Ripley

Probability and Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences by Devore

The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining, Inference, and Prediction by Hastie, Tibshirani & Friedman

Bayesian Data Analysis by Gelman, Carlin

Probability and Statistics (4th Edition) by Morris H. DeGroot, Mark J. Schervish

All of Statistics: A Concise Course in Statistical Inference by Larry Wasserman

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