Biostatisticians
Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.
Also called: Bioinformatics Scientist, Biomathematician, Biometrician, Biostatistical Consultant, Biostatistician, Clinical Biostatistician
Median pay
$105,650
Pay for the broader BLS group “Statisticians”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$64,000 – $174,050
People employed
29,030
Whole BLS group
Holland code
ICS
Investigative · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 2.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 3.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 4.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 5.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 6.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 7.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
Biostatisticians pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (44 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Statisticians”.
What biostatisticians do
- 01Draw conclusions or make predictions, based on data summaries or statistical analyses.
- 02Analyze clinical or survey data, using statistical approaches such as longitudinal analysis, mixed-effect modeling, logistic regression analyses, and model-building techniques.
- 03Write detailed analysis plans and descriptions of analyses and findings for research protocols or reports.
- 04Calculate sample size requirements for clinical studies.
- 05Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, and talk with colleagues to keep abreast of methodological or conceptual developments in fields such as biostatistics, pharmacology, life sciences, and social sciences.
- 06Design research studies in collaboration with physicians, life scientists, or other professionals.
Skills that matter most
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Science
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Knowledge
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Biology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from biostatisticians
- Bioinformatics Scientists88% · group pay
- Epidemiologists85% · —
- Health Informatics Specialists83% · group pay
- Social Science Research Assistants83% · —
- Geneticists82% · group pay
Change into biostatisticians
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Bioinformatics Scientists85% · $98,920
- Survey Researchers84% · $69,460
- Epidemiologists81% · $87,220
- Social Science Research Assistants81% · $61,990
- Financial Quantitative Analysts79% · $81,100
Majors that lead here
- Educational Statistics and Research Methods
- Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement
- Institutional Research
- Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other
- Biometry/Biometrics
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Mathematics, General
- Applied Mathematics, General
- Computational and Applied Mathematics
- Statistics, General
- Mathematical Statistics and Probability
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.