What Is a Statistical Assistant and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

As a statistical assistant, you assist a statistician in all duties related to collecting, processing, analyzing, and presenting data. Your responsibilities also include keeping a schedule, word processing, and data entry into computer software that utilizes statistical formulas. In some positions, you administer surveys, work with focus groups, and keep records of all collected data. You then select statistical tests to use in your data analysis and process the data in software programs. Other duties include compiling reports, charts, and graphs as needed, making presentations to your clients, and maintaining accurate databases of statistical information. Your job also requires you to write clerical procedures and specifications, resolve computer rejects, and recommend changes to the procedures.

Qualifications needed to become a statistical assistant include a bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics, or a related field, as well as experience in your employer’s industry, such as finance for working with a brokerage. To be successful in this position, you must have advanced math skills and excellent communication skills for working with clients and co-workers. You must also be familiar with statistical software programs, able to work with various database and worksheet programs, know how to use formulas, and able to integrate data from many sources. Organizational and time management skills are critical as well as the ability to use logic and reasoning to determine the strengths and weaknesses of data collection processes.