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Statistician

Finance

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

Data ScienceScience

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Analyze and interpret statistical data to identify significant differences in relationships among sources of information.
  2. 2Evaluate the statistical methods and procedures used to obtain data to ensure validity, applicability, efficiency, and accuracy.
  3. 3Report results of statistical analyses, including information in the form of graphs, charts, and tables.
  4. 4Determine whether statistical methods are appropriate, based on user needs or research questions of interest.
  5. 5Prepare data for processing by organizing information, checking for inaccuracies, and adjusting and weighting the raw data.
  6. 6Develop and test experimental designs, sampling techniques, and analytical methods.
  7. 7Identify relationships and trends in data, as well as any factors that could affect the results of research.
  8. 8Present statistical and nonstatistical results, using charts, bullets, and graphs, in meetings or conferences to audiences such as clients, peers, and students.
  9. 9Design research projects that apply valid scientific techniques, and use information obtained from baselines or historical data to structure uncompromised and efficient analyses.
  10. 10Adapt statistical methods to solve specific problems in many fields, such as economics, biology, and engineering.
  11. 11Evaluate sources of information to determine any limitations, in terms of reliability or usability.
  12. 12Process large amounts of data for statistical modeling and graphic analysis, using computers.
  13. 13Develop software applications or programming for statistical modeling and graphic analysis.
  14. 14Report results of statistical analyses in peer-reviewed papers and technical manuals.
  15. 15Plan data collection methods for specific projects, and determine the types and sizes of sample groups to be used.
  16. 16Apply sampling techniques, or use complete enumeration bases to determine and define groups to be surveyed.
  17. 17Examine theories, such as those of probability and inference, to discover mathematical bases for new or improved methods of obtaining and evaluating numerical data.
  18. 18Prepare and structure data warehouses for storing data.
  19. 19Supervise and provide instructions for workers collecting and tabulating data.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Demographer
  • Biometrician
  • Data Analyst
  • Data Manager
  • Data Modeler
  • Statistician
  • Data Engineer
  • Statisticians
  • Data Specialist
  • Sampling Expert

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationMaster's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Mathematics93%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Computers and Electronics84%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • English Language78%

    English

  • Education and Training58%
  • Administration and Management56%

    BusinessEconomics

  • Customer and Personal Service50%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsOften
  • Contact with other peopleOccasional contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicA little
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never
  • Time spent sittingAlmost all the time

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

47%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.39%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

On Malaysia's official shortage list

TalentCorp and ILMIA's Critical Occupations List — evidence of a real hiring shortage in Malaysia right now.

Matched to a related occupation on the list, not this exact job title.

Mathematicians, Actuaries, and Statisticians · Shortage indicators met: INSUFFICIENT DATA

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Actuary

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Statisticians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue