How do I start a career as a biostatistician?

To start a career as a biostatistician, you'll need the right combination of educational credentials and hands-on experience. Most biostatisticians have at least a master's degree and some previous work experience through internships.

How long does it take to become a biostatistician?

It takes six to seven years to become a biostatistician. This includes the time it takes to earn a master's degree in biostatistics. In some cases, biostatisticians go on to earn doctorate degrees in biostatistics, which can take around eight to ten years to complete.

Is biostatistics a good career?

Yes, biostatistics is a good career. Not only do biostatistics jobs pay well, but they are also in high demand. A career in biostatistics is a great choice for someone who enjoys research, data analysis, statistics, and science. There are numerous career opportunities across a range of industries available to those working in biostatistics careers.

How To Become A Biostatistician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a biostatistician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

Rhonda Bacher PhD

A Biostatistician fuses statistics and mathematics with sciences like biology and medicine to collect, produce, analyze, and represent data and information. This info is then used to design studies, clinical trials, public health research, and experimental treatments.

These people are experts who work in and impact the medical field but rarely interact with any actual patients. They are much like the man behind the curtain in this way, pulling various strings. This position is most often found in large companies that produce medicine or medical devices and tools. But, Biostaticians may also be found in research centers, NGOs, and government and public health organizations.

While some entry-level Biostatistics jobs might require only a Bachelor's in Statistics, Mathematics, or Biostatistics, or yet a different but similar field, most employers will prefer or require applicants with a Master's degree or even a Doctorate instead.

What general advice would you give to a Biostatistician?

Rhonda Bacher PhD

Assistant Professor, University of Florida

Often biostatisticians are in roles where they work more independently and, especially when starting out, not having colleagues nearby to consult with on statistical matters can be challenging. Getting involved or staying connected through professional associations like the American Statistical Association through its professional sections or state chapters is a great way to maintain and even grow your network of colleagues.

Also, biostatistics is an evolving and expanding field, so foundational skills are essential, but be flexible to learning and adapting to new technologies or methods. The real value of a biostatistician’s skills is critical thinking and being able to identify, implement, and interpret appropriate analytical solutions.

ScoreBiostatisticianUS Average

Salary

6.7

Avg. Salary $85,645

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

3.9

Growth Rate 31%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.22%

Asian 22.75%

Black or African American 5.06%

Hispanic or Latino 7.59%

Unknown 4.95%

White 59.43%

Gender

female 44.19%

male 55.81%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress Level

3.9

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.3

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a biostatistician

Explore biostatistician education requirements

Most common biostatistician degrees

Bachelor's

46.5 %

Master's

40.8 %

Doctorate

11.4 %

Start to develop specific biostatistician skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Analysis	8.91%
Patients	6.80%
Data Management	5.63%
Statistical Analysis	5.25%
Study Design	4.56%

Complete relevant biostatistician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New biostatisticians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a biostatistician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real biostatistician resumes.

Research biostatistician duties and responsibilities

Extract and manage data from different sources, proficient in query language SQL.
Act as project director for managing the preparation of safety and efficacy reports for NDA submission.
Manage Medicaid fraud and abuse portfolios by analyzing medical and pharmacy claims data.
Provide suggestions to clients in classification algorithms, ANOVA, experimental design, and various hypothesis tests.

Get biostatistician experience

Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a biostatistician. The most common roles before becoming a biostatistician include research assistant, statistician team lead and internship.

Prepare your biostatistician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your biostatistician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a biostatistician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Biostatistician Resume templates

Build a professional Biostatistician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Biostatistician resume.

Apply for biostatistician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a biostatistician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

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