Principal Statistical Programmer Salary in United States during 2024

Salary details

The average Principal Statistical Programmer salary lies between USD 106,200 and USD 218,000 in the United States. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Nov. 17, 2024

Top 20 Job Tags for Principal Statistical Programmer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with Principal Statistical Programmer job listings are Statistics, SAS and Research. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Statistics | 76 jobs SAS | 66 jobs Research | 48 jobs Pharma | 48 jobs CDISC | 47 jobs Computer Science | 40 jobs Mathematics | 35 jobs R | 28 jobs Biostatistics | 27 jobs Data management | 26 jobs XML | 22 jobs Data analysis | 22 jobs GCP | 14 jobs SQL | 13 jobs Engineering | 13 jobs Consulting | 12 jobs RDBMS | 10 jobs Testing | 7 jobs Classification | 7 jobs KPIs | 6 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Principal Statistical Programmer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with Principal Statistical Programmer job listings are Career development, Health care and Startup environment. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 41 jobs Health care | 33 jobs Startup environment | 23 jobs Flex hours | 12 jobs Team events | 11 jobs Equity / stock options | 10 jobs Parental leave | 9 jobs Wellness | 9 jobs Competitive pay | 9 jobs Insurance | 9 jobs Flex vacation | 6 jobs Medical leave | 6 jobs Travel | 3 jobs Gear | 3 jobs Fitness / gym | 3 jobs Transparency | 3 jobs Salary bonus | 3 jobs 401(k) matching | 2 jobs Conferences | 2 jobs Relocation support | 2 jobs

Salary Composition for a Principal Statistical Programmer

The salary for a Principal Statistical Programmer in the United States typically comprises a base salary, bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or benefits. The base salary is the fixed component and usually forms the largest part of the total compensation package. Bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company’s performance, individual performance, and industry standards. In the tech industry, for instance, bonuses might be more substantial compared to academia or smaller firms. Additional remuneration can include stock options, especially in tech companies or startups, and comprehensive benefits packages that may include health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks. The composition can also vary by region, with tech hubs like Silicon Valley offering higher base salaries and stock options compared to other regions.

Steps to Increase Salary from This Position

To increase your salary from the position of a Principal Statistical Programmer, consider the following strategies:

• Skill Enhancement: Continuously update your skills in the latest AI/ML technologies and programming languages. Specializing in high-demand areas like deep learning or natural language processing can make you more valuable.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as a Director of Data Science or Head of AI, which typically offer higher salaries.
• Industry Shift: Consider moving to industries that pay more for statistical programming expertise, such as finance or tech, if you are not already in one.
• Networking and Visibility: Increase your professional network and visibility by attending conferences, publishing papers, or speaking at industry events. This can lead to opportunities with higher pay.
• Negotiation: Don’t hesitate to negotiate your salary during performance reviews or when offered a new position.

Educational Requirements

Most Principal Statistical Programmer roles require at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as computer science, statistics, mathematics, or data science. However, a master's degree or Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles in research-intensive industries or academia. Advanced degrees can provide a deeper understanding of statistical methods and machine learning algorithms, which are crucial for this role.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your credentials and demonstrate your expertise:

• Certified Analytics Professional (CAP): Validates your ability to transform data into valuable insights.
• SAS Certified Advanced Programmer: Demonstrates proficiency in SAS programming, which is often used in statistical programming.
• TensorFlow Developer Certificate: Shows expertise in using TensorFlow for machine learning tasks.
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty: Validates your ability to design, implement, and maintain machine learning solutions on AWS.

Required Experience

Typically, a Principal Statistical Programmer is expected to have extensive experience, often 7-10 years, in statistical programming or a related field. This experience should include hands-on work with statistical software, data analysis, and machine learning models. Experience in leading projects or teams is also highly valued, as this role often involves overseeing the work of junior programmers and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

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