This interactive from Flowing Data maps the age ranges for 529 different jobs. For math teachers looking to bring summary statistics to life, this may be what you are looking for as it displays min/max, 25th/75th percentile and median values.

Here's the top of the chart with one highlighted job: web and digital interface designer (click to go to the interactive): 

Each job has five numbers corresponding to the age of people with the job: the min/max, and the 25th and 75th percentile and the median for that specific role. So, in this example for web and digital interface designer: 

• Minimum age of 16 years old
• Maximum age of 71 years old
• 25th percentile age of 29
• 75th percentile age of 46
• Median age of 35 (you have to look really closely to find this:); it's the black line in the middle of the distribution. 

Questions:

• Identify 4-5 jobs that typically are done by the youngest workers (top of the graph). 
• Do those jobs have common characteristics which might explain why they are done by the youngest workers?
• Search for a few jobs that you are interested in using the search bar. What do you notice about the age of people who do that job? What's the age range? 
• There is one job where the 75th percentile age for people with that job is actually beyond the retirement age. Say hi to the person in that role on your way to school today:)

-------------------------

Here are a few more Flowing Data interactives that we have featured recently that your students might enjoy:

• Chart of the Week: How does net worth vary by age?
• Interactive Monday: How are you using your time?
• Chart of the Week: How do people spend their money?

-------------------------

 NEW CONTEST: Last day for your class to predict the monthly jobs number. $100 in prize money available to the class with the closest estimate. Details here. 

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.

More posts by Tim