Data Scientists
Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Doing it now
- 275,600
- By 2035
- Up 34.6%
- Usually needs
- Bachelor's degree
a year
across the country
24,800 openings a year
to get in
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Data ScienceSee 144 colleges that teach it
- Data AnalyticsSee 135 colleges that teach it
- MathematicsSee 1,228 colleges that teach it
- ChemistrySee 1,170 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Analytical and curious
Organised and precise
Leading and persuading
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $120,230 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.