Data scientists are analytical experts who utilize their skills in both technology and social science to find

trends and manage data. They use industry knowledge, contextual understanding, skepticism of existing
assumptions – to uncover solutions to business challenges.

A data scientist’s work typically involves making sense of messy, unstructured data, from sources such as
smart devices, social media feeds, and emails that don’t neatly fit into a database.

Technical skills are not the only thing that matters, however. Data scientists often exist in business
settings and are charged with communicating complex ideas and making data-driven organizational
decisions. As a result, it is highly important for them to be effective communicators, leaders and team
members as well as high-level analytical thinkers.

Experienced data scientists and data managers typically have over ten years of experience and are
tasked with developing a company’s best practices, from cleaning to processing and storing data. They
work cross functionally with other teams throughout their organization, such as marketing, customer
success, and operations. They are highly sought after in today’s data and tech heavy economy, and their
salaries and job growth clearly reflect that.

Here are six steps to consider if you’re interested in pursuing a career in data science:

1. Pursue an undergraduate degree in data science or a closely related field

You will need at least a bachelor’s degree in data science, mathematics, statistics, computer
science to get your foot in the door as an entry level data scientist. Degrees also add structure,
internships, networking and recognized academic qualifications for your résumé. However, if
you’ve received a bachelor’s degree in a different field, you may need to focus on developing
skills needed for the job through online short courses or bootcamps.

2. Learn required skills to become a data scientist

 Programming
 Machine Learning techniques
 Data Visualization and Reporting
 Risk Analysis
 Statistical analysis and Math
 Effective Communication
 Software Engineering Skills
 Data Mining, Cleaning and Munging
 Research
 Big Data Platforms
 Cloud Tools
 Data warehousing and structures

3. Consider a specialization
4. Get your first entry-level data scientist job
5. Review additional data scientist certifications and post-graduate learning
6. Earn a master’s degree in data science
Data Scientist Salary

A data scientist’s salary depends on years of experience, skillset, education, and location. According to
The Burtchworks Study, employers place greater value on data scientists with specialized skills, such as
Natural Language Processing or Artificial Intelligence. West coast Data scientists earn the highest
average salary and entry level data scientists can expect to earn at least $90,000. The BLS claims skilled
computer research and information scientists, which include data scientists, enjoy excellent job
prospects because of high demand.

Data Scientist

Average Data Scientist Salary: $118,370 per year

Lowest 10%: $69,230

Highest 10%: $183,820

Senior Data Scientist

Median Sr. Data Scientist Salary: $171,755

Total Pay Range: $147,000 – $200,000