Analytical Career Paths

Learn More About Data Science Jobs

Looking for information on career paths that involve data science and data analysis? You’ve come to the right place. Below are links to profiles of a number of careers in this field, as well as links to descriptions of how data science affects different industries.

• Business Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Data Architect
• Data Engineer
• Data Scientist
• Marketing Analyst
• Quantitative Analyst
• Statistician

Compare Data Science and Related Careers

• Data Science vs. Machine Learning
• Data Analytics vs. Business Analytics
• Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering

Top Industries for Analytical Careers

Below you can see overview of how data science, and data analysis in general, gets used in a variety of different major industry areas.

• Biotech
• Energy
• Finance
• Gaming and hospitality
• Government
• Health care
• Insurance
• Internet
• Manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical
• Retail
• Telecom
• Travel and transportation
• Utilities

What Our Job Profiles Cover

Responsibilities

Discover whether you’re an analyst by nature or an engineer by inclination. On each page, you’ll find a short definition of the role and a list of what your daily tasks might be. Keep in mind that responsibilities will vary from job to job.

Salary Figures

To arm you for salary negotiations, we combed PayScale, Glassdoor and a host of related sites for comprehensive wage data on each job. When you’re at this stage, remember that your final salary offer may depend on your level of education, breadth of skills, choice of industry, the cost of living and a variety of other factors.

Qualifications

In this “checklist” section, you’ll learn more about what employers want for:

• Degrees
• Technical Skills
• Business Skills
• Professional Certifications

We’ll be the first to admit that details are subject to change. A shortage of qualified data experts, new master’s programs and technology developments are shifting the ground each day. When in doubt, check recent job boards (e.g. SimplyHired, Monster, Indeed, etc.) for comparison.

Similar Jobs

Confused about the difference between a data architect and a data engineer? How about a statistician versus a data scientist? In your search for employment, you’ll encounter a lot of overlap between job titles. We’ve done our best to clear up any confusions and point you in the right career direction.

Job Outlook

Technology jobs that exist today may well not exist tomorrow. We gaze into the crystal ball and discuss the trends that could affect each position.

Professional Organizations

Finally, we’ve provided links to organizations that can aid you in your climb to the top of your profession.

General Career Advice

Hone Your Skills

To buff up your technical skills:

• Go to data science conferences
• Participate in coding contests
• Take MOOCs
• Pursue professional certification from specific vendors
• Contribute to open source projects
• Apply for data science internships

And don’t underestimate the importance of soft skills. Time and again, employers reject job candidates who don’t have communication and/or problem-solving abilities. Remember that most data experts spend a fair amount of time collaborating with non-technical team members. You need to know how to explain what you’re doing.

Network Like Hell

Your best source of job information are your mentors, professional colleagues and favorite bloggers/authors. They can give you real-world advice on the pros and cons of each job, including the challenges currently faced by the industry. They may even be in a position to direct you towards a career.

Stay Flexible

The technology job you have today is not going to be the job you will have in a year. Or in 5 years. Or in 10. If the history of data science teaches us anything, it’s that industries morph as fast as technology. Concentrate on your strengths, remedy your weaknesses and stay open to new opportunities.