Data scientists are analytical experts who extract meaning from and interpret data to solve complex problems. They use industry knowledge, contextual understanding and skepticism of existing assumptions to uncover solutions to business challenges.

A data scientist’s role combines computer science, statistics and mathematics to collect and organize data from many different data sources, translate results into actionable plans and communicate their findings to their organizations. Successful data scientists must be effective communicators, leaders, team members and high-level analytical thinkers.

Data scientists work in various industries and environments, including tech startups, government agencies, healthcare, manufacturing and research institutions. In today’s data and technology-driven economy, there are several job prospects for data scientists, and their earning potential often reflects this trend.

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

Step 1: Pursue an undergraduate degree in data science or a closely related field;

Step 2: Consider a specialization;

Step 3: Get your first entry-level job as a data scientist;

Step 4: Advance your skills with a data science boot camp (optional);

Step 5: Review additional data scientist certifications and post-graduate learning (optional);

Step 6: Earn a master’s degree in data science;

You will generally need at least a bachelor’s degree in data science or a computer-related field to get your foot in the door as an entry-level data scientist. However, some data science careers require a master’s or doctoral degree. Degrees add structure, internships, networking and recognized academic qualifications to your résumé. However, if you’ve received a bachelor’s degree in a different field, you may need to focus on developing skills required for the job through continued education, like online short courses or boot camps.

Data scientists may specialize in a particular industry or develop strong skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, research or database management. Specialization may be a good way to increase your earning potential and do work that is meaningful to you. 

Once you’ve acquired the necessary skills and specialized knowledge, you can begin the search for your first data science role. Creating an online portfolio is a valuable way to display a few projects and showcase your accomplishments to potential employers. You may want to consider a company with room for growth since your first data science job may not have the title data scientist but could be more of an analytical role. You’ll likely learn how to work within a team and master best practices that can prepare you for more senior positions.

Data science boot camps are short-term, immersive educational programs that teach critical data science skills and programming languages such as Python, R, and SQL. Many boot camps are online, some may take a couple of weeks to complete, while others may take up to a couple of months. Boot camps can help you expand your network. As a student in a boot camp, you can also take advantage of dedicated career services offered through the program to help with job placement after completion. Data science boot camps typically cover various topics such as machine learning, natural language processing, data analytics, data visualization and more.

Here are a few certifications that focus on and help improve valuable skills:

Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

SAS Certified Predictive Modeler using SAS Enterprise Miner 14

Academic qualifications could play a crucial role in the selection process for positions in the field. Is a master’s required for data science jobs? It depends on the job, some professionals have a bachelor’s or graduated from a data science boot camp. However, because some employers prefer that candidates have a graduate degree, a master’s could expand your career prospects.

Learn about 23 schools with master’s in data science programs.

The day-to-day responsibilities of a data scientist can vary. Some of the different tasks that data scientists are responsible for can include the following:

Every company will have a different take on a data scientist job description. Some treat their data scientists as data analysts or combine their duties with that of data engineers, others need top-level analytics experts skilled in intense machine learning and data visualizations.

As data scientists achieve new levels of experience or change jobs, their responsibilities invariably change. For example, a person working alone in a mid-size company may spend a good portion of the day in data cleaning and munging. A high-level employee in a business that offers data-based services may be asked to structure big data projects or create new products.

Data scientists don’t need just to understand programming languages, management of databases and how to transpose data into visualizations–they possess an innate curiosity about their environment, viewing it through an analytical perspective. With personality traits and skills similar to that of quality assurance professionals, data scientists may be meticulous as they review large amounts of data and seek out patterns and answers. They demonstrate creativity in creating new algorithms for data crawling and in designing well-organized database warehouses.

Generally, professionals in the data science field must know how to communicate in several different modes, i.e. to their team, stakeholders and clients. There may be a lot of dead ends, wrong turns or bumpy roads, but data scientists rely on their drive, grit and patience to stay afloat with their research.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment growth of computer information and research scientists, which include data scientists, from 2022 to 2032 is 22%. The demand for experienced data scientists is high, but you must start somewhere. Some data scientists get their foot in the door working as entry-level data analysts, extracting structured data from MySQL databases or CRM systems, developing basic visualizations in Tableau or analyzing A/B test results. If you’d like to move beyond your analytical role, consider the possibilities that a career in data science can offer:

Companies of varying sizes and in different industries–from Google, LinkedIn and Amazon to the humble retail store–seek experts to help them wrestle big data into submission. In certain companies, “new look” data scientists may be responsible for financial planning, ROI assessment, budgets and a host of other duties related to the management of an organization.

A data scientist’s salary depends on years of experience, skill set, education and location. The BLS reports skilled computer research and information scientists, which include data scientists, are in demand. The below salary data from 2022 is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Data Scientist

Median Data Scientist Salary: $136,620 per year

Lowest 10%: Earned less than $78,190

Highest 10%: Earned more than $232,010

Tech boot camps are a quick way to gain hands-on experience in data science and become knowledgeable in programming languages such as Python, R and SQL. Data science boot camps are short programs offered in various formats, including part-time, full-time, online or on-campus. Some boot camps may take a couple of weeks to complete, while others may take a couple of months. Boot camps may give you a chance to expand your professional network and get the support you need for your job search through dedicated career services.

During the boot camp, you’ll work on projects and create a portfolio to demonstrate your abilities to potential employers. Data science boot camps typically cover various topics such as machine learning, natural language processing, different types of data analytics, data visualization and more. Some related boot camp programs are:

When researching boot camps, it is important to consider your career goals and what you’d like to get out of the program. Some boot camps are geared toward beginners, while others are better suited for those with some programming or computer science experience. You may also want to consider the background of the instructors teaching the boot camp and the cost. Can you take time off and commit to a full-time immersive experience? Does the boot camp offer scholarships or discounts? Make sure to ask about all of your financing options.

Last updated July 2023.