Data Scientists
Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data.
Is data scientists a good career?
It scores 73/100 and ranks #9 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($120,230 vs $61,390)
- Faster-than-average projected growth (+33.5% through 2034)
- High volume of openings — about 23,400 a year
Possible tradeoffs
- Typically requires a bachelor's degree
What data scientists earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. data scientists earn between $85,660 and $158,880 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live data scientists jobs
How to become a data scientist
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow much faster than average through 2034.
Education
Data scientists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, but some jobs require a master’s or doctoral degree. Common fields of degree include mathematics, statistics, computer science, business, and engineering.
Because data science involves the use of algorithms and statistical techniques, students need extensive study in mathematics and statistics. High school students interested in becoming data scientists should take classes in subjects such as linear algebra, calculus, and probability and statistics.
At the college level, courses in computer science are important in addition to math and statistics. Students must learn data-oriented programming languages as well as statistical, database, and other software for presenting analyses.
Important qualities
Analytical skills. Data scientists must be adept at researching and at examining and interpreting findings.
Computer skills. Data scientists must be able to write code, analyze data, develop or improve algorithms, and use data visualization tools.
Communication skills. Data scientists must be able to convey the results of their analysis to technical and nontechnical audiences to make business recommendations.
Logical-thinking skills. Data scientists must understand and be able to design and develop statistical models and to analyze data.
Math skills. Data scientists use statistical methods to collect and organize data.
Problem-solving skills. Data scientists must devise solutions to the problems they encounter in data collection and cleaning and in developing statistical models and algorithms.
Related occupations
How much do data scientists make?
The national median wage is $120,230 a year, with the middle half earning between $85,660 and $158,880 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is data scientists a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 73 of 100 and ranks #9 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +33.5% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a data scientist?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree.
Where do data scientists earn the most?
Among states, Washington pays the highest median ($163,350). Local pay for every state and metro is below.