Plan C
Data Scientists
What they do
Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data.
Work Enviorments
Data scientists held about 245,900 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of data scientists were as follows. Data scientists spend much of their time in an office setting.
How to become one
Data scientists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a related field to enter the occupation. However, some employers require or prefer that candidates have a master’s or doctoral degree.
Pay
The median annual wage for data scientists was $112,590 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $63,650, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $194,410.
Job outlook
Employment of data scientists is projected to grow 34 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.About 23,400 openings for data scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Similar occupations
Computer and Information Research Scientists, Mathematicians, Statisticians, Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers.