Computer and Mathematical · Holland code ICA
Data Scientists
Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.
O*NET 15-2051.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $120,230
- Middle half earn $85,660 to $158,880. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Considerable preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
- US employment outlook, 2024 to 2034
- +34% · Much faster than average
- 245,900 jobs in 2024, projected 328,300. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which groups this with similar roles as "Data scientists".
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software.
- Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software.
- Test, validate, and reformulate models to ensure accurate prediction of outcomes of interest.
- Deliver oral or written presentations of the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
- Recommend data-driven solutions to key stakeholders.
- Identify business problems or management objectives that can be addressed through data analysis.
- Compare models using statistical performance metrics, such as loss functions or proportion of explained variance.
- Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Mathematics4.4 / 5
- Critical Thinking4.3 / 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9 / 5
- Speaking3.6 / 5
- Active Learning3.6 / 5
- Active Listening3.5 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Mathematics4.5 / 5
- Computers and Electronics4.2 / 5
- English Language3.0 / 5
- Engineering and Technology2.9 / 5
- Education and Training2.3 / 5
- Communications and Media2.2 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic19
- Investigative100
- Artistic27
- Social11
- Enterprising12
- Conventional73
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- statistician · DE Statistiker/Statistikerin · FR statisticien/statisticienne
- ICT intelligent systems designer · DE Entwickler intelligenter IT-Systeme/Entwicklerin intelligenter IT-Systeme · FR concepteur de systèmes intelligents/conceptrice de systèmes intelligents
- data analyst · DE Datenanalytiker/Datenanalytikerin · FR analyste de données
- data scientist · DE Datenwissenschaftler/Datenwissenschaftlerin · FR scientifique des données
- knowledge engineer · DE Wissensingenieur/Wissensingenieurin · FR ingénieur de la connaissance/ingénieure de la connaissance
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Cyber security professionals (2135)91,200 employed
- IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (2133)212,200 employed
- Actuaries, economists and statisticians (2433)85,900 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €61,714 |
| Germany | €59,529 |
| Ireland | €56,877 |
| Austria | €55,374 |
| Netherlands | €53,595 |
| Sweden | €43,567 |
| France | €41,515 |
| Spain | €35,735 |
| Italy | €33,649 |
| Portugal | €26,072 |
| Poland | €14,380 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Related careers
Is it a fit for you?
Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.
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