Data science drives the decision-making process for businesses across various industries. A data scientist’s job is to take large sets of complex information and process it in a way that makes it make sense to the decision-makers within a company, organization, or entity.
In our data-driven world, the job of a data scientist is arguably more important than ever. This is everything you need to know about becoming a data scientist.
What does a data scientist do?
Though they work in conjunction with other data professionals such as data analysts and software engineers, data scientists are responsible for processing large quantities of data on a technical level. These professionals use a combination of computer systems, statistics, and the scientific method to organize data, turn it into usable information, and draw conclusions from that information based on the emergence of patterns and trends.
Simply put, data scientists answer questions by using computer data or code to build and develop predictive models of different outcomes. The answers to these questions are then used to make decisions, create processes, or inform others.
Much of what a data scientist does involves building machine learning models that will bring business to a particular industry. “The opportunities for machine learning in any industry are endless,” Yochay Ettun, CEO of cnvrg.io told Ladders in a 2019 interview. Ettun cited examples of fraud protection development for banks, crop yield predictions for agricultural business, and disease identification in healthcare.
“The data science workflow of creating those machine learning applications often starts with understanding a business problem, understanding and preparing the data, training, and experimentation of models, evaluating, and eventually deploying the model to production,” Ettun explained.
People who have a knack for numbers, digital organization, and finding patterns often find success as data scientists. Data scientists spend much of their workday immersed in research, thinking critically to solve problems, and making recommendations based on their analysis of data.
How do you become a data scientist?
Most data scientists start their careers by obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, information technologies, or data science. For those who choose to complete an undergraduate degree in a field other than data science, online courses may be necessary to learn the specific skills needed to obtain a higher post-graduate degree in data science.
Most careers in data science will require job seekers to have obtained at least a Master’s degree. Throughout post-graduate studies, data scientists will continue to learn and master different programming languages, database architecture, and other high-level data organization and analytics skills needed for career success.
Data scientists may be required to complete internships to learn the ropes of their chosen industry and network while earning their post-graduate degrees. Additionally, some choose to take specialized courses related to the industry they want to work in like biotechnology, physics, or business.
What skills do you need to become a data scientist?
Data scientists use a combination of business knowledge, programming skills, and statistical analysis to do their jobs. They usually learn the specific technical skills needed to organize and analyze data like coding and programming skills, machine learning skills, data visualization, and big data platforms during the course of their education.
Day to day, data scientists must use analytical, logic, and reasoning skills to complete their work. They’re often detail-oriented individuals who enjoy problem-solving, critical thinking, mathematics, and statistics.
Communication skills are also necessary for data scientists, as they must be able to explain their findings to others. Although much of their work is done solo, data scientists should possess the ability to collaborate with other team members such as analysis and engineers who may assist with their work.
What is the average salary for a data scientist?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a data scientist was $103,930 in 2020. However, depending on where a data scientist chooses to live and which industry they work in, they may make much more. For example, data scientists who work in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing make on average $144,090 annually.
Data scientists who work in California, New York, Washington, North Carolina, or New Jersey earned the highest salaries in 2020, according to the 2020 BLS data, with data scientists in California earning the most at $129,060 annually.
What is the typical career path for a data scientist?
Data scientists can basically work in any industry. From government entities to hospitals, retailers, farmers, manufacturing industries, and more, data scientists are in demand to help optimize productivity and grow businesses.
Entry-level data science jobs such as a junior data scientist or junior data analyst typically require at least a Bachelor’s degree in data science or a related field like information technologies. Some data scientists choose to work an entry-level job while earning a Master’s degree to help bolster their skillset and prepare them to launch into their data science career following their post-graduate education.
However, it is possible to enter the workforce after obtaining a Master’s degree in data science without first having entry-level job experience. Job availability will vary across industries for data scientists, but the more experience, related education, specific programming and industry knowledge, and success a candidate possesses, the more likely they are to be hired and promoted into upper-level positions.
Where to find data scientist jobs?
The BLS predicts that the job market for computer and information research science — of which data scientists are included — will grow at a rate of 15% over the next decade. This is nearly four times as fast as the average for all occupations and great news for those looking to break into this growing field.
See current job postings for data scientists on Ladders now.
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