Data Scientists are in high demand, so there is a wide range of employment opportunities and high-paying career paths to break into, with positions varying in terms of job responsibilities, required skills, and salary. While multiple factors affect how much a job pays, there is a significant amount of data on the average salary for the most common data science jobs. This article outlines some of the most popular careers across industries to determine which types of data science job offer the highest salaries
Factors That Influence Pay in Data Science Jobs
There are several factors that influence pay in data science jobs, including the location of the job and its corresponding industry, company norms and culture, as well as the experience and skills of the individual applying for the job.
Location and Industry
The two biggest factors that influence how much a data science job pays are job location and industry. Since the field is science and technology-focused, it is easier to find high-paying data science jobs in geographic locations with a high concentration of companies that need data scientists. For example, Silicon Valley in California is well-known as an area with many data science career opportunities. Pay may also fluctuate between industries, with the same job receiving higher pay in one industry than another.
Company and Culture
Industry and location are also reflected in the company and culture, with pay and expectations varying for the same job. For example, data scientists working for a non-profit may have a very different pay scale than data scientists working for the government. There are also differences in pay for data scientists designated as employees versus data scientists who are freelance consultants. In addition, companies vary in culture, with set norms around pay and job expectations by company or industry, greatly influencing salary.
Experience and Skills
Another factor, which is individual-specific, is experience and skills within the data science industry. Jobs that require more experience, expertise, and leadership usually correspond to a higher salary. In contrast, novice data scientists are more likely to find an entry-level job in the field, with the lack of experience reflected in the lower salary. Individual data science skills rate differently as well. While some skills are in high demand, other skills may be more unexceptional. It is important for aspiring data scientists to continuously update their skills and engage in professional experiences and portfolio projects to demonstrate their value and stay ahead of industry trends.
Popular Data Science Jobs Ranked by Pay
The following list of data science jobs are ranked by pay and skill level, and each of these salary numbers is based on the national average salary in the United States, as cited by Indeed. These numbers will vary depending on your own background as well as the specific company, industry, and location of your data science job.
Data Analyst
Average Salary: $66,138 per year
Description and Skills: Data analysts are among the most popular jobs for beginner data scientists, and the primary function of this job is the organization and analysis of information and data. Therefore, Data Analysts are skilled in the use of data science tools that manage and generate insights from data such as spreadsheet software, business intelligence platforms, and predictive analytics. Within the financial industry, this data science job may also be called Business or Financial Analyst.
Database Developer
Average Salary: $94,204 per year
Description and Skills: Database Developers create and manage databases, systems, and networks for companies or individuals. This job requires in-depth knowledge of different types of databases such as SQL vs. NoSQL database management systems, cloud providers, and big database management with data warehouses and lakes. Database Developers are also skilled in the SQL programming language. In addition, this job may have a similar description and skill set to the role of Database Administrator or Data Warehouse Manager.
Data Scientist
Average Salary: $102,801 per year
Description and Skills: Data Scientist is the most general title for a data science job and can encompass multiple skills and positions. Primarily, data scientists use the tools of programming languages, statistics, and machine learning algorithms to garner key insights from a collection of data. Titles like Data Architects or Data Storytellers are used interchangeably with Data Analyst or Data Engineer.
Data Engineer
Average Salary: $115,837 per year
Description and Skills: Data Engineers analyze large stores of data or create software and systems to better manage and analyze data, combining skills in data science with engineering. Data Engineers generally work with big data to improve businesses, systems, or products and are also called Infrastructure Engineers, Software Engineers, or Data Architects.
Machine Learning Engineer
Average Salary: $116,022 per year
Description and Skills: Similar to the Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineers use automation and machine learning to find solutions to the problems of a company or team. This position requires in-depth knowledge of programming languages such as Python and Java, to train, deploy, and evaluate machine learning models. Machine Learning Engineers also work with other data scientists in collaborative teams or environments, applying the information they provide to a particular system or problem.
Want to Land a High-Paying Data Science Job?
Noble Desktop’s data science classes offer students and professionals all the skills needed to find rewarding employment. For beginner Data Scientists and Analysts, the Data Science Certificate covers the necessary skills for finding an entry-level job organizing and analyzing data. The Python for Data Science and Machine Learning Bootcamp is a top program for data science professionals interested in a career as a Data or Machine Learning Engineer. Whatever your interest, Noble Desktop offers a course or certificate program corresponding to the industry's most popular data science jobs!