How to Become a Data Scientist
Develop and implement methods to analyze large datasets to identify patterns and inform decisions. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $120,230 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$120,230/yr
Middle half
$85,660 to $158,880
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
23,400
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Statistical Analysis
- Machine Learning
- Python
- Data Visualization
- SQL
Helpful certifications
- Google Data Analytics
- IBM Data Science
- AWS Machine Learning Specialty
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
85/100
Work-life balance
75/100
Stress level
32/100
Satisfaction
80/100
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Data Scientist make?
The median pay for a Data Scientist is $120,230 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $85,660 and $158,880 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Data Scientist?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, and Cognitive Science.
Is Data Scientist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 23,400 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Data Scientist use most?
Common skills for this role are Statistical Analysis, Machine Learning, Python, Data Visualization, and SQL.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).