Mathematical Science Occupations

How to become a Data Scientist

Official title: 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.

Main tasks

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.

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. Some employers require or prefer that applicants have a master's or doctoral degree.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Data Scientist.
Apprenticeship: Machine Learning Data Curator.
College: Computing & IT degrees, Offered by 34 universities in the US
College: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $120,230 a year The middle half earn $85,660 to $158,880.
About 275,600 people work in this job now, and about 371,000 are projected by 2035. (+34.6%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Data Scientist?

How much does a Data Scientist earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $120,230 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $85,660 to $158,880.

Is a Data Scientist a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 35% by 2035, from about 275,600 to about 371,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Data Scientist?

Usually. 86% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Data Scientist?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.