There are numerous career pathways in data science, each with special prospects. It's common to be unsure about the precise duties involved in certain professions or the best course of action for you. To help make things easier, we've divided the primary roles into three broad categories.
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Data Analysts (Entry Level Positions)
Data analysts mainly focus on basic data interpretation and report generation. They also visualize data to help firms see trends and make wise decisions. To perform these tasks, they often use simple statistical analysis software, Excel, and SQL. A bachelor's degree in a related field—such as computer science, statistics, or mathematics—is typically the minimal prerequisite.
Average Salary: $69,000 - $100,000/year
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Junior Data Scientist (Entry Level Position)
Another entry-level position that performs basic statistical analysis, data cleansing, and machine learning models on smaller data sets. A bachelor's or master's degree in data science, machine learning, or a similar discipline is typically required to be eligible.
Average Salary: $85,000 - $120,000/year
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Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst (Entry Level Position)
BI analysts can work in entry-level or early-career roles. They typically work with key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboard reporting and depend on data analysis to help achieve organizational objectives. Eligibility typically requires a bachelor's degree in information technology, data science, business analytics, or a related discipline.
Average Salary: $79,000 - $120,000/year
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Database Administrators (Mid-Level Position)
As the name suggests, database administrators are responsible for maintaining the database infrastructure, ensuring databases operate efficiently and seamlessly. It usually involves monitoring performance, managing access, and analyzing the security to prevent any data breach. They design and implement database solutions, optimize the performance through fine-tuning, and oversee data storage and retrieval.
Average Salary: $96,000 - $159,000/year
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Data Architect (Mid-Level Position)
Data architects are responsible for designing and developing data infrastructures required for effective data-driven decision-making. Like architects, data architects are builders, creating frameworks and designing robust and industry-regulated data models that support business operations. They build data strategies to ensure the integrity and usability of the organization’s data systems.
Average Salary: $149,000 - $229,000/year
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Machine Learning Engineers (Mid-Level Position)
These professionals work with real-world scenarios to optimize and apply machine learning models. Prerequisites include programming experience and familiarity with machine learning frameworks and libraries. A machine learning engineer's job responsibilities include integrating external datasets to enhance model performance, building APIs to integrate ML models, and fine-tuning the existing ML models.
Average Salary: $126,000 - $221,000/year
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Lead Data Scientist (Senior-Level Position)
Lead data scientists oversee and manage data science teams. These professionals ensure that all project insights are easily understood by all parties involved. The three most crucial qualities are a wealth of experience, effective leadership, and in-depth domain knowledge.
Average Salary: $118K–$206K/yr
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Chief Data Officer (Senior-Level Position)
The general data strategy of a business is overseen by chief data officers. The CDO is necessary in order to handle data as a strategic asset, use it to guide business choices, and increase productivity. A bachelor's degree in data science, computer technology, business administration, or a related field is typically required to be qualified. Having a master's degree or MBA and many years of data management experience might sometimes increase this necessity.
Average Salary: $111,000 - $420,000