Career Explorer Computing and maths
Grows with AI
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.
Changing faster than most: more resilient than 22% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +34.6% by 2035, much faster than average. The work leans on creative vision.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $120,230
- Job growth to 2035
- +34.6%
- Openings a year
- 24,800
- People doing it (2025)
- 276,000
- Usual route in
- Bachelor's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Develop operational or technical procedures or standards
- Analyze market or industry conditions
- Present research or technical information
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Design databases
- Maintain operational records
- Analyze data to improve operations
What the work looks like
- 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.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- More of these jobs, as larger amounts of digital and electronic data are collected over the projections decade. Businesses in all industries will hire data scientists to analyze data to help improve business processes and design and develop new products.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Operations research analystsGrows with AI, Index 23, +11.9%
- ActuariesGrows with AI, Index 32, +9.2%
- Information security analystsGrows with AI, Index 24, +21.0%
- Environmental scientists and specialists, including healthGrows with AI, Index 34, +6.1%
Also known as: Business Intelligence Analyst (BI Analyst), Competitive Intelligence Analyst, Intelligence Analyst, Market Intelligence Consultant, Clinical Data Management Director (CDM Director), Clinical Data Management Manager (CDM Manager), Clinical Data Manager, Data Management Manager.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.