Believe it or not, a data science degree can land you a very lucrative career. According to recent surveys, data scientists can earn as much as $116,000 a year. That makes this one of the highest paying post-graduate jobs in the entire world.
What is a data science degree?
A data science degree is an education that centers on teaching specific data-related skills. Data scientists process and analyze complex sets of information to use for various reasons. As a result, the typical job relates to computer science, statistics, analysis methods, and probability.
There are several steps to earning a degree in data science. For starters, math, physics, and all other related fields must be mastered in an accredited university. Those steps are worth taking, too. That’s because innovative technologies require highly trained data analysts for successful development.
Top 5 jobs in the field
It’s much easier to land a high-paying job in the field when you’ve earned a data science degree. Scientific data analysis careers combine several different disciplines to discover hidden insights. Mathematics, business ethics, psychology, and finely tuned algorithms are most commonly used. Therefore, careers in this field are generally lucrative because of the complex education that’s required.
As such, these are the top 5 jobs in the data science industry:
- Machine Learning Engineer (MLE) – average salary: about $140,000 per year
- Applications Architect – average salary: about $115,000 per year
- Enterprise Architect – average salary: about $110,000 per year
- Data Engineer – average salary: about $100,000 per year
- Business Intelligence Developer (BI) – average salary: about $82,000 per year
Meanwhile, you can still rake in some serious dough as a Statistician (approx. $77k). And a simple Data Analyst makes around $67,000 a year. Keep in mind, however, that the quality of your education plays a tremendous role in your earning power.
Tips for landing a great job with a data science degree
Because analysis is used to discover such important information, businesses usually vet their incoming scientists very carefully. In other words, simply having a data science degree is not enough to guarantee you a job. Employees are welcome to use high-powered tools, but the analysis is only as good as the person behind it. So, that’s where you need to be different.
Learn how to dig out unseen data using personal insights and experience. Help essential organizations solve real-world problems. Then, combine that pre-graduate knowledge of computer science with your intuitive modeling and math skills. Highlight what makes you stand out from the crowd.