What Do Data Scientists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for data scientists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what data scientists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Data Scientists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about data scientists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
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.
Popular Job Titles For Data Scientists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Data Analysts
- Data Scientists
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Enterprise Architects
- Machine Learning Engineers
- Data Science Managers
- Data Analytics Managers
- Lead Data Scientists
- Data Modelers
- Principal Data Scientists
- Directors of Data Science
- Principal Architects
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for data scientists can be found.
Best Industries for Data Scientists
Data Scientists Jobs By Industry
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 11.8%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 9.1%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 6.7%
- Insurance Carriers: 5.9%
- Scientific Research and Development Services: 5.2%
- Depository Credit Intermediation: 4.3%
- Other: 57%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of data scientists can be found working in the Computer Systems Design and Related Services sector. In 2023, about 11.8% of all jobs for data scientists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (9.1%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (6.7%), Insurance Carriers (5.9%), Scientific Research and Development Services (5.2%) and Depository Credit Intermediation (4.3%).
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What Do Data Scientists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what data scientists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work data scientists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that data scientists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for data scientists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Data Scientists
Based on 283,789 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Data Scientists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Data Analysis | 107,273 | 38% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 89,800 | 32% |
| Computer Science | 85,532 | 30% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 78,866 | 28% |
| Data Science | 67,413 | 24% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Data Scientists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 120,866 | 43% |
| Management | 87,842 | 31% |
| Leadership | 66,226 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 62,809 | 22% |
| Research | 58,654 | 21% |
Based on 283,789 job postings related to data scientists, data analysis was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 38% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for sql (programming language), computer science, python (programming language), data science and machine learning were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for data scientists, followed by management, leadership, problem solving, research and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Data Analysis | 107,273 | 38% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 89,800 | 32% |
| Computer Science | 85,532 | 30% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 78,866 | 28% |
| Data Science | 67,413 | 24% |
| Machine Learning | 54,259 | 19% |
| Statistics | 54,094 | 19% |
| Project Management | 48,489 | 17% |
| R (Programming Language) | 45,347 | 16% |
| Tableau (Business Intelligence Software) | 44,041 | 16% |
| Business Process | 43,004 | 15% |
| Business Requirements | 38,709 | 14% |
| Dashboard | 37,695 | 13% |
| Power BI | 37,248 | 13% |
| Finance | 36,498 | 13% |
| Data Visualization | 35,738 | 13% |
| Business Intelligence | 35,546 | 13% |
| SAP Applications | 33,801 | 12% |
| Data Modeling | 33,222 | 12% |
| Agile Methodology | 33,103 | 12% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 120,866 | 43% |
| Management | 87,842 | 31% |
| Leadership | 66,226 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 62,809 | 22% |
| Research | 58,654 | 21% |
| Operations | 55,016 | 19% |
| Mathematics | 46,152 | 16% |
| Writing | 46,126 | 16% |
| Presentations | 44,358 | 16% |
| Microsoft Excel | 42,994 | 15% |
| Detail Oriented | 41,300 | 15% |
| Planning | 40,719 | 14% |
| Innovation | 37,351 | 13% |
| Customer Service | 31,705 | 11% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 30,456 | 11% |
| Consulting | 29,802 | 11% |
| Decision Making | 29,125 | 10% |
| Information Technology | 28,825 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 28,695 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 27,367 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Data Scientists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Data Analysts | 49,486 | 27.5% |
| Data Scientists | 46,356 | 25.8% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 15,654 | 8.7% |
| Enterprise Architects | 10,517 | 5.8% |
| Machine Learning Engineers | 10,092 | 5.6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was data analysts, with 24,223 unique job postings. Data scientists were second, with 7,038 postings, followed by business intelligence analysts, enterprise architects and machine learning engineers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to data scientists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Data Analysts | 49,486 | 27.5% |
| Data Scientists | 46,356 | 25.8% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 15,654 | 8.7% |
| Enterprise Architects | 10,517 | 5.8% |
| Machine Learning Engineers | 10,092 | 5.6% |
| Data Science Managers | 4,821 | 2.7% |
| Data Analytics Managers | 4,395 | 2.4% |
| Lead Data Scientists | 3,763 | 2.1% |
| Data Modelers | 2,769 | 1.5% |
| Principal Data Scientists | 4,621 | 2.6% |
| Directors of Data Science | 2,953 | 1.6% |
| Principal Architects | 3,224 | 1.8% |
| Data Governance Analysts | 2,765 | 1.5% |
| SAP Functional Analysts | 2,395 | 1.3% |
| SAP Consultants | 1,939 | 1.1% |
| Machine Learning Software Engineers | 3,031 | 1.7% |
| Solutions Architects | 2,492 | 1.4% |
| Data Quality Analysts | 2,256 | 1.3% |
| Enterprise Solutions Architects | 2,966 | 1.6% |
| Modeling and Simulation Engineers | 3,341 | 1.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for data scientists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for data scientists.
How much do data scientists make?
Data Scientists: How do you become one?
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