Job Search & Hiring
How To Become a Data Scientist
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | Jan 1, 2024
Are you thinking of becoming a Data Scientist or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Data Scientist, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Data Scientist job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Data Scientist
A data scientist uses their programming, analytical, and statistical skills to collect, analyze, and interpret data sets. This information helps them develop data-driven solutions to a variety of business challenges. Data scientists also have a large array of technical competencies including reporting technologies, machine learning, databases, coding languages, machine and statics learning. Here are five steps on how to become a data scientist.
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Get your undergraduate degree in data science.
- Computer science
- Data science
- StatisticsAn internship following the completion of your schooling will help you dive deeper into what life will truly be like after you begin working as a data scientist.
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Sharpen your skill set.
Learning the necessary skills to become a successful data scientist will make you proficient in your chosen field. You can expect to be required to know machine learning techniques, programming, data visualization and reporting, effective communication, risk analysis, big data platforms, and other skills necessary to be efficient at the job. -
Develop skills in database management, artificial intelligence or machine learning.
- SAS
- R
- SQL
- PythonData scientists need to have the ability to create graphs and charts. Data visualization tools for data science include:
- Excel
- PowerBl
- TableauData scientists also need to have some essential machine learning, big data, and communication skills to succeed in their field.
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Find a job.
Do some research and find a job that can help you develop your skills and work toward becoming a data scientist. Entry-level positions such as a business intelligence analyst, data engineer, or statistician can make it possible to work your way up to become a data scientist as you further expand your skills. -
Further your education.
- Master of Applied Data Science.
- Master of Science in Data Science.
- Master of Computer Science in Data Science.
- Master of Data and Network Analysis.A master's degree will open up additional career opportunities and increase your potential salary as a data scientist.
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