Data Scientists

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Computer & Mathematical
• O*NET-SOC code: 15-2051
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software.
• Apply feature selection algorithms to models predicting outcomes of interest, such as sales, attrition, and healthcare use.
• Apply sampling techniques to determine groups to be surveyed or use complete enumeration methods.
• Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software.
• Compare models using statistical performance metrics, such as loss functions or proportion of explained variance.
• Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software.
• Deliver oral or written presentations of the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
• Design surveys, opinion polls, or other instruments to collect data.
• Identify business problems or management objectives that can be addressed through data analysis.
• Identify relationships and trends or any factors that could affect the results of research.
• Identify solutions to business problems, such as budgeting, staffing, and marketing decisions, using the results of data analysis.
• Propose solutions in engineering, the sciences, and other fields using mathematical theories and techniques.

Tools and technology

Alteryx software, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2, Amazon Redshift, Amazon Web Services AWS software, Apache Airflow, Apache Cassandra, Apache Hadoop, Apache Hive, Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, Atlassian Confluence, Atlassian JIRA

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Statisticians
• Statistical Assistants
• Financial Quantitative Analysts
• Operations Research Analysts
• Bioinformatics Scientists
• Bioinformatics Technicians
• Mathematicians
• Computer and Information Research Scientists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Data Scientists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.