Occupations · Computer and Mathematical
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.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 15-2051.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 12% between 2021 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $130,710 | 19,810 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,270 | 10,030 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $166,300 | 9,350 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $120,840 | 8,630 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $135,190 | 8,530 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $131,830 | 8,220 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $173,160 | 6,570 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $157,290 | 6,100 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $104,480 | 5,940 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $112,640 | 5,840 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $107,030 | 5,640 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $105,380 | 4,940 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2022
Comparing O*NET release 27.1 (2022-11-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.
Now listed 61
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| data scientist | 2511.3 | exact |
| statistician | 2120.6 | close |
| data analyst | 2511.2 | close |
| knowledge engineer | 2529.8 | close |
| ICT intelligent systems designer | 2511.10 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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