+34%Growth 2024–34
8Traits it runs on
Data Science & StatisticsFamily
What the work is worth. Which patients are at risk, which students are about to drop out, where the next outbreak starts — a data scientist finds it in the numbers before anyone can see it in person.
An ordinary day. Gather and clean data, explore it for patterns, build predictive models, check whether they actually hold up, and explain what they mean to decision makers.
The path in. Bachelor's in a quantitative field is the floor; master's is common. Programming and statistics both required.
From zero. The STEM Farm Data / Analytics / AI Operations track starts at zero-STEM intake and ends in this kind of work, with verified proof at every gate.
Take the STEM Compass assessmentZero to Data Scientist →
The personality behind the work
- Curiosity. You want to find the hidden pattern in raw numbers. A pile of data is a mystery you want to solve.
- Skepticism. You question whether the data is accurate, complete, or biased before you trust any conclusion.
- Communication. You can turn a complex finding into a clear story for people who do not share your training.
- Numbers & Data Affinity. You like living in numbers, tables, and measurements; quantitative work feels natural.
- Abstract & Systems Thinking. You can hold an invisible system in your head — logic flows, data moving between parts, cause and effect you cannot see.
- Persistence. You keep going through hours of troubleshooting. A problem that refuses to yield is a reason to stay, not a reason to leave.
- Adaptability. New tools, new languages, new rules do not throw you. You expect the ground to move and you enjoy relearning.
- Ambiguity Tolerance. You are comfortable starting without a clear map. Open-ended problems energize you.
The assessment scores each of these traits from 0 to 100 and reports where this role would stretch you as well as where you already meet it.
Other careers in Data Science & Statistics
Data Scientist by labor market
Every commuting zone in the country, biggest first. Each page carries that market's real economy and the counties inside it.
Newark, NJNew York, NYLos Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAChicago, ILDallas, TXFort Worth, TXHouston, TXAtlanta, GAWashington, DCMiami, FLPhiladelphia, PAPhoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, AZBoston, MA–NHSan Francisco–Oakland, CADetroit, MISeattle–Tacoma, WAMinneapolis, MNTampa–St. Petersburg, FLSan Diego, CADenver–Aurora, COOrlando, FLCharlotte, NC–SCBaltimore, MDSt. Louis, MOSan Antonio, TXAustin, TXPortland, OR–WASacramento, CAPittsburgh, PALas Vegas–Henderson–Paradise, NVCincinnati, OH–KYKansas City, MO–KSColumbus, OHIndianapolis, INNashville-Davidson, TNMurfreesboro, TNCleveland, OHSan Jose, CAVirginia Beach, VANewport News, VAJacksonville, FLProvidence, RI–MARaleigh, NCMilwaukee, WIOklahoma City, OKLouisville/Jefferson County, KY–INRichmond, VAMemphis, TN–MS–ARSalt Lake City, UTFresno, CABirmingham, ALGrand Rapids, MIHartford, CTBuffalo, NYTucson, AZTulsa, OKRochester, NYGreenville, SCOmaha, NE–IANew Orleans, LAKnoxville, TNBradenton–Sarasota–Venice, FLBakersfield, CAAlbuquerque, NMMcAllen, TXAlbany–Schenectady, NYCharleston, SCBaton Rouge, LAAllentown–Bethlehem, PA–NJEl Paso, TX–NMColumbia, SCCape Coral, FLLakeland, FLBoise City, IDDayton, OHStockton, CAColorado Springs, COLittle Rock, ARDes Moines, IADaytona Beach–Palm Coast–Port Orange, FLWinston-Salem, NCMadison, WIWichita, KSSyracuse, NYAugusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GAFayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR–MOHarrisburg, PAJackson, MSSpokane, WAToledo, OH–MIChattanooga, TN–GAReno, NV–CAPortland, MEScranton, PAPort St. Lucie, FLHuntsville, ALPensacola, FL–ALLexington-Fayette, KYKilleen, TXSpringfield, MOWilmington, NCLansing, MIFort Wayne, INSpringfield, MA–CTSanta Barbara, CASavannah, GABrownsville, TXNashua, NH–MAGulfport–Biloxi, MSMyrtle Beach–North Myrtle Beach, SC–NCLafayette, LAYoungstown, OHAsheville, NCMobile, ALSpartanburg, SCAnchorage, AKCanton, OHTrenton, NJTallahassee, FLFayetteville, NCMontgomery, ALShreveport, LAEugene, ORDavenport, IA–ILFort Collins, COHickory, NCLubbock, TXHuntington, WV–KY–OHPeoria, ILGainesville, FLLincoln, NEClarksville, TN–KYRockford, ILGreen Bay, WIColumbus, GA–ALSouth Bend, IN–MIKennewick–Richland–Pasco, WARoanoke, VASioux Falls, SDLongview, TXCollege Station–Bryan, TXTuscaloosa, ALDuluth, MN–WICedar Rapids, IAAmarillo, TXEvansville, INFargo, ND–MNLynchburg, VABend, ORErie, PAKalamazoo, MIYakima, WAPrescott–Prescott Valley, AZTyler, TXAppleton, WILake Charles, LABinghamton, NYChampaign, ILFort Smith, AR–OKTopeka, KSRochester, MNPanama City–Panama City Beach, FLCharlottesville, VALafayette, INBurlington, VTGainesville, GAYuma, AZ–CAAthens-Clarke County, GAMonroe, LAMedford, ORColumbia, MOJacksonville, NCJohnson City, TNSt. George, UTJoplin, MOWarner Robins, GASpringfield, ILSt. Cloud, MNCharleston, WVHouma, LABowling Green, KYDover, DEBillings, MTCoeur d'Alene, IDSaginaw, MIBurlington, NCAbilene, TXJackson, TNGreenville, NCRedding, CAEau Claire, WIIdaho Falls, IDOdessa, TXLa Crosse, WI–MNTerre Haute, INWaterloo, IABloomington, INGrand Junction, COLogan, UTKahului–Wailuku, HIJackson, MIHattiesburg, MSBangor, MEState College, PATraverse City–Garfield, MIRapid City, SDDothan, ALValdosta, GAWichita Falls, TXRocky Mount, NCAlexandria, LADalton, GATexarkana, TX–ARSioux City, IA–NE–SDAlbany, GAMorgantown, WVHarrisonburg, VABismarck, NDJonesboro, ARWausau, WIManhattan, KSMorristown, TNBozeman, MTMissoula, MTElizabethtown–Radcliff, KYWenatchee, WAPittsfield, MAAmes, IAMansfield, OHTwin Falls, IDSan Angelo, TXFarmington, NMAltoona, PASt. Joseph, MO–KSBrunswick–St. Simons, GASheboygan, WIAnniston–Oxford, ALOwensboro, KYMuncie, INSandusky–Port Clinton, OHWilliamsport, PASteubenville–Weirton, OH–WV–PAWatertown, NYBeckley, WVKankakee, ILGrand Forks, ND–MNMankato, MNGadsden, ALCheyenne, WYPaducah, KY–ILLima, OHVictoria, TXHot Springs, ARDubuque, IA–ILDecatur, ILCape Girardeau, MO–ILFairbanks, AKPocatello, IDParkersburg, WV–OHColumbus, INGreat Falls, MTCasper, WYElmira, NYGrand Island, NEMinot, NDLewiston, ID–WAEnid, OKEagle Pass, TXTupelo, MSKearney, NEArdmore, OKCookeville, TNLebanon, NH–VTLeesburg, VAMarion–Herrin, ILMason City, IAOttumwa, IAWillmar, MNClovis, NMMeridian, MSMilledgeville, GAPikeville, KYPine Bluff, ARRichmond, KYRoanoke Rapids, NCAlexandria, MNBardstown, KYCreston, IADublin, GAFarmville, VAGranite City, ILHazard, KYHelena-West Helena, ARHenderson, KYHilton Head Island, SCMarion, VAMcComb, MSMount Sterling, KYQuincy, ILSnyder, TXStarkville, MSTifton, GAYonkers, NYAlamosa, COBartlesville, OKBrainerd, MNBrookings, SDBrownwood, TXBurlington, IA–ILColumbia, TNCumberland, MD–WV–PADickinson, NDElko, NVFarmington, MOFredericksburg, VAGarden City, KSGreendale–Lawrenceburg–Hidden Valley, IN–OHGreenville, MSGreenville, TXHays, KSHoughton Lake, MIKirksville, MOLake City, FLLas Vegas, NMMilbank, SDMitchell, SDNorfolk, NENorth Platte, NEOxford, MSRice Lake, WISafford, AZSedalia, MOTallulah, LAWaynesville, NCWest Plains, MOAberdeen, SDAlliance, NEAmericus, GABatesville, ARBluefield, WV–VABradford, PA–NYCadillac, MICentralia, ILChamberlain, SDColumbus, NEDe Queen, ARDodge City, KSDouglas, GADumas, TXEdwards–Avon, COEvanston, WYFindlay, OHFort Leonard Wood–St. Robert–Waynesville, MOGermantown, MDGraham, TXHammond, INHastings, NEHutchinson, KSMarinette–Menominee, WI–MIMaysville, KY–OHMcCook, NENatchez, MS–LAO'Neill, NEOlney, ILOrd, NEPlainview, TXPortsmouth, OH–KYSomerset, KYStorm Lake, IAWarrenton–New Baltimore, VAWashington, NCWilliston, NDWorthington, MNYankton, SDAlice, TXAlpena, MIAltus, OKAndalusia, ALAndrews, NCAthens, OHBeloit, KSBoone, NCBowman, NDBroken Bow, NECarrington, NDChillicothe, MOColby, KSConcordia, KSDanville, KYDenison, IAEl Dorado, ARElkins, WVEmporia, KSFalls City, NEFort Dodge, IAGallup, NMGlasgow, KYGrafton, NDGreenwood, MSGuymon, OKHarrisburg, ILJamestown, NDLamar, COLiberal, KSLisbon, NDLufkin, TXMarquette, MIMcAlester, OKMexia, TXMiami, OKMoberly, MOMobridge, SDMuskogee, OKNacogdoches, TXNebraska City, NEOsceola, IAOtsego, MNPampa, TXParsons, KSPierre, SDPlatteville, WIPlattsburgh, NYPoplar Bluff, MOPratt, KSRichfield, UTSalina, KSScott City, KSSidney, NESioux Center, IASpirit Lake, IASterling, COTappahannock, VAThe Dalles, ORTrenton, MOValentine, NEWeatherford, OKWise–Norton, VAWoodstock, GAWoodward, OKAberdeen, WAAlpine, TXAshland, WIBlytheville, ARBrady, TXChildress, TXColstrip, MTCovington, VADecorah, IADevils Lake, NDDyersburg, TNGillette, WYGlasgow, MTGonzales, TXGreat Bend, KSGreensburg, INHamilton, ALHarrison, ARHeber Springs, ARHobbs, NMHoughton–Hancock, MIHugoton, KSIowa Falls, IAIronwood, MI–WIJackson, WYKalispell, MTKenai, AKKerrville, TXKlamath Falls–Altamont, ORLaramie, WYLexington, VALogansport, INMartinsville, VAMaryville, MOMiddlesborough, KY–TNMiles City, MTMountain Home, ARNorton, KSParis, TNParkston, SDPetoskey, MIRhinelander, WIRichmond, IN–OHRiverton, WYRugby, NDRussellville, ARSault Ste. Marie, MISearcy, ARShelby, MTSheridan, WYSteamboat Springs, COStillwater, OKSusanville, CASweetwater, TXUvalde, TXVernal, UTVernon, TXVillage of Four Seasons, MOVincennes, INWashington Court House, OHAlamogordo, NMAtwood, KSBaker, MTBurley, IDBurlington, COChincoteague, VACody, WYCondon, ORCrescent City, CACrossville, TNGoodland, KSGunnison, COJuneau, AKKeene, NHLa Grande, ORLewistown, MTLivingston, MTLudington, MIMagnolia, ARMcCall, IDMoab, UTMoses Lake, WANevada, MONewport, ORNorth Eagle Butte, SDPhilip, SDPlentywood, MTPrice, UTRock Springs, WYRoseau, MNRoseburg, ORRoswell, NMSalmon, IDSeminole, TXSequim, WASummersville, WVToms River, NJTorrington, WYTrinidad, COUkiah, CAValley City, NDWinner, SDAkutan, AKBethel, AKBuffalo, SDBurns, ORChester, MTDelta, UTDillingham, AKDillon, MTEastpoint, FLEnterprise, OREureka, CAFort Stockton, TXFriday Harbor, WAGrand Marais, MNHaines, AKHarlan, KYHilo, HIHonolulu, HIHooper Bay, AKHyannis, NEInternational Falls, MNJohn Day, ORJordan, MTKapaa, HIKetchikan, AKKodiak–Mill Bay, AKKotzebue, AKLakeview, ORMalta, MTMatador, TXMetlakatla, AKNantucket, MANome, AKPetersburg, AKPresque Isle, MESalida, COSanderson, TXSitka, AKSkagway, AKTaos, NMThompson Falls, MTUnalaska, AKUtqiaġvik, AKVineyard Haven–Edgartown–Oak Bluffs, MAWinnett, MTWrangell city and, AKZapata–Medina, TX
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Questions people ask
What traits does a data scientist need?
Curiosity, skepticism, communication, numbers & data affinity, abstract & systems thinking, persistence, adaptability and ambiguity tolerance. STEM Compass scores each of them and shows your gap or margin on every one.
How fast is data scientist employment growing?
+34% between 2024 and 2034 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.
How do I start from zero?
The STEM Farm Data / Analytics / AI Operations track begins at zero-STEM intake — no degree, no experience assumed — and ends in this kind of work with verified proof at every gate.
Sources. Career traits, education paths and value lines are the STEM Compass assessment library. Employment growth is U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024–2034. County economic types are USDA Economic Research Service County Typology Codes (2025); labor markets are Census commuting zones (2020). Salary is not shown anywhere in this campaign on purpose: the assessment measures fit and what the work is worth to the world.