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Did you know that Facebook has around 2.9 billion active monthly users? As reported by Statista, Meta owns four of the largest social media platforms; Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, each of which has about one billion active monthly users. The data generated from these apps are huge and require professional expertise to conduct analysis and market the companies to more people.
With the focus on data increasing every day along with huge data volumes, the world requires skilled professionals to analyse them and draw meaningful information that can be used to drive businesses forward. Data science as a career path has been receiving huge attention worldwide due to its scope and numerous career opportunities. Data scientist, data analyst, statistician, business analyst, data engineer, and data architect are some of the career pathways open to data science graduates.
If you are a data science enthusiast, discover more about the career opportunities in the field of data science below.
What is data science?
Data science is an interdisciplinary field that studies large amounts of raw data to extract meaningful insights and patterns from it. Data scientists use various programming languages, statistical methods, machine learning techniques, and advanced computer science to analyse data and derive information.
The insights obtained from data analysis can be used to guide decision-making, improve security measures and efficiency, implement targeted marketing strategies, and drive business growth.
What are the career opportunities with data science?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 36% growth in data scientist jobs from 2021 to 2031. As companies are driven by digital technologies and the internet, there is an increased dependence on data science professionals to grow their businesses. Almost every industry in the world has become reliant on data science professionals as the digital revolution has set in. Healthcare, finance, hospitality, education, banking, retail, real estate, and telecommunication are some of the popular industries in demand of data scientists and analysts.
Here are some of the most in-demand career pathways to explore with a data science degree:
As a data scientist, you must identify potential data sources, collect relevant data, clean it, and analyse it using various statistical methods to derive patterns and insights. You should also employ data visualisation techniques to present the information in a way that the stakeholders can understand.
A data scientist earns an average annual salary of around €64,000, according to Glassdoor reports.
A data analyst inspects the data and information using various tools to come up with strategies that support the decision-making process of businesses. You must understand the business requirements and identify areas that require improvement to increase the overall efficiency of business strategies.
Glassdoor reports the annual average salary of a data analyst to be around €59,000.
As a data engineer, you are responsible for the design and development of data systems that store and process large amounts of raw data. You must also create and maintain data warehouses, data lakes, and data pipelines for the scientists and analysts to perform their duties optimally.
According to Glassdoor, a data engineer earns around €65,000 annually.
- Data architect
Data architects are responsible for developing a data strategy for the organisation. You must design the overall data infrastructure which includes data models and procedures and manage the data flow. You should oversee the entire lifecycle of a data operation and collaborate with other data science professionals to meet the company’s requirements.
PayScale reports the average annual salary of a data architect to be €75,121 which is much more than other data science jobs.
How to start your career in data science
Educating yourself on the various nuances of data science, earning certifications, gaining practical experience, and building connections are the ways to kickstart a career in data science.
You can get into entry-level jobs in the sector with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, computer science, or statistics. But it is better to pursue a master’s in data science to grab more exciting and well-paying opportunities as the competition is as high as the demand for data science jobs.
Additionally, you can also enrol in certification programmes to develop specific skills that are relevant to particular industries. There are plenty of certification programmes that deal with industries such as logistics, banking, finance, healthcare, and business. Choose a programme that interests you and build your skills and portfolio to catch the employer’s attention.
You can also work as an intern during your study programme or soon after to add up the experience in your resume. This way, you can network with like-minded people and also gain some valuable experience that will take you one step closer to your dream career.
If you are ready to build your data science skills, join the MSc Data Science programme offered at the University of Europe for Applied Science (UE), Germany and get started. The programme covers important topics in data science such as data analytics, machine learning, predictive modelling, deep learning, cloud computing, and data engineering.
During the programme, you will develop theoretical and practical knowledge of all essential data science concepts which will set you apart in the competitive job market. You also have the opportunity to choose an interdisciplinary elective out of game design, digital media communication, or UX/UI design which will give you an added advantage in your job search.