Data Scientist
Use maths, statistics and programming to find patterns in large datasets and guide decisions.
A day in the life
Clean and explore data, build predictive models, present findings to non-technical teams, and refine algorithms.
Typical route
Helpful A-levels
Physics + Maths (+ Computer Science useful)
Typical qualification and training
- Data Science, Maths, Physics or Computer Science degree
- Postgraduate conversion course or graduate scheme
These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.
Indicative UK salary
- Starter
- £28,000-£35,000
- Experienced
- £45,000-£70,000
- Senior
- £80,000+
Finance and tech sectors tend to pay at the top end.
Salary range checked against Prospects.ac.uk: Data Scientist.
UK employers
- GCHQ
- BBC
- BT
- Monzo
Worldwide employers
- Meta
- Netflix
- IBM
Useful route links
These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.
Key skills
Explore related careers
Sources and further reading
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