Top 7 Careers in Data Science: From Freshers to Experienced Professionals

5 min readAug 17, 2023

Ever wondered how Netflix suggests shows you’ll love or how self-driving cars navigate the streets? It’s all thanks to data science! Whether you’re just stepping into the world of data or you’re a seasoned pro, you need data science skills. In this guide, we’ll break down the top careers in data science in easy terms so you can find your perfect fit. Before that, let’s start with the basics first.

What is Data Science?

Data science is an interdisciplinary field that involves extracting knowledge, insights, and meaningful information from various forms of data. It combines elements from various domains, including statistics, computer science, mathematics, and domain-specific knowledge, to analyze and interpret complex data sets.

Top Entry-Level Data Science Roles

Data science is a rapidly growing field with many career opportunities. Let’s break down the top data science careers catering to freshers:

Data Analyst

Data Analysts analyze data to extract and identify meaningful patterns, trends, and information helpful for strategic decision-making. According to the Market Research Future report, the data analytics market will grow from $7.03 billion in 2023 to $303.4 billion in 2030 at a CAGR of 27.6%. Some of the key things to know about this role are:

Skills: The top skills required by Data Analysts are visualization tools, SQL, and statistical analysis.
Top Hiring Companies: Diverse Lynx and Insight Global hire most Data Analysts, which are staffing and consulting firms.
Salary: On average, Data Analysts in India earn ₹420,000, $74,000 in the USA, and £32,000 in the UK yearly.

Machine Learning Engineer

ML Engineers work with Data Scientists and Software Engineers to create and implement machine learning solutions to increase functionality and revenue in a business. According to Fortune Business Insights, the Machine Learning (ML) market will rise 36.2% by 2033, reaching a market capitalization of $225.9 billion. Some of the key things to know about this role are:

Skills: The top skills ML Engineers require are applied mathematics, ML algorithms, and computer science fundamentals.
Top Hiring Companies: Tata Insights and Quants12, Branch International, Google, and Aptos LLC are the top hiring companies globally.
Salary: On average, ML Engineers earn ₹788,000 in India, $112,000 in the USA, and £51,000 in the UK yearly.

Data Engineer

Data Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the infrastructure that enables data storage, processing, and retrieval. As per the Market Data Forecast, big data and data engineering services will grow from $39.5 billion in 2020 to $87.3 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 17.6%. Some of the key things to know about this role are:

Skills: The top skills required by Data Engineers are data pipeline creation, data integration, and data warehousing.
Top Hiring Companies: Amazon and Facebook hire most Data Engineers, which are the e-commerce and social media giants.
Salary: On average, Data Engineers earn $107,000 in the USA, £39,000 in the UK and ₹836,000 in India yearly.

Top Mid-Level Data Science Roles

The data science career path has multiple options for every career progression step. Let’s break down the top careers catering to mid-professionals:

Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist is an advanced and specialized role where they implement advanced statistical and machine learning models to solve business problems. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for Data Scientists will rise by 36% by 2031. Some of the key things to know about this role are:

Skills: The top skills required by Senior Data Scientists are C++, Java, Python, R, and PyTorch.
Top Hiring Companies: Amazon, Google and Facebook are top companies that hire globally.
Salary: On average, Senior Data Scientists earn ₹1,772,000 in India, $134,000 in the USA, and £76,000 in the UK yearly.

Machine Learning Specialist

Machine Learning Specialists specialize in designing, developing, and implementing machine learning solutions to solve complex problems across various industries. According to Fortune Business Insights, the Machine Learning (ML) market will rise 36.2% by 2033, reaching a market capitalization of $225.9 billion. Some of the key things to know about this role are:

Skills: The top skills required by Machine Learning Specialists are machine learning algorithms, programming languages, and data manipulation and analysis.
Top Hiring Companies: Amazon Web Services, Databricks and IBM are top companies that hire globally.
Salary: On average, Machine Learning Specialists earn ₹1,180,000 in India, $120,000 in the USA, and £60,000 in the UK yearly.

Top Senior-Level Data Science Roles

Its a rapidly growing field with many job opportunities in data science. Let’s break down the top careers catering to senior professionals:

Chief Data Scientist

Chief Data Scientist is a senior-level position where they lead and manage a team of data scientists and shape an organization’s overall data science strategy. The demand for data science and analysis will only multiply as by 2025; the world will generate 463 zettabytes of data per day. In 2022 it generated 94 zettabytes. Some of the key things to know about this role are:

Skills: The top skills Chief Data Scientists require are data strategy and architecture, programming languages, leadership skills, and advanced analytics and modeling.
Top Hiring Companies: JPMorgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley are top companies that hire globally.
Salary: On average, Chief Data Scientists earn ₹1,430,000 in India, $204,000 in the USA, and £104,000 in the UK yearly.

Head of Machine Learning

Heads of Machine Learning are senior-level authorities who oversee and direct ML initiatives, strategic planning, team management, and development of ML solutions. According to Fortune Business Insights, the Machine Learning (ML) market will rise by 36.2% by 2033, reaching a market capitalization of $225.9 billion. Some of the key things to know about this role are:

Skills: The top skills the Head of Machine Learning require are big data and distributed computing, model evaluation and deployment, and data science and analytics.
Top Hiring Companies: ServiceTitan, The Kraft Heinz Company, LogicMonitor, and Dandy are top companies that hire globally.
Salary: On average, the Head of Machine Learning earns ₹2,500,000 in India, $137,000 in the USA, and £106,000 in the UK yearly.

Paving Your Path: Preparing for a Career in Data Science

Thus, it is evident that Data science is a dynamic landscape offering many career paths. Anyone from diverse backgrounds, such as engineering, marketing, data science, and IT professionals, can apply for these highest-paying job roles in data science. There are opportunities for both freshers and experienced professionals, each finding a niche that resonates with their unique skills, interests, and ambitions.

However, given the shift in required qualifications, skill set, and expertise due to evolving needs and job roles, preparing adequately for a data science career is necessary. Adequate preparation will help polish your skills and increase the chances of hiring, as every employer prefers sufficiently skilled professionals.

So it is imperative to understand the importance of continuous learning and staying updated with the latest trends in data science. As the field progresses, grabbing these opportunities requires initial enthusiasm and a commitment to lifelong growth and development.