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Careers›Roles›Data Science Specialist
Mid-Level

Data Science Specialist

Patterns and predictions hide in data, and you pull them out: building models that forecast, classify, and inform decisions. Where statistics, code, and business questions meet.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
C
R
E
A
S
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Data Science Specialists
Energy & UtilitiesProfessional Services · 33%Government · 25%Education · 13%Healthcare · 9%Financial Services · 4%
Job markets for Data Science Specialists
Employment concentration · ~87 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Technology
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Data Science Specialist

The work blends framing the problem well, wrangling data, building and validating models, and explaining results. Most of the time goes to data prep, not the modeling, and an unexplainable model rarely gets used. You translate between technical depth and what the business needs.

What surprises people is how much is messy data, not glamorous AI. Data is incomplete and biased, expectations are inflated, and proving a model actually helps is its own challenge. The role ranges from analytics to heavy ML by company.

Skeptical, analytical, and good at explaining the technical: that's the temperament. If you want clean problems or guaranteed results, the ambiguity can frustrate. But if you like turning messy data into something that genuinely changes a decision, the work tends to be engaging.

What people in this role value
IndependenceAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RelationshipsModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$112K+9%
Professional Services$101K-2%
Energy & Utilities$88K-15%
Wholesale & Distribution$85K-17%
Government$80K-22%
Compared to Technology average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Data Science Specialists (SOC 15-2041.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Technology →
Data Science SpecialistData Science EngineerMarketing Data ScientistData AnalystDatabase AnalystData ModelerFinancial AnalystData SpecialistStatistical AnalystData CoordinatorPsychometric ConsultantQuantitative MethodologistClinical AnalystStatistical ProgrammerSurvey StatisticianDemographerStatisticianSports StatisticianApplied StatisticianStatistical EngineerResearch StatisticianData Analyst SpecialistData Support SpecialistTime Study StatisticianEducation Research Analyst
Exploring the Data Science Specialist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$60K–$171K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
30K
U.S. Employment
+8.5%
10yr Growth
2K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$80K$77K$74K$71K$68K201920202021202220232024$68K$80K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

MathematicsReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningSpeakingWritingActive LearningScienceJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
15-2041.00

Explore related roles

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directorData Operations Director$171KdirectorData Center Product Director$109KdirectorClinical Data Management Director (CDM Director)$113KmidData Science Engineer$113KmidMarketing Data Scientist$113KmidData Analyst$92K
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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.