Data Scientist
Use data to identify trends and provide insights into real-world problems.
Job opportunities
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Jobs on SEEK right now
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Projected job growth in 5 years
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Typical salary
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What's it like to be a Data Scientist?
Data Scientists look for patterns in raw data that will help provide insights into, or solve, real-world problems. Data Scientists are employed in a range of fields, including finance, IT, public administration, health and retail. They need to have strong technical skills and be confident with programming in a variety of languages such as R, python, SQL and SAS. In addition, Data Scientists typically need analytical, mathematical and communication skills.
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Tasks and duties
- Determining questions that need to be answered by developing hypotheses, gathering, organising and cleaning raw data.
- Applying algorithms in order to explore, analyse and interpret patterns in the data.
- Creating data-driven solutions for identified problems and issues, and communicating the results to a variety of staff and stakeholders.
How to become a Data Scientist
- Complete a bachelor degree in a relevant field, such as computer science, IT, mathematics or statistics. This usually takes three years of full-time study.
- Consider advancing your skills with a postgraduate degree in data science, such as a Graduate Diploma of Data Science or Master of Data Science. A bootcamp or immersive program may also provide you with relevant skills.
- Aim to secure an internship while studying to develop technical and soft skills, build a portfolio and grow your professional networks.
- Consider starting off in an entry-level role that focuses on data, such as a Data Analyst or Business Analyst.
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Is Data Scientist the right role for me?
How do Data Scientists rate their role?
Average ratings calculated from 15 Data Scientists surveyed on SEEK.
Work-life balance
4.3
Job satisfaction
4.1
Career progression opportunities
3.9
Job security
3.7
Pay / Salary
3.5
Variety of work
4.1
Job market trends for Data Scientists
Location
Projected job growth
National increase over next 5 years
2021
2026
Source: LMIP. Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK role reviews
Latest Data Scientist reviews
Latest reviews from 13 Data Scientists surveyed on SEEK.
All
Positive
Negative
Nov 2018
good chance to learn but it's hard to see tangible results.
Reviewer's Qualification
Doctor of Philosophy
Experience
1 – 4 years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
IT
The good things
chance to meet other data scientist and the transparency gives me chances to learn what the others are doing. Good for skills development.
The challenges
The communication among data scientists and among the whole team I worked. New ideas and opinion can hardly reach the management.
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Aug 2023
Happiness than money, Career than work, ability more than the age and ethnicit Iy more important.
Reviewer's Qualification
Doctor of Philosophy
Experience
5 – 9 years
Organisation size
Small (1-19 employees)
The good things
Good team, good motivational environment, easy and quick access to relevant tools
The challenges
Smaller office with minor revenue affected by petty politics than pro thinking. Inability to change governance.
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