Jobs After MS in Data Science in USA: Check Popular Job Roles, Salary and Top Recruiters

Data Science is one of the most pursued courses in USA, known for its high return on investment. Graduates with an MS in Data Science in the USA are entering a robust job market with diverse roles and promising salaries. According to the US News and World Reports, Data Scientist jobs are ranked:

• #8 among the best 100 jobs in USA
• #4 in Best Technology Jobs
• #7 in Best STEM Jobs

In all categories, Data Scientists are ranked within the top 10. Across a recent five-year period, the number of data engineers has grown to almost 50% of data scientists. The number of data scientists more than doubled over those five years, and the number of data engineers increased by 6 times. Additionally, The Bureau of Labor Statistics has listed jobs after MS in data science in USA under the high-growth job titles. They also report that, the demand for data science skills will drive a 27.9% rise in employment in the field through 2026. Not only is there a huge demand, but there is also a noticeable shortage of qualified data scientists.

According to Payscale, the average annual base salary of Data Scientists is 101,117 USD (including base salary and joining bonus) as of October 2024. Here's a detailed overview of career opportunities, average salaries, and the factors affecting career prospects in data science after an MS degree.

Explore: High Paying Jobs in USA for International Students

Jobs After MS in Data Science in USA: Popular Job Profiles

After completing MS in Data Science in the US, there are different types of job positions for candidates in the US. Some of the top job profiles of MS in Data Science in the USA are given below.

Also check: Popular Job Sectors in USA

MS Data Science Salary in USA: Top Recruiters

From Fortune 500 companies to leading IT firms, data scientists are required everywhere. The job opportunities in the field of data science is one of the most demanded after computer science across the world. Some of the highest paying companies in the USA after MS in Data Science are given below:

Also check: Best Cities for Tech Jobs in USA

Top Universities for MS in Data Science Jobs in USA

MS in Data Science in the US is a popular degree program and is offered across the majority of top data science universities in the USA. Some of the top universities that provide admissions to MS in Data Science are given below.

Highest Paying States for MS in Data Science in USA

According to Indeed, data scientists tend to have the highest salaries in California, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, and New Mexico—all of which have a relatively high cost of living. Data scientists in states and cities where the cost of living is lower tend to earn less. The average pay of a data scientist in the USA states may vary with the type of job positions and the company you are working for. Below we have given some of the top paying states of data science in the USA.

• Employees with Data Scientist in their job title in San Francisco, California earn an average of 29.0% more than the national average of 101,117 USD per year.
• MS in Data Science salary in USA is higher than the national average in Seattle, Washington (16.2% more) and New York (11.2% more).
• Salaries in Washington, District of Columbia (3.0% less), Atlanta, Georgia (2.3% less) and Chicago, Illinois (1.2% less) are 1-3% less than the national average salary of 101,117 USD per year. 

Factors Influencing Career Growth for Data Scientists

Career advancement in data science relies on experience and skills in specialized areas like machine learning, data visualization, big data tools (e.g., Hadoop, Spark), and data warehousing. As professionals gain expertise and tenure, salaries generally increase, with seasoned data scientists (10+ years) earning over 140,000 USD annually. Leadership roles, such as Senior Data Scientist or Team Lead, can command even higher salaries due to additional responsibilities.

• Experience: There’s really no such thing as an entry-level data scientist. Many data scientists are data analysts who advanced into data scientist positions after working in data analytics a couple of years and then earning a master’s degree in data analytics or data science.
• Education: Nearly all data scientists have master’s degrees (some sources say 88%) and almost half have PhDs. That said, a data scientist who has been in the field for 15 years will almost always earn more than one with two or three years of experience, regardless of degree.
• Industry: The industry you work in also influences your earning potential. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Data scientists who work in the aerospace industry and finance earn the most.

Also check: Post Study Opportunities in USA

The employment opportunities for data science students offer great return on investment. A data scientist graduate with an associate level job can earn around 65 lakhs INR, whereas, a managerial post can get a salary of 95 lakhs INR per year. For the last couple of years, data science and big data are in the highest demanded career opportunities across the world.

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