The world is increasingly digital, and this means big data is here to stay. In fact, the importance of big data and data analytics is only going to continue growing in the coming years. It is a fantastic career move and it could be just the type of career you have been trying to find.
Professionals who are working in this field can expect an impressive salary, with the median salary for data scientists being $116,000. Even those who are at the entry level will find high salaries, with average earnings of $92,000. As more and more companies realize the need for specialists in big data and analytics, the number of these jobs will continue to grow. Close to 80% of the data scientists say there is currently a shortage of professionals working in the field.
What Type of Education Is Needed?
Most data scientists – 92% – have an advanced degree. Only eight percent have a bachelors degree; 44% have a masters degree and 48% have a Ph.D. Therefore, it stands to reason that those who want to boost their career and have the best chance for a long and fruitful career with great compensation will work toward getting higher education.
Some of the most common certifications for those in the field include Certified Analytics Professional (CAP), EMC: Data Science Associate (EMCDSA), SAS Certified Predictive Modeler and Cloudera Certified Professional: Data Scientist (CCP-DS). The various certifications are for specific competencies in the field.
Now is a good time to enter the field, as many of the scientists working have only been doing so for less than four years. This is simply because the field is so new. Getting into big data and analytics now is getting in on the ground floor of a vibrant and growing area of technology.
Multiple Job Roles
Many who are working in the field today have more than one role in their job. They may act as researchers, who mine company data for information. They may also be involved with business management. Around 40% work in this capacity. Others work in creative and development roles. Being versatile and being able to take on various roles can make a person more valuable to the team.
Being willing to work in a variety of fields can help, too. While the technology field accounts for 41% of the jobs in data science currently, it is important to other areas too. This includes marketing, corporate, consulting, healthcare, financial services, government, and gaming.
Add More Skills
To become more attractive to companies, those who are in the big data and analytics fields can work to add more skills by taking additional courses. Some of the options to consider include:
- Hadoop and MapReduce
- Real Time Processing
- NoSQL Databases
- GTA Support
- Excel
- Data Science with R
- Data Science with SAS
- Data Science with Python
- Data Visualization Tableau
- Machine Learning
- Cloublabs for R and Python
Continuing to take classes will provide you with the edge needed to become a valuable member to any team. It shows initiative and drive, and it makes you more of an asset to companies.
Keep Up With the Changes
The field of big data and analytics is not static. As technology changes and increases, so will the field. It is vital that those who are in the field and who want to remain in the field take the initiative to stay up to date with any changes that could affect the field.
If you would like to learn more from Ronald van Loon on How to Prepare Your Analytics Team for Digital Transformation in 2017 join the webinar.
