A Data Scientist drives outcomes across Data Science, Python, SQL and related areas. Based on 29 scored postings, this role requires a mix of technical and strategic skills at varying depth levels.

What employers are looking for:

•Data Science at L2 — required in 28% of postings. Foundational understanding with practical application expected.
•Python at L3 — required in 28% of postings. Foundational understanding with practical application expected.
•SQL at L3 — required in 28% of postings. Employers want hands-on proficiency, not textbook knowledge.

⚠ Most common gaps: Machine Learning (83% gap rate) and Data Engineering (67% gap rate). If these apply to you, address them directly in your cover letter.

Required Skills

Skills ranked by frequency across 29 postings. L-levels show the depth employers require.

L1 AwarenessL2 BasicL3 IntermediateL4 AdvancedL5 Expert

Data ScienceTop 3

28%38% gap

PythonTop 3

28%

SQLTop 3

28%

21%83% gap

10%67% gap

10%

10%

Data Science Experience

10%

Salary Insights

Compensation data from 10 postings with disclosed salary.

$176K

Average

$152K

Median

Jobs with salary data

Based on 10 Data Scientist job postings with disclosed salary data, compensation averages $176K. The median sits at $152K, indicating a few high-paying outliers pulling the average up.

Common Skill Gaps

Skills where applicants most frequently fall short of the required depth.

Machine Learning

83% gap

Data Engineering

67% gap

Data Science

38% gap

A gap doesn't mean disqualified. It means you need to address it directly. ShouldApply scores your resume against the actual depth requirements and shows exactly where you fall short, before you apply.

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Top Hiring Companies

Companies with the most active Data Scientist postings in the scored dataset.

Pwc2 Experian2 CDC/ATSDR Public Health Internships and Fellowships1 Tredence Inc.1 Pinterest1 Humana1 Fractal1 Extend1

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Frequently Asked Questions

The top skills for Data Scientist roles are Data Science, Python, SQL, Machine Learning, Data Engineering. Most positions require these at L2 depth or higher, meaning employers want candidates who can work independently, not just have surface awareness.

Based on 10 job postings with disclosed salary data, the average Data Scientist salary is $176K with a median of $152K. Actual compensation varies by location, company size, and experience level.

Data Scientist roles represent 1.2% of all scored jobs on ShouldApply. Common skill gaps include Machine Learning, Data Engineering, Data Science, suggesting many applicants struggle with these areas.

Top hiring companies for Data Scientist roles include Pwc, Experian, CDC/ATSDR Public Health Internships and Fellowships, Tredence Inc., Pinterest. These companies collectively account for a significant portion of active listings.

ShouldApply rates every skill requirement on a 1-5 depth scale: L1 (Awareness) means you can discuss the concept, L2 (Basic) means simple tasks, L3 (Intermediate) means independent work, L4 (Advanced) means leading and optimizing, and L5 (Expert) means architecting solutions. This goes beyond keyword matching to measure actual proficiency fit.

With 29 active postings analyzed and a 1.2% demand rate, Data Scientist roles show emerging market demand. Compensation is competitive, with median salaries above $100K.

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What Does a Data Scientist Do?

Role overview based on 29 scored job postings.

What employers are looking for:

•Data Science at L2 — required in 28% of postings. Foundational understanding with practical application expected.
•Python at L3 — required in 28% of postings. Foundational understanding with practical application expected.
•SQL at L3 — required in 28% of postings. Employers want hands-on proficiency, not textbook knowledge.

⚠ Most common gaps: Machine Learning (83% gap rate) and Data Engineering (67% gap rate). If these apply to you, address them directly in your cover letter.

Required Skills

Skills ranked by frequency across 29 postings. L-levels show the depth employers require.

L1 AwarenessL2 BasicL3 IntermediateL4 AdvancedL5 Expert

Common Skill Gaps

Skills where applicants most frequently fall short of the required depth.

Score My Resume →

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on 10 job postings with disclosed salary data, the average Data Scientist salary is $176K with a median of $152K. Actual compensation varies by location, company size, and experience level.

With 29 active postings analyzed and a 1.2% demand rate, Data Scientist roles show emerging market demand. Compensation is competitive, with median salaries above $100K.