Role Intelligence

Data Scientist

Analysis from 102 job postings 2.5% of all scored jobs

102

Jobs Analyzed

2.5%

Demand Rate

$203K

Avg Salary

$200K

Median Salary

Skill Snapshot

Top Skills for Data Scientist

Based on 102 scored postings

L1L2L3L4L5

What Does a Data Scientist Do?

Role overview based on 102 scored job postings.

A Data Scientist drives outcomes across SQL, Python, Data Science and related areas. Based on 102 scored postings, this role requires a mix of technical and strategic skills at varying depth levels.

What employers are looking for:

  • SQL at L3 required in 48% of postings. Foundational understanding with practical application expected.
  • Python at L2 required in 36% of postings. Foundational understanding with practical application expected.
  • Data Science at L2 required in 29% of postings. Foundational understanding with practical application expected.
Most common gaps: Causal Inference (71% gap rate) and Statistical Methods (67% gap rate). If these apply to you, address them directly in your cover letter.

Required Skills

Skills ranked by frequency across 102 postings. L-levels show the depth employers require.

L1 AwarenessL2 BasicL3 IntermediateL4 AdvancedL5 Expert

Salary Insights

Compensation data from 39 postings with disclosed salary.

$203K

Average

$200K

Median

39

Jobs with salary data

SALARY RANGE (P10–P90)high confidence (10000 jobs)
$67K
$199K
10thTypical range: $86K$159K90th

Based on 39 Data Scientist job postings with disclosed salary data, compensation averages $203K. The median sits at $200K, indicating a few high-paying outliers pulling the average up. The typical range (25th to 75th percentile) runs $86K to $159K.

Common Skill Gaps

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

NLP
67% 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.

Browse Data Scientist Jobs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The top skills for Data Scientist roles are SQL, Python, Data Science, Machine Learning, Data Science Experience. Most positions require these at L3 depth or higher, meaning employers want candidates who can work independently, not just have surface awareness.

Based on 39 job postings with disclosed salary data, the average Data Scientist salary is $203K with a median of $200K. Actual compensation varies by location, company size, and experience level.

Data Scientist roles represent 2.5% of all scored jobs on ShouldApply. Common skill gaps include Causal Inference, Statistical Methods, NLP, suggesting many applicants struggle with these areas.

Top hiring companies for Data Scientist roles include Google, Pinterest, SoFi, Walmart, TikTok. 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 102 active postings analyzed and a 2.5% demand rate, Data Scientist roles show emerging market demand. Compensation is competitive, with median salaries above $100K.

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