Want to get employed in an entry-level data scientist job? Or do you have sufficient data science experience as a senior data scientist?
The motivation to upskill yourself might be a better option than being an average senior data scientist with low salaries.
And that surely makes sense!
But wait! Much before that, it is crucial to do more research on the typical salary you can expect as a senior data scientist in 2023.
Who is a Senior Data Scientist?
A senior data scientist manages entry-level and mid-level data scientists as they lead many data-driven projects in order to utilize data to help the business grow.
A senior data scientist must have complete knowledge of the context and field of the project and be responsible for the data science project’s success.
An entry-level data scientist is expected to have excellent basic knowledge of data science. They must complete tasks given to them by the senior data scientists. Besides technical skills, a solid grasp of the business domain is helpful.
A mid-level data scientist has some practical experience working on projects and a solid understanding of the methods utilized in data science projects. They participate in the planning and decision-making processes of projects.
A senior data scientist has a thorough understanding of the limitations of the concepts and methods utilized in a data science career.
Senior data scientists are project leaders who not only participate in but also direct the decision-making and strategic planning processes. They interact with the business team and consider the project's non-technical influencing factors.
What Skills Are Needed to Be a Senior Data Scientist?
If you think owning only technical skills can help you become a senior data scientist, then you need to burst your bubble. The truth is that you will need additional skills that will separate you from others.
Senior Data Scientist: Hard Skills
● Advanced knowledge of data preparation, analysis, and cleaning
● Excellent know-how of modeling tools, machine learning, and deep learning
● Highly skilled in programming and other scripting languages such as Java, C++, Python, R, Scala, SQL, etc.
● Experience with statistical analysis and modeling techniques
Senior Data Scientist: Soft Skills
● Analytical thinking skills
● Project management
● Verbal and written communication skills
● Problem-solving skills
Tools And Programs Senior Data Scientists Use
● C++
● Java
● Python
● Tableau
● R
● SQL
● Scala
● TensorFlow
Senior Data Scientist Salary Trends
A data scientist adds great value to an organization. But looking for a person who can be proficient in doing all the tasks that a data scientist does is challenging.
In addition, hiring these experts is quite competitive. Employers are now willing to offer data scientists decent salaries as a result of this. The senior data scientist salary depends on various factors.
Senior Data Scientist Salary By Experience
As per Glassdoor, the senior data scientist’s average salary is $2,03,967 per year, whereas the entry-level data scientist’s average salary is $1,07,324 per year in the United States.
Senior Data Scientist Salary By Country
As per LinkedIn, the average salary for an entry-level data scientist in the US is $1,10,000 /year, whereas a senior data scientist with around 6-14 years of experience can earn around $1,40,000 /year.
Senior Data Scientist Salary By Location
Here is the list of senior data scientist salary for each location, as given below:
City Name Average Salary
San Francisco, CA $179,842
New York City, NY $161,138
Washington DC $159,400
Los Angeles, CA $156,188
Boston, MA $155,433
Miami, FL $154,857
San Diego, CA $148,500
Minneapolis–Saint Paul, MN $148,375
Seattle, WA $147,708
Senior Data Scientist Salary by Skill/Language
Some of the most frequently used languages and skills for data scientists are machine learning, Python, and big data analytics, which correlate to salaries above average. Skills that attract less pay than the market rate include R and statistical analysis.
Roadmap to Become a Senior Data Scientist
Education And Experience
A bachelor's degree in data science, computer science, statistics, or a similar discipline is held by senior data scientists. A master's degree in information science, data science, or a related field may also be necessary for some senior or executive positions.
Additionally, candidates must have extensive knowledge of data science, programming languages (such as Python and SQL), modeling and machine learning technologies, statistical analysis, management, and strategic approaches.
Certificates And Courses
After earning a graduation degree and upgrading yourself, you can try out the below-listed certification courses that can give your career an edge. This could have a positive impact on senior data scientist average salary.
1. Certified Senior Data Scientist (CSDS™)
2. Certificate in Data-Driven Decision Making
3. Professional Certificate in Data Science
4. Advanced Data Science Specialization
These are the most highly recommended courses in the industry. Specifically, CSDS™ is a totally self-paced certification course that is designed keeping in mind the learning needs of data scientists who want to achieve the senior post. Rest, you can do more research if you want to look for more courses available online.
Career Path
Prior to entering the role, senior data scientists typically earn experience by working as data analysts, junior data scientists, or in comparable roles.
This way, senior data scientist professionals can progress and become data science managers, lead data scientists, and directors of data science later in their careers after achieving senior expertise.