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Technology
How to become a Data Scientist
From data analyst: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.
- Time to get there
- 1–3 years
- Typical pay
- $105k–$150k
- Starting from
- Data analyst
Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from data analyst and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.
See data scientist jobs open nowThe route
Get properly comfortable with statistics
Inference, experiment design and what a p-value does not mean.
Learn Python for analysis
pandas, then scikit-learn. SQL remains non-negotiable.
Course that covers this380+ Exercises - Python Programming Mega Pack - Built-inUdemy · around $19.99Do end-to-end projects
Messy data, a real question, a written conclusion. The writing is assessed as much as the model.
Course that covers thisMaster SQL - Core Database Skills Practice ExamUdemy · around $19.99Move up from analyst
The reliable route is data analyst first, then across — direct hires usually want a graduate degree.
- Browse jobs now
Destination
Data Scientist
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