← All 785 jobsFile 15-2051
Data Scientists
Also filed here: Data scientist, Data analyst, Data science, Analytics, Bi analyst, Business intelligence and 2 more
Being rewritten
AI already performs most of the work in this job. Even so, the BLS expects 34.6% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.
- Rank
- #10 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +34.6% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $120,230 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 275,600 in the US, with about 24,800 openings a year
The work, 32 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
AI does this: Develop operational or technical procedures or standards12%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,089 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI does this: Analyze market or industry conditions11%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,486 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
AI does this: Process digital or online data9%
AI performed this in about 1 in 136 Copilot conversations and completed it 81% of the time.
AI does this: Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data9%
AI performed this in about 1 in 683 Copilot conversations and completed it 82% of the time.
AI does this: Present research or technical information7%
AI performed this in about 1 in 30 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
Still yours: Design databases6%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Communicate with others about specifications or project details5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 78% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on the design or use of technologies5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 97 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Maintain operational records4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Analyze data to improve operations3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 40 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 237 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
Still yours: Collect data about consumer needs or opinions2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Prepare informational or instructional materials2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 51 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI does this: Communicate with others about operational plans or activities2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 354 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
AI does this: Gather information from physical or electronic sources2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 28 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.
AI does this: Develop models of systems, processes, or products2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,656 Copilot conversations and completed it 72% of the time.
AI does this: Document technical designs, procedures, or activities2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 779 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
Still yours: Supervise personnel activities2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Coordinate regulatory compliance activities2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Analyze health or medical data2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,718 conversations, and it got them there 85% of the time.
AI does this: Train others to use equipment or products1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 494 Copilot conversations and completed it 94% of the time.
AI helps with this: Design computer or information systems or applications1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 938 conversations, and it got them there 85% of the time.
AI does this: Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principles1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 709 Copilot conversations and completed it 58% of the time.
AI helps with this: Analyze business or financial data1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 719 conversations, and it got them there 72% of the time.
AI does this: Determine operational methods or procedures1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 461 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI does this: Select materials or equipment for operations or projects1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 529 Copilot conversations and completed it 94% of the time.
AI helps with this: Create visual designs or displays1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 78 conversations, and it got them there 40% of the time.
AI helps with this: Develop scientific or mathematical theories or models1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,980 conversations, and it got them there 66% of the time.
AI does this: Program computer systems or production equipment1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 822 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on business or operational matters1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 290 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 135 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 24,800 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
BLS on AIAI adoption is expected to fuel strong growth in computer and maths jobs. Source ↗
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 45% of the workComputer Occupations49% AI does, against 76% here+5.1% by 2035 · $116,580 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 41% of the workDatabase Architects61% AI does, against 76% here+9.4% by 2035 · $139,500 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 36% of the workSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers52% AI does, against 76% here+5.7% by 2035 · $104,300 · Bachelor’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Work front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.36, higher than 98% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 15-2051 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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