Top Paying Jobs in the Data Science

Getting a career in data science can be one of the most rewarding careers anyone can have. Data science is something that many industries use to their advantage. A business will use data science to manage and predict outcomes for ventures and investments. Another example would be the medical field. Data science is used to provide medical professionals with valuable information to help aid them in making the proper decision in regards to health care and its system. With how everything is digital these days, data science has become more important than ever. That said, there are many jobs within this particular sector that you can choose from. But in this article, we’re going to be talking about some of the top paying positions you can get.

Taxonomist

A taxonomist is a type of scientist that basically gives names to living organisms and putting them into a specific class. This might seem like a simple task, but in actuality, it takes a lot of work to do effectively. As a taxonomist, you can expect your daily duties to consist of analyzing, studying, and utilizing computer software. Something else taxonomists can do is name and classify diseases and illnesses. You’ll also be researching and studying various DNA strands to learn more about the organism in question. To become a taxonomist, you wouldn’t expect to only be required to have a bachelor’s degree. However, most people who pursue this career opt to get a master’s degree or a doctorate. More specifically, people have to pursue a degree in either biology or botany.

It’s recommended that those who are interested in this profession aim for a master’s degree instead of a bachelors. The bachelor’s program might not provide enough knowledge and experience. A master’s or higher, however, can give you everything you need. Granted, college is a rather large financial investment. As such, you might not have enough funds to directly finance your education. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.

You can, instead, take out school loans as a way to pay for everything. It’s also in your best interest to take this loan out from a private lender. Private lenders can make it far easier to pay back the loan thanks to their reduced interest rates. A master’s in biology, for example, costs an average $55,000. Or, if you’re more interested in botany, a master’s in this field is around $58,000. Either way, these are pretty high costs, so taking out a student loan is the best option. As for the job itself, taxonomists start off by making almost $90,000 annually. And after enough time has passed, you could potentially make almost $193,000 annually.

Clinical Programmer

The next high-paying job in data science is a clinical programmer. These are individuals who assesses, creates and manages a clinical database. They’re also in charge of analyzing new clinical data and comparing it to what’s already there. You’ll also be reading code language, performing various tests, and going through documents. If you’re looking to be a part of this career, you’ll have to complete at least a bachelor’s degree, similar to the aforementioned taxonomist.

However, the fields you have to study in will either be in statistics, computer science or a relating field. Not to mention, most employers want to see applicants who have a master’s or higher. Clinical programmers actually have one of the highest paying salaries you can get in this field. On average, you can make as much as $125,000 from the time you start. Over time, it can increase to almost $140,500 a year.

Data Modeler

Data modelers work much differently than the previous to jobs. Rather than constantly compiling data and organizing it, data modelers are responsible for the construction of a complete data model. This is accomplished with in-depth communication with business owners and users to incorporate their wishes into the creation. You’ll also need a keen understanding of big data predictions and be able to forecast and monitor trends. As a data modeler, here’s a list of the responsibilities you can expect to do in your career:

Assessing and exploring current data systems
Optimizing pre-existing data models
Brainstorming and implementing new data strategies
Troubleshooting various issues within the model
Creating new data models to implement

What’s listed here is only a fraction of the duties you’ll be doing as a data modeler. You’ll need to acquire at least a BA in computer science, but like with most of these careers, it’s best to have a master’s or higher. The average cost of a master’s degree in computer science is around $80,000. You can use the student loans we mentioned earlier to have an easier time paying for it. Furthermore, the average salary for starting your position is $99,000. But as time goes on and your career advances, you can expect to make almost $140,000 per year.

Biometric Technician

A biometric technician is someone who produces forensic technology, which is mainly used for law enforcement. They’re to help the authorities better identify potential criminals. Some of the forensic technology includes fingerprint scanners, DNA scanners and iris sensors. Most of your time will be in laboratories performing various procedures and optimizing current forensic technologies. In order to become a biometric technician, the first step involves acquiring your degree in either natural science or forensic science. Unlike the previously mentioned careers, becoming a biometric technician doesn’t exactly require a master’s degree, although that will certainly help you out in the long run.

Regardless, a bachelor’s is typically all you need for this job. However, you’ll also need to become an intern and go through rigorous on-the-job training. This apprenticeship can last two to three months, depending on who’s wing you’re under. Biometric technicians are one of those careers where the employer prefers you to show rather than tell. Something else we need to point out is that this career doesn’t pay as much as what we’ve already covered. In fact, it’s one of the lowest paying jobs in this sector. The position itself is more focused on providing an hourly wage rather than an annual salary. At first, you’ll probably only make around $35,000. But your pay could be increased to $65,000 once enough time as passed.