Best Jobs in America

CNNMoney/PayScale's top 100 careers with big growth, great pay and satisfying work.

32. IT Data Scientist
IT Data Scientist
32
Median pay: $124,000
Top pay: $187,000
10-year job growth: 18.7%
Total jobs*: 28,200

What they do all day? Armed with Ph.D.s, data scientists know how to mine a huge amount of information to spot trends that can give businesses a competitive edge.

How to get the job?

What's great? What's not? --J.A.

What they do all day? Armed with Ph.D.s, data scientists know how to mine a huge amount of information to spot trends that can give businesses a competitive edge. --J.A.

Quality of life ratings:
  • Personal satisfaction: A
  • Benefit to society: B
  • Flexibility: A
  • Low stress: A
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*Total jobs is estimated number of people working in broader BLS 'job family.'

Sources: PayScale.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and CNNMoney research

Do IT Data Scientists have great jobs, or what? Are these great jobs, or what?
It's still a tough job market, so when CNNMoney, in partnership with data from PayScale.com, set out to find America's Best Jobs this year, first and foremost we looked for professions that offer great growth opportunities.

Other big factors: pay (how strong it is now, and how fast it's growing), overall job satisfaction, and how many jobs are in the field overall.
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