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Learn more about the M.S. Data Analytics degree, and see why it could be the right fit for your future.
Learn MoreAs technology advances, so does our ability to get data and information. This large amount of data can be extremely overwhelming, which is why we need data analysis to help us organize and understand all this data. A master's degree in data analytics can prepare you for an exciting career looking for patterns and working with software to help understand data better. Every organization has a need to analyze data, so a degree in data analytics can prepare you for a career in a unique field that you're passionate about.
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Data Scientist
Data scientists, sometimes called computer/information research scientists or data analysts, are responsible for inventing and designing data-driven techniques to solve business and tech-related problems. Often, they look for order and patterns in data, as well as spotting trends that can help a business’ bottom line. In addition, they find innovative new uses for current analytic technology, explore the fundamental issues in technology, and utilize/develop analytical algorithms to solve problems. Data scientists often work with other scientists, engineers, and business/IT leaders, invent new analytical tools, partner in new software systems, design experiments to test code, and publish findings in journals for others to learn from. Data scientists have a solid grasp of statistics and are leaders in innovative techniques such as machine learning, deep learning, and text analytics.
The average annual salary for data scientists is $118,000. This is well above the national average salary in the U.S., which is $56,000, making it a great IT career. Entry-level salaries are around $69,000 per year, with the top 10% earning more than $183,000 per year. The company you work for and your prior experience will largely dictate how much money you can make as a data scientist. Your education level is also an important factor in deciding how much you can make. Earning a master's degree can instantly give you higher salary options.
For a data scientist position, employers will usually require a master's degree. An advanced degree in data analytics will dive deeper into data-mining techniques and practices, as well as give you additional programming experience that will be key to help you in your career. Data manipulation and visualization will be crucial to your career and are often taught in a master's degree program.
Job potential for data scientists is expected to grow 16% in the next ten years, which is three times faster than the national average for job growth. This means that positions will be plentiful and workers with the right education can expect many job opportunities. Data science is an exciting and ever-changing field that has lots of potential for those interested.
Business Systems Analyst
Business systems analysts review the computers and programs that an organization uses and advise the business stakeholders on how to make the processes as efficient as possible. They utilize business and technical knowledge combined to help them be successful in this role. They look at cost/benefit analysis, learn about the business needs, make evaluations of IT programs that could help meet needs, and help implement the technology for an organization. Business systems analysts are key in helping an organization ensure they have the technology they need to be successful.
The average annual salary for business systems analysts is around $88,000. Entry-level workers earn around $54,000, and the top 10% in the profession earn more than $142,000. Business systems analysts that have specific IT education can often get a higher salary. The average salary will also depend on the industry and location where you work. A large factor in your salary level will be your education level. Earning a master's degree can automatically propel you into a higher salary bracket.
A business systems analyst may also be called a computer systems analyst, so an IT degree can be the ticket to set you apart from the competition. An information technology degree will help you learn more about computer systems, discover how to analyze them, and see how they are implemented in all kinds of settings. An IT business course can help give you the additional information you need about how computer systems are implemented in a business setting, helping you be qualified for this kind of role.
The job outlook for business systems analysts is expected to grow 9% by 2028. This is a bit faster than the national average. As more businesses understand the need for higher efficiency and productivity, business systems analyst will continue to be an in-demand role. As technology evolves, organizations need to understand their computer systems and programs even more specifically so they can be as successful as possible.
Analytics Manager
Analytics managers are in charge of overseeing all the analytics tasks at their organization. This can include coordinating analytics tasks, creating strategies for data collection, analyzing data, conducting research, and implementing analytics programs for their organizations. They often work to share key findings with other managers and help make decisions based on what they've learned from the data. They may also need to work with other teams to learn what specific data they are looking for and come up with solutions to find that information.
The average annual salary for an analytics manager is $97,000. The lowest 10% earn $67,000 per year, while the top 10% can earn more than $126,000 per year. Analytics managers can work in a variety of organizations, which will dictate how much they can earn. Analytics managers with higher education also tend to earn more than those with less education.
A master's degree in data analytics is highly beneficial for this role. In a data analytics master's degree, students learn data mining, visualization, manipulation, and programming, which are all important elements to an analytics manager position. Analytics managers also need to have the communication skills to be able to connect with other managers in the organization, which can be learned in a master's program.
The job outlook for analytics managers is expected to grow about 27% by 2028. This is four times faster than the national average. Why is there such accelerated growth potential for this occupation? As more organizations understand their need for data and information, they are relying more on analytics managers to help them harness and understand their data. Every industry and every organization can benefit from controlling data and using it to understand their market and customers better.
Statistician
Statisticians analyze statistical information involving engineering, economic, mathematical, scientific, or IT data. They use graphs, charts, and tables to report their results for the business to interpret. They identify relationships and trends and also ensure data is valid. They create sample techniques, analytical methods, and more. Computer software is crucial for successful statistical analysis.
Statisticians earn an average annual salary of $73,000. The bottom 10% earn a salary of around $51,000 a year while the top 10% earn more than $106,000 per year. The industry where you focus your work is a key to your earning potential. Statisticians often work for specific clients and help run analysis for them, perform research, and more. The location where you work is key to how much you can earn.
Statisticians can greatly benefit from a master's degree in data analytics. Many statisticians get their start with a bachelor's degree in data analytics or statistics, and then a master's degree can help them further their careers. A data analytics degree will help you learn more about specific programming languages and computer systems that should be used in analysis and data modeling.
It's expected that the job outlook for statisticians will grow 30% by 2028. More organizations are seeing a need to understand their customers, products, and information more thoroughly. They are increasingly likely to hire consultant and statistician firms to help them understand their data.