Data Scientists build complex problem solving, programming and judgment and decision making skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Data Warehousing Specialists (84%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data Warehousing Specialists | 84% | $139,500Pay for the broader BLS group “Database Architects” | Not compared | None |
| 2 | Database Architects | 84% | $139,500 | +16% | None |
| 3 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | 81% | $140,300 | +17% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Bioinformatics Scientists | 77% | $98,920Pay for the broader BLS group “Biological Scientists, All Other” | Not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Blockchain Engineers | 77% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 6 | Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Software Developers | 75% | $135,980 | +13% | None |
| 8 | Computer Systems Analysts | 75% | $105,850 | −12% | None |
| 9 | Penetration Testers | 74% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Computer Programmers | 73% | $100,390 | −17% | None |
Compared with Data Scientists, median $120,230. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as data scientists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
84% skill match · $139,500 (broader BLS group)
Operations Analysis · Technology Design · Systems Analysis
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
84% skill match · $139,500 · +16% pay
Operations Analysis · Technology Design · Systems Analysis
81% skill match · $140,300 · +17% pay
Operations Analysis · Technology Design · Troubleshooting
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Data Warehousing Specialists (84% skill match, median $139,500), Database Architects (84% skill match, median $139,500) and Computer and Information Research Scientists (81% skill match, median $140,300), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 8 pay more than data scientists at the median. The biggest increases: Physicists (+43%, $172,250), Computer and Information Research Scientists (+17%, $140,300) and Database Architects (+16%, $139,500).
19 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. 6 usually need a graduate degree: Computer and Information Research Scientists, Bioinformatics Scientists and Financial Quantitative Analysts.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.