Explore career options in data science
Here you can find information on career options and pathways in data science.
You can also discover where to look for job vacancies, as well as professional associations, mentoring and international opportunities.
Opportunities
The field of data science has rapidly evolved into a cornerstone of modern industries, offering a diverse array of career options and pathways. As businesses increasingly rely on data-driven decisions, the demand for skilled data scientists has surged across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, finance, and retail. Current trends in data science emphasise the importance of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics, driving the need for professionals adept in programming languages like Python and R, statistical analysis, and data visualisation.
Transferable skills such as problem-solving, communication, and domain-specific knowledge are crucial for translating complex data insights into actionable business strategies. With its broad applicability and dynamic nature, a career in data science promises not only lucrative opportunities but also the chance to influence critical decision-making processes in virtually every industry.
Career fields
- Healthcare
- Planning and transport
- Intelligent systems/AI
- Public administration
- Retail
- Justice system
- Fundraising sector
- Logistics
- Agriculture and mining
- Meteorology
- Statistics
- Government agencies
- Tech start-ups
- Social media
- Telecommunications
- Banking and finance
- Consulting firms
- Business intelligence
- Cloud computing
- Education and training
- Research and development
Employment roles
- Software engineer
- Junior data scientist / graduate data scientist
- Data scientist / analyst
- Robotics engineer
- Data architect
- Business analyst
- Data modeler
- Machine learning engineer
- Database administrator
- Business intelligence (BI) analyst
- Fraud analyst
- Customer insights analyst
- Product analyst
Occupation snapshot
Employed
55,200
Future demand
8%
Annual salary
$125,000
This data is based on the occupation profile for data scientists, retrieved from Seek website August 2024.
Your employability
In addition to knowledge and skills directly related to your program of study, you will also develop a range of other skills such as teamwork, analytical, communication through academic study, employment, voluntary work, sporting and recreational activities and life experience.
Recognising the value employers place on these skills is an important factor in your graduate job search. You can further develop your employability with these resources:
Vacancies
Information on relevant vacancies can be found in a wide range of sources:
- CareerHub
- Seek
- Graduate Connection
- Prosple (formerly Graduate Australia)
- Queensland Government Graduate Portal
- NSW Government Jobs
- Hayes Data Scientist Jobs
- Glassdoor
- Talenza
- APS Data Stream
- Australian Data Science Network
- Prospects UK – Data Science Job Profile
- Careers with STEM
- Your Career – Big Data
Graduate career snapshot - Jerome Han
Working at Canva, I’ve met engineers from all kinds of backgrounds including linguistics, architecture and even medicine. As long as you’re passionate, kind and excited about our mission, you’ll fit right in!
Job application resources
Craft a stand-out resume and cover letter, and learn how to prepare for job interviews.
Approach potential employers
Many work opportunities are not advertised, so we recommend approaching potential employers with the aim of researching their needs and how your skills, experience, interests and qualifications could match theirs.
This is called informational interviewing and will benefit you by:
- clarifying your specific career direction
- enhancing your professional network
- increasing your chances of being offered a job.
Industry outlook
The Your Career website includes helpful information such as job descriptions, employment prospects, average weekly earnings and skills requirements. Every job title in the database has a skills section to help you identify and describe essential skills for your future career.
The My Future website also has job descriptions and a useful career insight section.
The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching website has up-to-date information on graduate salaries, especially the Graduate Outlook Survey (GOS) National Report, which contains undergraduate salary figures.
More detailed information is available at the Labour Market Insights portal.
Professional associations
Joining a professional association is a great way to interact with people in your field who can assist you to explore your career options and potentially find employment opportunities. These associations hold regular professional development and networking events:
- Institute of Analytics Professionals of Australia
- Australian Data and Insights Association
- Statistical Society of Australia
- Information Technology Professionals Association
Students are welcome to join and often receive a discount on their membership.
Mentoring
The award-winning Industry Mentoring Program provides an excellent opportunity to further develop your employability and build professional networks.
The program is available to students with more than 80CP as well as recent graduates.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) and is committed to advancing knowledge, innovation, and practices that promote holistic health and well-being and contributing to a sustainable future, protecting our planet’s ecosystems, and ensuring a liveable environment for present and future generations while fostering partnerships for the goals.
Further careers information
Careers counselling
Individual career counselling sessions are available to all current students and recent graduates.
You can book an initial appointment via CareerHub.
Career planning
Our website has an array of career planning resources you can explore at any stage of your student journey.
Career Readiness
Check out our Career Readiness site in Learning@Griffith for additional information and resources for your career development learning:
Similar Career Options
Please note: The content on this webpage is a guide only. Please refer to degree-specific information and accreditation requirements of your profession on the Degree and Course Finder website and with the relevant professional accreditation body for your degree.