Pros and Cons of Working as a Data Scientist

advantages and disadvantages of being a data scientist

You think about becoming a data scientist but want to get additional information on salaries, job prospects, future outlook, educational requirements, work-life balance and much more before making your final decision in this regard?

Great Stick with me since I will show you the pros and cons of being a data scientist in the following chapters.

Table of Contents

Data Scientist Job Profile

Job DescriptionData scientists model, process, analyze and use huge amounts of data to find causal relations that can be exploited by many different institutions, including banks, the corporate world and governments.
Salary$113,000 per year on average, most data scientists make between $85,000 and $139,000 per year.
Job SecurityData scientists have excellent job security since almost every big company urgently searches for qualified people in this field and you will therefore have almost freedom of choice regarding whom to work for.
Job SatisfactionMany Data scientists are happy with what they are doing since they can make really good money while they still don’t have to deal with lots of stress at work.
Work-Life BalanceData scientists have pretty decent work-life balance since they don’t have to work on weekends or at nighttime and also don’t have to work many extra hours.
Physically / Mentally Demanding?Working as a data scientist can be mentally demanding.
Future OutlookExcellent future outlook for data scientists since our world becomes more digital and data-driven every day and data scientists will therefore be needed for many decades.
RequirementsYou need at least a bachelor’s degree in data science or a related field before you are able to work as a data scientist.

Advantages of Being a Data Scientist

  1. Data scientists can make really good money
  2. Data scientists don’t have to worry about old-age poverty
  3. Data scientists are able to afford many nice things
  4. Data scientists are in high demand right now
  5. Data scientists have excellent job security
  6. Excellent future outlook for data scientists
  7. Easy to plan your financial future as a data scientist
  8. Many people will admire you for your data scientist job
  9. Data scientists can work remotely
  10. You don’t have to work in a heavy physical manner
  11. Data scientists can work indoors
  12. Data scientists don’t have to work on weekends
  13. Data scientists don’t have to work many extra hours
  14. Good work-life balance for data scientists
  15. Data scientists work in a pretty safe environment
  16. You don’t have to deal with difficult clients most of the time
  17. Data scientists are needed all over the world
  18. Data science is considered cool right now
  19. You don’t have to travel as a data scientist

Data scientists can make really good money

One advantage of being a data scientist is that you can make really good money from what you are doing.

In fact, most data scientists make a six-figure income pretty early in their lives and due to labor shortage in this field, wages will most likely continue to go up in this industry.

Data scientists don’t have to worry about old-age poverty

Since data scientists can make pretty good money, most of them can save and invest enough money for retirement and don’t have to worry about old-age poverty as much as secretaries and many other people who just make significantly less.

Data scientists are able to afford many nice things

Thanks to the good money you will make as a data scientist, you will also be able to afford many nice things and don’t have to worry about every dollar you spend.

Moreover, you also have a pretty easy time providing for your family as a data scientist and can afford many nice things for your loved ones.

Data scientists are in high demand right now

Another upside to becoming a data scientist is that data scientists are in pretty high demand right now.

In fact, since our world becomes more digital and data-driven every day, data scientists are urgently needed to process those huge data streams to that companies and governments can draw valid conclusions and you will therefore have almost freedom of choice regarding whom you want to work for.

Data scientists have excellent job security

Since data scientists are in high demand right now, they also have excellent job security and don’t have to worry about losing their jobs anytime soon since even in case this happens, they will most likely find new jobs pretty quickly that may pay even more than their previous ones.

Excellent future outlook for data scientists

Being a data scientist is also not just a trend job.

Data-driven decisions are the future and if you become really good at data science, many doors will open for you and you will be able to start a fancy career and may get into a leading position soon. Moreover, you will also have excellent job prospects for many decades.

Easy to plan your financial future as a data scientist

Since you will have excellent job security and can make pretty good money as a data scientist, it is also pretty easy for you to plan for your future while taxi drivers and many other people working in rather insecure jobs will not have this luxury and may always have to worry about their financial future.

Many people will admire you for your data scientist job

Since data science is trendy right now, many people will also really admire you for your data science career and you may therefore have a rather high social standing among your circle of friends.

Data scientists can work remotely

Another benefit of working as a data scientist is that you will be able to work remotely most of the time.

In fact, many data scientists also work from home full-time and don’t even show up in their office anymore.

Hence, data scientists are pretty flexible when it comes to managing their private and professional life at the same time while teachers and many other people have to be present at their workplace in person and just don’t have the luxury of working from home.

You don’t have to work in a heavy physical manner

A data scientist career can also be great for you in case you don’t want to work with your hands in a hard physical manner since you will just do most of your work with your brain and will therefore not have to ruin your body as much as scaffolders and other people who often have to work in a hard physical manner on a daily basis.

Data scientists can work indoors

As a data scientist, you will also be able to work indoors while many other people have to work outdoors and have to deal with adverse weather conditions while you as a data scientist can even enjoy a nice drink and can make your workday as conveniently as possible.

Data scientists don’t have to work on weekends

Since you don’t have to work on weekends, you will also be able to make many nice weekend trips with your family and will also have more than enough time to relax and reload your batteries.

Data scientists don’t have to work many extra hours

You also don’t have to work long hours as a data scientist.

Instead, you will work in a classical 9 to 5 environment most of the time and will therefore have more than enough time to meet up with your favorite people after work.

Good work-life balance for data scientists

Since they don’t have to work on weekends and holidays and also don’t have to work many extra hours, most data scientists are pretty happy about their work-life balance since they can make pretty good money while they also have enough time for their loved ones.

Data scientists work in a pretty safe environment

Since data scientists are often able to work from home or just work in a classical office environment, they work in a pretty safe environment where serious accidents at work are rather rare.

You don’t have to deal with difficult clients most of the time

Since you will not work in the client business most of the time but will rather work in the back office of banks, corporations or other big institutions, you will also not have to deal with the moods of difficult clients and can avoid getting into trouble in this regard.

Data scientists are needed all over the world

Data scientists are not only in great demand in the US right now but are also pretty important in various parts of our planet and becoming a data scientist therefore also makes quite a lot of sense in case you may want to move abroad sooner or later.

Data science is considered cool right now

While data science has been considered nerdy just one decade ago, data scientists have a pretty high social standing right now and are treated like pop stars.

Thus, you will get lots of admiration from the general public for what you are doing.

You don’t have to travel as a data scientist

As a data scientist, you also don’t have to travel and this allows you to stay at home and to spend lots of time with your favorite people while stewardesses and many other people are away from home quite often.

Disadvantages of Working as a Data Scientist

  1. You need a fancy degree for becoming a data scientist
  2. You may have to take on student loan debt
  3. It may take you a while to become independent of your parents
  4. You have to be pretty smart for working as a data scientist
  5. You may have to stress your brain quite a lot
  6. Hard to help out your loved ones as a data scientist
  7. Hard to see tangible results of your labor as a data scientist
  8. You have to work in a classical office job
  9. You may not get enough fresh air
  10. You may get socially isolated in the long run
  11. Data science changes quite rapidly
  12. You always have to adjust to new situations
  13. You don’t work in the client industry most of the time

You need a fancy degree for becoming a data scientist

One downside to becoming a data scientist is that you will need a fancy college degree in data science or a related field before you are able to work in the data science industry and this means that you will have to spend lots of time and money on college.

You may have to take on student loan debt

Since getting a data science degree can be pretty expensive, you may also have to deal with significant student loans that you will have to pay back later in your life and this may financially constrain you quite a lot when it comes to buying a home or other important things of daily life.

It may take you a while to become independent of your parents

Since you will have to spend lots of time and money on college education, it may also take you quite long to become independent of your parents while carpenters and many other craftsmen are able to achieve this much sooner on average.

You have to be pretty smart for working as a data scientist

Another problem with being a data scientist is that you have to be pretty smart to succeed in this industry since you have to process big data in a reasonable manner and mistakes on your side may lead to wrong decisions of senior management and may cause lots of trouble for the firm you are working for.

You may have to stress your brain quite a lot

Since data science can be pretty demanding, you also have to stress your brain quite a lot at work and may not have enough power to socialize after work but may rather want to stay at home to reload your batteries.

Hard to help out your loved ones as a data scientist

While you will do complex work that is pretty valuable to the corporate world, you will still not have lots of value to offer to your loved ones and while roofers or tilers are able to provide value when it comes to buying or fixing homes, you as a data scientist can’t add any value in this regard.

Hard to see tangible results of your labor as a data scientist

While you will process large amounts of data, you will still not see real tangible results of your labor most of the time and this can become really frustrating and demotivating in the long run.

You have to work in a classical office job

Another disadvantage of being a data scientist is that you will also work in a classical office environment and will just work with a computer all day long while foresters and many other people are able to get lots of exercise at work and will stay fitter on average.

You may not get enough fresh air

Since you will work indoors, you will also not have the opportunity to get lots of fresh air and may therefore be in a pretty poor mood during your workday compared to people who work outdoors and get much more oxygen.

You may get socially isolated in the long run

Due to the rather quiet nature of their work, many data scientists are also pretty introverted and barely get the chance to interact with other people during their workday.

In turn, many data scientists also get socially isolated and many of them also feel lonely in the long run.

Data science changes quite rapidly

You should also know that data science is not a static process.

In fact, best practices change quite rapidly and you will therefore have to learn many new things on a regular basis to stay ahead of the game.

You always have to adjust to new situations

Since data science changes quite rapidly, it is also on you to improve and expand your skillset quite a lot since you may become obsolete otherwise.

You don’t work in the client industry most of the time

As a data scientist, you will also not get in touch with many people most of the time and if you want to work in the client service business, you may be better off becoming a car dealer instead.

Top 10 Being a Data Scientist Pros & Cons – Summary List

Being a Data Scientist ProsBeing a Data Scientist Cons
Data scientists can make really good moneyYou need a college degree for becoming a data scientist
Data scientists are in high demandStudent loan debt may become a problem
Excellent job security for data scientistsIt may take you long to become independent
Great future outlook for data scientistsData scientists may get socially isolated
Data scientists can work remotelyMany data scientists feel lonely
You can work indoorsData science is mentally demanding
You don’t have to deal with difficult clientsYou have to be pretty smart to succeed in data science
Data science is considered coolData scientists work with a computer all day long
Data scientists don’t have to ruin their bodiesHard to provide value to your friends
Data scientists are needed all over the worldYou will not see tangible results of your labor

Should You Become A Data Scientist?

While data scientists have excellent job prospects and can make really good money, you should also know that you need to be pretty smart for becoming a data scientist, you need to get a fancy degree and working as a data scientist can also be pretty lonely in the long run.

In the end, it is on you to evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages of working as a data scientist so that you can better decide whether you still want to become a data scientist or rather want to work in a different field instead.

If you come to the conclusion that a data scientist career is not for you, you may also want to check out the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of being a loan officer

Advantages and disadvantages of being a programmer

Advantages and disadvantages of being a barista

Sources

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1136560/data-scientists-company-employment/

Own research and interviews.

About the author

My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people about the different career paths that are possible in our current state of the world.

In my opinion, people often make the mistake to choose their profession solely based on how much money they can earn from it instead of doing what makes them really happy.

This is quite sad and I just want to give people a more objective picture of what a fulfilling career could look like.

I did the same when I started working in consulting after finishing my Master’s degree in Economics.

However, I’ve quit pretty soon after that since I haven’t found true meaning in my job.

Now I can do what I really love to do and I want to enable as many other people as well to go on this exciting path towards happiness instead of just money.

I conducted various interviews with employees to give you a good impression of what working in different fields will look like so that you can make the best possible decision regarding your future career choice.

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