Data Science Career Roadmap and Pathways

Data Science continues to dominate the tech industry, making it one of the most sought-after career paths in 2024. In India, the growth trajectory of Data Science is equally remarkable.

A report by Analytics India Magazine indicates that the analytics and data science industry in India is expected to reach $16 billion by 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26%. This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of data analytics across sectors such as finance, healthcare, and retail.

So, if you’re contemplating a career in this booming field, now is the right time to start. This blog has outlined in great detail all the data science career prospects, all the skills required, a complete data science career roadmap, and how Bosscoder Academy can help you reach your career aspirations. 

But before moving ahead with the Data Science Career Prospects or Roadmap, let us first understand why you should build a career in Data Science in 2024.

Why a Data Science Career in 2024?

The number of data science professionals in finance, healthcare, retail, and tech is increasing on a massive scale. Companies are looking for experts who can make sense out of huge amounts of data and provide actionable insights to help drive business decisions. The lucrative salary and diverse job roles make data science an excellent career opportunity. So, here's an in-depth look at the various Data Science Career paths you can explore in data science.

Data Science Career Path

1. Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, processes, and analyses data to help businesses make the right decisions. They're responsible for making reports and dashboards presenting insights.

• Key Skills: Mandatory: SQL, Excel, Data Visualization | Desirable: Statistics, Python
• Tools used commonly: Excel, SQL, Tableau, Power BI
• Career Growth: Data Analyst → Sr. Data Analyst → Data Analytics Manager → Director of Data Analytics
• Compensation: ₹3–8 Lakhs per year.
• Industry Demand: High (Finance, Retail, Healthcare)
• Popular Companies Hiring: Amazon, Accenture, TCS.

2. Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst

BI Analysts develop dashboards and reports to help businesses make data-driven decisions.

Key Skills: Mandatory: SQL, Data Visualization | Desirable: Business Acumen, Data Analysis

Tools used commonly: Tableau, Power BI, Looker

Career Growth: BI Analyst → Sr. BI Analyst → BI Manager → Director of BI

Compensation: ₹5–10 Lakhs per annum

Industry Demand: Moderate to High (E-commerce, IT, Banking)

Popular Companies Hiring: Google, Microsoft, Flipkart

Career Pathways in Data Engineering

3. Data Engineer

Data engineers are responsible for designing and implementing data infrastructures, managing data pipelines, and ensuring seamless data flow.

Key Skills: Mandatory: SQL, ETL, Big Data | Desirable: Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP)

Tools used commonly: Hadoop, Spark, Airflow End

Career Growth: Data Engineer → Senior Data Engineer → Data Engineering Manager → Chief Data Officer

Compensation: ₹6–15 Lakhs per annum

Industry Demand: Very High (Tech, Finance, Healthcare)

Popular Companies Hiring: Very High (Tech, Finance, Healthcare) -Infosys, Capgemini, IBM

4. Big Data Engineer

Big Data Engineer focuses on processing large amounts of data and develops data pipelines for huge datasets.

Key Skills: Mandatory: Big Data, Cloud Computing | Desirable: ETL Processes, Data Warehousing

Tools used commonly: Hadoop, Spark, Kafka

Career Growth: Big Data Engineer → Lead Data Engineer → Big Data Architect → Chief Data Officer

Compensation: ₹8–18 Lakhs per annum

Industry Demand: High (Telecom, Retail, Tech)

Popular Companies Hiring: Wipro, Cognizant, Oracle

Machine Learning & AI Career Pathways

5. Data Scientist

Data Scientists acquire and analyze complex data, create predictive models, and finally arrive at actionable insights.

Key Skills: Mandatory: Statistics, Machine Learning, Python | Desirable: Data Wrangling, R Programming

Tools used commonly: Python, R, Scikit-Learn, TensorFlow

Career Growth: Data Scientist → Senior Data Scientist → Lead Data Scientist → Head of Data Science

Compensation: ₹6–18 Lakhs per annum

Industry Demand: Very High (Healthcare, Finance, E-commerce)

Popular Companies Hiring: Deloitte, Capgemini, Reliance

Take Your First Step in Data Science

Ready to acquire industry-ready skills? Bosscoder Academy offers tailored programs to help you excel in your data science journey.

6. Machine Learning Engineer

Deliver and deploy machine learning models in production

Key Skills: Mandatory: Machine Learning, Cloud Platforms | Desirable: DevOps, Python coding

Tools used commonly: TensorFlow, PyTorch, Docker

Career Growth: Machine Learning Engineer → Senior ML Engineer → Lead ML Engineer → AI Architect

Compensation: ₹8–20 Lakhs per annum

Industry Demand: Very High (Finance, Tech, Automotive)

Popular Companies Hiring: NVIDIA, Amazon, HCL

Product & Strategy Career Pathways

7. Data Product Manager

Manages data-driven products and collaborates with cross-functional teams for product optimization.

Key Skills: Mandatory: Product Management, Data Analysis | Desirable: Strategy, Business Acumen

Tools used commonly: JIRA, SQL, Tableau

Career Growth: Data Product Manager → Sr. Product Manager → Director of Product → VP of Product

Compensation: ₹12–25 Lakhs per year

Industry Demand: High (Tech, Startups, E-commerce)

Popular Companies Hiring: Paytm, Zomato 

Career Pathway - Statistics

Based on recent data, here’s a table showcasing the distribution of preferences among individuals pursuing data science career pathways in 2024:

Data Scientist remains dominant due to its versatility across industries such as healthcare, finance, and e-commerce. Machine Learning Engineers and Data Engineers see growth due to advancements in AI/ML and big data technologies. Beginner-friendly roles like Data Analyst maintain steady demand, providing a pathway for fresh graduates.

Below is a summarised table of Data Science Career Growth and Prospects discussed above.

Data Science Career Roadmap - [Step-by-Step Guide]

Breaking into data science can be overwhelming, but a good roadmap can make things straightforward for you. Here's how you can go step by step:

Step 1: Build a Strong Foundation

The first step towards data science is the mastery of the basics. The basic skills should include Python, SQL, and basic statistics. These are essential for data manipulation and analysis.

Familiarize yourself with widely used tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, and Tableau in data-driven decision-making. One good place to begin is by signing up for foundational courses, such as those offered through the Bosscoder Academy Data Science Program. These foundational courses will lay a strong foundation for further skills later in the roadmap.

Step 2: Master Intermediate Skills

Once you’ve built a foundation, the next step is to hone intermediate skills. Dive deeper into data visualization using tools like Tableau and Power BI, which are crucial for presenting insights effectively. Learn ETL processes, data wrangling, and exploratory data analysis to handle complex datasets and extract valuable insights.

To solidify your understanding, start working on projects such as creating dashboards, building datasets, and analyzing trends. Such practical training will, therefore not only sharpen your skills but also help you to face real challenges.

Step 3: Choose a Specialisation

Data science offers a wealth of career paths, and this is the stage to narrow your focus. Whether passionate about building machine learning models, managing data pipelines, or analyzing trends, align your focus with an interest that excites you.

Popular specializations include Data Scientist, Data Engineer, and Machine Learning Engineer. Each specialization has unique skills demands that should be tailored according to the requirements of one's chosen path.

Step 4: Build a Portfolio and Network

A strong portfolio is your ticket to standing out in the competitive data science field. So, upload projects to GitHub and contribute to platforms like Kaggle. Participate in hackathons as a problem solver addressing real-world problems and demonstrating your capabilities. Likewise, networking is highly important for you.

Do not miss any industry events; join online communities, and connect with people in the field. All these activities will enhance your visibility and open doors to new career opportunities.

💡You get free career counseling support & placement assistance with our courses!

Role of Bosscoder Academy in Your Data Science Journey!

At Bosscoder Academy, industry-aligned courses and one-to-one mentorship will help you make that big impact in your career. Whether you are looking to take off or get ahead in your career, our programs will provide you with the skills you need and give you that edge you require to succeed.

Why Bosscoder Academy?

1/ Expert Mentorship- Get 1-on-1 guidance from industry veterans

2/ Hands-on Projects- Build a robust portfolio of actual projects

3/ Career Support- Resume review, mock interviews, and placement assistance.

FAQs