The hype generated around the benefits of data science is immense, and for good reason – global giants like Facebook, Microsoft, Google, IBM, Amazon etc. have been aggressively hiring data scientists to revolutionise their business models. LinkedIn even declared the data scientist career as the most promising one due to the incredible career advancements it is expected to provide in the future. In fact, compared to April 2021, job opportunities for data science and analytics rose by 30.1% in April 2022. There has also been a lot of speculation about how data science has the power to change the future. In such a scenario, if you want to upskill yourself and join this interesting and rewarding field, you should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of data science career. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
The Pros And Cons Of Data Science As A Career
Data Science Advantages | Data Science Disadvantages |
Numerous Job Opportunities | Wide Field |
Great Pay | Steep Learning Curve |
Versatile Field | Data Privacy |
Non-monotonous Job | |
Valuable Contributions Towards Business Decisions |
Data Science Advantages
Following are the advantages of pursuing a career in data science:
Numerous Job Opportunities
As established earlier, there’s a huge hype around data science and it is greatly in demand. The field is predicted to create 11.5 million job opportunities by 2026. Leading industries across several verticals like retail, media and entertainment, healthcare, digital marketing, BFSI, and automotive are actively hiring data scientists to help them come up with better business strategies and make better decisions.
Great Pay
Along with providing numerous job opportunities, data science is also one of the most highly paying career paths. According to Glassdoor, Data Scientists make an average of ₹10 lakhs per year. And while freshers can earn around ₹5 lakhs per annum, more experienced data scientists can expect upwards of ₹18 lakhs per annum. This makes data science an extremely lucrative career option.
Versatile Field
Data Science is a versatile field. You can choose from a huge range of options like AI, natural language processing, robotics, Machine Learning and computer vision. Job profiles range from Data Engineer, Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Applications or Enterprise Architect, Machine Learning Engineer, to Infrastructure Architect, Statistician, and Business Intelligence Developer, among many others.
Non-Monotonous Job
Data Science is a mentally stimulating subject; it lets you utilise your intelligence and common sense to their fullest potential. Since it is not a typical 9-5 desk job, it keeps you on your toes and helps you deliver your best work by challenging you constantly. Besides, since Data Science is continuously developing, you get to learn something new almost every day.
Valuable Contributions Towards Business Decisions
One of the best benefits of data science career is the fact that your organisation will rely on you to make smarter business decisions. Your research and expertise will help your company make the right decisions based on quantifiable and data-driven evidence.
Disadvantages Of Data Science
Following are some of the disadvantages of pursuing a career in data science:
Wide Field
Data Science is a wide field. It includes sub-fields such as machine learning, data mining and statistical analysis, big data, database management and architecture, operations data analysis, marketing data analysis and many more. There’s also a large amount of theoretical, practical and technical knowledge involved. Studying about these sub-fields in depth can sometimes become overwhelming and strenuous.
Steep Learning Curve
One of the disadvantages of data science is the steep learning curve involved. Understanding the maths and programming behind each sub-field can be time consuming. Also, you are never ‘done’ studying data science. With new research papers comes the urgent need to update yourself to keep up with the latest and emerging trends. Opt for a career in data science only if you are ready to devote a lot of time, energy and patience to learning the basic concepts of the subject.
Data Privacy
When considering the pros and cons of data science, also factor in Data Privacy. The data you collect may be breaching the privacy of your organisation’s customers. Also, the information and insights you gain from the data might be misused against any company, any person, a group of individuals or even a country.
The Bottom Line
When you tally the advantages and disadvantages of data science career, the pros outweigh the cons. Data Science is here to stay and Data Scientists are touted to be the next superheroes. If you want to explore this interesting field, a certified course is one of the most reliable paths you can choose. Powered by NASSCOM, GeekLurn offers a Data Science Architect Program with a 100% placement guarantee. Known for its supportive learning environment, the course highlights include 320+ hours of live training sessions, 50+ sponsored fund research projects, 1.5 years of real-time experience certificate, and scholarships from Day 1 of up to ₹2 lakhs. You also get opportunities to be a part of tech talks and webinars led by data science heads from reputed global MNCs.