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It’s been almost eight years since Harvard Business Review dubbed data science the ‘sexiest job of the 21st century’ and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported a 16 percent growth in jobs in the sector since that claim.
If you want to get your foot in the exciting data science career door, a master’s in business analytics and big data can help get you there. Here are 11 career paths you might want to consider…
Where you can work: Large tech customer-facing companies or companies that offer a data-based service (Apple, Microsoft, Accenture).
Machine learning engineering is a specialist role still in its infancy. Machine learning engineers collaborate with the organization’s data science team to build programs and create algorithms to deliver data-driven products and services that enable machines to make decisions, take action and enhance user experience without any human interference. An example of this would be self-driving cars and personalized social media news feeds.
Machine learning engineers generally come from a mathematic, physics, or statistics undergraduate background with a specialized master’s or PhD.
Where you can work:Public or private sector companies.
Data architects use extensive programming tools to design secure data frameworks in order to manage large electronic databases for organizations. This is a highly technical role that involves ensuring the data is relevant, accurate and accessible to the organization so employees can access this information, such as financial records and marketing information, wherever and whenever they need.
You’ll need superior analytical skills, an eye for detail and sophisticated design skills as you fulfil the strategic needs of the organization.
Where you can work: Various sectors, including education, finance, health, environment, sport, transportation, market research and the government.
Statisticians compile, analyze and evaluate quantitative information from surveys and experiments in order to help organizations reach operational standards and advise on practical solutions to problems.
Relevant qualifications and industry experience is essential if you want to work in this field.
Where you can work: Various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, consulting, finance, education and the government.
Data analysts are inquisitive, highly analytical and have a way with numbers. Every organization and business collects data, whether it’s sales figures, logistics, market research or transportation costs. As a data analyst it’s your job to gather and evaluate this data in order to provide clear insights as to how the organization can improve its business strategy and make better business decisions across various areas.
Where you can work: Corporate IT departments, consulting, finance.
This executive level position demands an expert-level knowledge of technological trends and how they can be implemented in building business strategies. Chief technology officers are masters of strategic thinking and conducting technological analysis as they look at ways in which they can ensure the organization stands out in an ever-increasing competitive marketplace.
Strong leadership and organizational skills are essential in this role as you lead your team and consider which technologies are best to harness in order to ensure positive user experience and ensure efficiency across all areas of the business.
Almost half (49 percent) of IE’s Master in Business Analytics & Big Data graduates go on to work in the technology industry.
Where you can work: Banking, corporate IT departments, consulting, finance, healthcare facilities.
In 2012, only 12 percent of Fortune 1000 companies had a CDO. Within six years, 67.9 percent of surveyed firms reported having a CDO, according to Forbes. It is the chief data officer’s responsibility to strategically oversee the organization’s data and generate business value from what could be the organization’s most valuable asset.
Chief data officers are business focused and have excellent expertise in IT. Relevant qualifications such as mathematics and statisticians, plus a specialized master’s and industry experience, are all essential if you want to become a chief data officer.
Where you can work:Software development firms, corporate IT departments, and computer manufacturing companies.
In this fast-paced role, application architects need excellent technical vision, the ability to provide valuable insights and solutions to software development, use and maintenance, as well as strong analytical, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Every day, they carry out a wide variety of tasks such as creating new and improved applications, developing prototypes, running software tests, and creating technical documents for application software.
You’ll need proven programming language and architecture design skills and experience, as well as relevant qualifications and industry experience. A master’s in business analytics and big data for example, will equip you with the ability to rethink and rebuild products, services and processes as well as solve user problems using advanced analytics and relevant data insights.
Where you can work: Construction, engineering, IT, and marketing.
As a project manager you’ll use your data-driven business acumen to plan, budget and oversee your organization’s project/s. You will also need to be organized and possess excellent leadership and critical-thinking skills.
Where you can work: Finance and insurance, consulting services, manufacturing.
Market research analysts compile complex reports, spreadsheets, surveys and opinion polls in order to gather and evaluate significant market intelligence that can help an organization market their product or service in the best way possible. Data can include consumer demographics, spending habits and sales trends, needs, interests, and preferences.
Market research analysts need a good working knowledge of statistical software and techniques in order to monitor and forecast the effectiveness of such strategies.
Where you can work: Finance, insurance, and consulting services.
As organizations continue to turn their attention to advanced and novel technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to leverage success and improve business efficiency, business/analytics translators are filling the gap between an organization’s business team and technology team.
An organization’s business team and technology team can be at opposite ends of the spectrum, causing confusion, miscommunications and in some instances, massive errors. Business/analytics translators work to ensure the focus stays on the organization’s values and objectives, but are data-savvy enough to understand and liaise with those in the data science team. Business/analytics translators then confirm the ‘roadmap’ for going forward.
Where you can work: IT departments, finance and e-commerce, retail, transport services, healthcare services, academia and the government.
Last, but most definitely not least – the data scientist.
Using algorithms, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other statistical tools, data scientists mine complex, raw data from a range of sources and turn into meaningful, transparent information in order for the organization to improve their business strategy and operations.
The career-focused Master in Business Analytics & Big Data at IE University teaches with innovation and versatility at the forefront of its curriculum and offers an array of hands-on learning opportunities including multimedia simulations, classroom debates, and case studies.
As the former Head of Sponsored Content for TopUniversities.com and TopMBA.com, Stephanie created and published a wide range of articles for universities and business schools across the world. She attended the University of Portsmouth where she earned a BA in English Language and an MA in Communication and Applied Linguistics.
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11 Career Paths You Can Pursue With a Master’s in Business Analytics & Big Data
Stephanie Lukins
Updated Jul 19, 2023Save
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Sponsored by IE University
It’s been almost eight years since Harvard Business Review dubbed data science the ‘sexiest job of the 21st century’ and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported a 16 percent growth in jobs in the sector since that claim.
If you want to get your foot in the exciting data science career door, a master’s in business analytics and big data can help get you there. Here are 11 career paths you might want to consider…
Machine learning engineer
Average salary: US$110,739
Where you can work: Large tech customer-facing companies or companies that offer a data-based service (Apple, Microsoft, Accenture).
Machine learning engineering is a specialist role still in its infancy. Machine learning engineers collaborate with the organization’s data science team to build programs and create algorithms to deliver data-driven products and services that enable machines to make decisions, take action and enhance user experience without any human interference. An example of this would be self-driving cars and personalized social media news feeds.
Machine learning engineers generally come from a mathematic, physics, or statistics undergraduate background with a specialized master’s or PhD.
Data architect
Average salary: US$116,710
Where you can work: Public or private sector companies.
Data architects use extensive programming tools to design secure data frameworks in order to manage large electronic databases for organizations. This is a highly technical role that involves ensuring the data is relevant, accurate and accessible to the organization so employees can access this information, such as financial records and marketing information, wherever and whenever they need.
You’ll need superior analytical skills, an eye for detail and sophisticated design skills as you fulfil the strategic needs of the organization.
Statistician
Average salary: US$73,054
Where you can work: Various sectors, including education, finance, health, environment, sport, transportation, market research and the government.
Statisticians compile, analyze and evaluate quantitative information from surveys and experiments in order to help organizations reach operational standards and advise on practical solutions to problems.
Relevant qualifications and industry experience is essential if you want to work in this field.
Data analyst
Average salary: US$60,208
Where you can work: Various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, consulting, finance, education and the government.
Data analysts are inquisitive, highly analytical and have a way with numbers. Every organization and business collects data, whether it’s sales figures, logistics, market research or transportation costs. As a data analyst it’s your job to gather and evaluate this data in order to provide clear insights as to how the organization can improve its business strategy and make better business decisions across various areas.
Chief technology officer (CTO)
Average salary: US$159,149
Where you can work: Corporate IT departments, consulting, finance.
This executive level position demands an expert-level knowledge of technological trends and how they can be implemented in building business strategies. Chief technology officers are masters of strategic thinking and conducting technological analysis as they look at ways in which they can ensure the organization stands out in an ever-increasing competitive marketplace.
Strong leadership and organizational skills are essential in this role as you lead your team and consider which technologies are best to harness in order to ensure positive user experience and ensure efficiency across all areas of the business.
Almost half (49 percent) of IE’s Master in Business Analytics & Big Data graduates go on to work in the technology industry.
Chief data officer (CDO)
Average salary: US$180,458
Where you can work: Banking, corporate IT departments, consulting, finance, healthcare facilities.
In 2012, only 12 percent of Fortune 1000 companies had a CDO. Within six years, 67.9 percent of surveyed firms reported having a CDO, according to Forbes. It is the chief data officer’s responsibility to strategically oversee the organization’s data and generate business value from what could be the organization’s most valuable asset.
Chief data officers are business focused and have excellent expertise in IT. Relevant qualifications such as mathematics and statisticians, plus a specialized master’s and industry experience, are all essential if you want to become a chief data officer.
Application architect
Average salary: US$112,871
Where you can work: Software development firms, corporate IT departments, and computer manufacturing companies.
In this fast-paced role, application architects need excellent technical vision, the ability to provide valuable insights and solutions to software development, use and maintenance, as well as strong analytical, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Every day, they carry out a wide variety of tasks such as creating new and improved applications, developing prototypes, running software tests, and creating technical documents for application software.
You’ll need proven programming language and architecture design skills and experience, as well as relevant qualifications and industry experience. A master’s in business analytics and big data for example, will equip you with the ability to rethink and rebuild products, services and processes as well as solve user problems using advanced analytics and relevant data insights.
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Project manager
Average salary: US$73,901
Where you can work: Construction, engineering, IT, and marketing.
As a project manager you’ll use your data-driven business acumen to plan, budget and oversee your organization’s project/s. You will also need to be organized and possess excellent leadership and critical-thinking skills.
Market research analyst
Average salary: US$63,120
Where you can work: Finance and insurance, consulting services, manufacturing.
Market research analysts compile complex reports, spreadsheets, surveys and opinion polls in order to gather and evaluate significant market intelligence that can help an organization market their product or service in the best way possible. Data can include consumer demographics, spending habits and sales trends, needs, interests, and preferences.
Market research analysts need a good working knowledge of statistical software and techniques in order to monitor and forecast the effectiveness of such strategies.
Business/analytics translator
Average salary: US$53,552
Where you can work: Finance, insurance, and consulting services.
As organizations continue to turn their attention to advanced and novel technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to leverage success and improve business efficiency, business/analytics translators are filling the gap between an organization’s business team and technology team.
An organization’s business team and technology team can be at opposite ends of the spectrum, causing confusion, miscommunications and in some instances, massive errors. Business/analytics translators work to ensure the focus stays on the organization’s values and objectives, but are data-savvy enough to understand and liaise with those in the data science team. Business/analytics translators then confirm the ‘roadmap’ for going forward.
Data scientist
Average salary: US$88,779
Where you can work: IT departments, finance and e-commerce, retail, transport services, healthcare services, academia and the government.
Last, but most definitely not least – the data scientist.
Using algorithms, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other statistical tools, data scientists mine complex, raw data from a range of sources and turn into meaningful, transparent information in order for the organization to improve their business strategy and operations.
The career-focused Master in Business Analytics & Big Data at IE University teaches with innovation and versatility at the forefront of its curriculum and offers an array of hands-on learning opportunities including multimedia simulations, classroom debates, and case studies.
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As the former Head of Sponsored Content for TopUniversities.com and TopMBA.com, Stephanie created and published a wide range of articles for universities and business schools across the world. She attended the University of Portsmouth where she earned a BA in English Language and an MA in Communication and Applied Linguistics.
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