Technology/Data & AI
Data & AI
Turn data into decisions and build the ML systems behind AI products — the roles the AI buildout is growing, not shrinking.
US medians, indicative and sourced — never a guarantee.
Roles at a glance
| Role | Level | Median (US) | Difficulty | Demand | AI-risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Analyst | D1 | $102,000 | Med | Med | High |
| Data Scientist | D2 | $177,000 | High | High | Med |
| ML Engineer | D2 | $238,000 | High | High | Low |
| Senior Data Scientist | D3 | $280,000 | High | High | Low |
| Senior ML Engineer | D3 | $365,000 | High | High | Low |
| Staff ML Engineer | D4 | $530,000 | High | High | Low |
Climb the ladder
Progression is driven by scope and level, not tenure. Years shown are typical, not required.
Specialisation — deepening into a niche
Impact promotions — same track, bigger scope
The evidence
Typical route into Staff ML Engineer: Senior ML Engineer, ~4 yrs.
Source: Analogous to senior→staff SWE
Readiness, quantified
Wherever you are on this ladder, the next rung is measurable.
Pick your current role and SkillReceipts maps every route open to you across technology — real pay at every rung, typical years per move, and exactly what's missing for the next one. Free, no sign-up.
Check my routes — free →Credentials that help
Credentials help entry and specialisation; scope drives seniority.
- CS / related bachelor's degree · $10k-$40k+/yr public in-state to private; highly variable
- Coding bootcamp (e.g. Hack Reactor, App Academy, Nucamp) · $13,584
- Applied ML/AI course (DeepLearning.AI, fast.ai, Coursera ML) · Free (fast.ai) to ~$49/mo Coursera specialisations
- Master's in Data Science / Statistics / CS · $20k-$60k+; online options (e.g. OMSCS) far cheaper (~$7k)
- Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer · $125
Ask the advisor
The questions this page can't answer about you.
Map your trajectory first — the advisor answers against your role, your metro, and this family's sourced data.
Questions, answered straight
What does a career in data & ai pay?
Entry-level Data Analyst runs around $102,000 (US median, indicative); the family tops out near $530,000 at Staff ML Engineer. Every figure is a sourced, indicative range — location, company stage, and equity move it substantially.
Which data & ai role is most in demand?
Data Scientist carries the strongest hiring demand in this family (high).
How do you move up in data & ai?
Progression is by scope and level, not tenure — e.g. Data Analyst → Data Scientist (~2 yrs typical). Each move on the ladder above shows its typical years and whether it's an impact promotion or a track switch.
How exposed is data & ai to AI?
Data Analyst carries the highest AI exposure in this family; ML Engineer, Senior Data Scientist, Senior ML Engineer rate lowest — scope and judgment are the hedge. Ratings are indicative signals, not predictions.
Do you need a degree or certification for data & ai?
Credentials help entry and specialisation — this family most often rewards CS / related bachelor's degree, Coding bootcamp (e.g. Hack Reactor, App Academy, Nucamp), Applied ML/AI course (DeepLearning.AI, fast.ai, Coursera ML). Past entry, scope and delivered impact drive seniority more than paper.
Explore the roles
See what you'd earn on this ladder.
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See my routes — free →Figures are indicative, in USD, and never a guarantee of an outcome. Personas and guides are added as the family's content is authored.