Data Science vs. Data Analytics: The Differences Explained

UW Online Collaboratives ● October 21, 2020

Male data professional in front of computer

If you’ve ever scanned job websites for roles in data, you’ve probably seen listings for data scientists and data analysts accompanied by job descriptions that sound quite similar. While the two fields are interconnected, data science and data analytics vary in scope, responsibilities, and goals.

One overarching similarity is that professionals in both roles use big data to solve problems and create improvements in an organization. The biggest difference, however, is how they interact with data.

Data scientists often work with vast stores of raw data, working as investigators to create ways to analyze and model that data using statistical analysis and heavy coding. The goal of their work is to uncover the questions the data can answer. Data science often lays the foundation for further investigation.

Data analysts leverage the modeling of the data scientist to create actionable and practical insights using a variety of tools. The work of data analytics involves using organized data to apply findings immediately.

Skills and Tools You’ll Need in Data Science and Data Analytics

There are some distinct differences between skills needed for data science and data analytics careers. However, there is also some overlap.

A Deep Dive into Jobs and Responsibilities

When looking at job opportunities, it’s important to not only look at the job title, but also the responsibilities, as the titles can overlap between data science and data analytics.

Some common job titles in the data science field are:

Data scientist
Data analyst
Data architect
Data mining engineer
Machine learning engineer
Hadoop engineer
Predictive modeler

Data science responsibilities often include: identifying opportunities for investigation, collecting data, predicting trends, cleaning and validating data, and communicating. To learn more about data science careers, read here.

Some common job titles in the data analytics field are:

Data analyst
Business analyst
Database analyst
Market research analyst
Operations analyst
Business intelligence analyst
Tableau developer

Here are some common data analytics responsibilities: exploratory data analysis, data cleansing, statistical analysis, and developing visualizations.

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Salary Expectations

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage of a data scientist is $100,910. The 2022 Burtch Works Salary Report found that data scientists make on average between $90,000 and $275,000 annually, depending on experience level and managerial responsibilities. According to the same report, analytics professionals (referred to as artificial intelligence professionals in the report) can make between $105,000 and $275,000 on average, also depending on experience level and managerial responsibilities. For a more in-depth look at salary information, visit here.

Educational Advantage

One way to increase your salary is to earn an advanced degree, which is common in both fields. The Burtch Works study found that 93 percent of the data scientists and analytics professionals surveyed held an advanced degree.

A graph from the Burtch Works study showing the educational levels—including bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D.— of predictive analytics professionals and data scientists. — A graph from the Burtch Works study showing the educational levels—including bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD—of data scientists and analytics professionals (referred to as AI professionals in the report).

The 100 percent online UW Masters in Data Science prepares students for both data science and data analytics roles. Students not only learn technical skills they need to succeed, but they also gain knowledge in effective project management, leadership, and communication.

Want to focus on data analytics? UW Online Collaboratives offers a virtual Data Analytics Bootcamp that can be completed in just 24 weeks. You will graduate from the program ready to apply your knowledge in the professional world.

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The University of Wisconsin offers an online, 36-credit Master of Science in Data Science degree program. This data science master’s program will teach you how to harness the power of big data using the latest tools and analytical methods. Start your journey today.

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Tags: data analytics, data analytics career, Data Science, data science career, online data science degree, UW Data Science

Programs: Data Science