NextChapter

Lead Data Scientist jobs: 164 open roles

Open lead data scientist jobs taken from employers’ own career sites and checked to still be open. Listings that state pay show a median of $172,000 a year.

The market for lead data scientist work

Every figure names its source. Skills and AI-skill shares describe the whole Data & Analytics function this title sits in. Outlook, pay and AI-use figures are for the government category “Data scientists”, the closest occupation to this title.

Verified open lead data scientist jobs
164

Source: NextChapter, checked against employer career sites, last 7 days.

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Median pay in listings that state it
$172,000

Source: NextChapter verified openings.

Employment outlook
Projected to grow 35% from 2025 to 2035 (much faster than average).

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035.

National median pay, all levels
$120,230

Source: BLS OEWS, 2025.

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Openings a year nationally, growth plus replacement
24,800

Source: BLS Employment Projections.

AI use at work
Among data scientists, AI is already used for a large share of the tasks.

Source: Anthropic Economic Index.

Data & Analytics openings that ask for AI skills
27%

Source: NextChapter verified openings.

Data & Analytics openings that are remote
10%

Source: NextChapter verified openings.

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Skills most often named in openings

  1. 1. machine learning10%
  2. 2. python9%
  3. 3. sql8%
  4. 4. aws4%
  5. 5. azure3%
  6. 6. etl3%
  7. 7. databricks3%
  8. 8. power bi3%

AI skills worth building for this work

  1. 1. ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow)
  2. 2. LLM application engineering
  3. 3. RAG and vector search
  4. 4. Model fine-tuning
  5. 5. Model training and deep learning
  6. 6. MLOps

More on Data & Analytics roles

Where lead data scientist experience can go next

Career moves the skills carry over to, closest fit first. Time is how long a move usually takes.

  • People analytics

    Close fit · Quick switch (weeks)

    People analytics teams want analysts; learning the HR questions is faster than learning SQL.

    Carries over: SQL and dashboards, Statistics, Storytelling with data

  • Revenue and sales operations

    Adjacent · A few months

    Revenue operations needs analysts who can make the forecast trustworthy.

    Carries over: Analysis, Forecasting, Data pipelines

  • Financial planning and analysis

    Adjacent · A few months

    FP&A is analysis with a budget attached; add finance basics and you are a strong candidate.

    Carries over: Modeling, SQL, Reporting

  • Data science and machine learning

    Adjacent · Longer (6+ months)

    Data science is the next step up from analysis: you add modeling and machine learning to questions you already answer.

    Carries over: SQL and analysis, Statistics, Business questions

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Open lead data scientist jobs

Verified against the employer’s own career site within the last week.

Showing the newest 15 of about 164 verified open jobs here. Search all jobs

Search all lead data scientist jobs

Lead Data Scientist salary

The middle half of lead data scientist listings that state pay run from $156,500 to $185,500. See the full lead data scientist salary breakdown.

Data & Analytics jobs in the rankings

Rankings about data & analytics jobs

Data & Analytics jobs · Top Data & Analytics employers · All rankings

Where lead data scientist jobs are

Between jobs? Unemployment benefits and severance rules in these states, or in every state.

Lead Data Scientist jobs by city and state

Employers hiring lead data scientists

  • Harnham 6
  • Capgemini 5
  • 3B Staffing 3
  • MasterCard 3
  • Safelite 2
  • Comcast 2
  • Snap 2
  • TikTok 2
  • Guidehouse 2
  • S&P Global 2

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