Data Scientists
Machines can already do 56% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 84%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Data Scientists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 56% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 46% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 84% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 262,440 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $120,230 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 50% for contact with people.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software | 15% | 60% to 90% | |
| Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software | 15% | 65% to 92% | |
| Write new functions or applications in programming languages to conduct analyses | 11% | 65% to 92% | |
| Test, validate, and reformulate models to ensure accurate prediction of outcomes of interest | 9% | 35% to 65% | |
| Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software | 7% | 52% to 80% | |
| Identify relationships and trends or any factors that could affect the results of research | 7% | 71% to 91% | |
| Deliver oral or written presentations of the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users | 6% | 70% to 95% | |
| Recommend data-driven solutions to key stakeholders | 5% | 35% to 65% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills data scientists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Computer Systems Analysts82% of tasks by 2035 · US median $105,850
- Software Developers76% of tasks by 2035 · US median $135,980
- Clinical Data Managers82% of tasks by 2035 · US median $120,230
- Biostatisticians81% of tasks by 2035 · US median $105,650
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Data Scientists?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of data scientists?
Machines can do 56% of the tasks of data scientists today and 84% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 15-2051.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Data Scientists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/data-scientists/