Data Scientists
Job description
These individuals analyze a variety of data in order to better understand data-related phenomena and situations. They have the technical knowledge required to automate some data analysis tasks. They are self-employed or work for:
- IT companies in the public and private sectors
- The federal and provincial governments
- Consulting firms
- Universities
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
Main tasks
- Identify relevant data volumes according to needs.
- Gather, sort, and analyze various data volumes.
- Transpose problems into mathematical or algorithmic models.
- Use various programming languages to code and optimize analysis and automation processes.
- Use artificial intelligence to automate basic data analysis tasks.
- Identify significant trends emerging from data analysis.
- Communicate and explain the results of analyses to managers in various sectors.
- Draft reports detailing the results of data analysis.
- Create visual data models.
- Attend lectures and read articles to keep up to date with the latest developments in analytics and artificial intelligence.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $30.00
- Median
- $45.45
- Maximum
- $63.46
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 26.8% Female
- 73.2% Male
- 26.8% Female
- 73.2% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 541522% of jobs
-
NAICS 521, 522, 523, 52614% of jobs
-
NAICS 5112% of jobs
-
NAICS 919% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 54179% of jobs
-
Others34% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 541522% of jobs
-
NAICS 521, 522, 523, 52614% of jobs
-
NAICS 5112% of jobs
-
NAICS 919% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 54179% of jobs
-
Others34% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Computer science
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 88.4%
7.2% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 82.3%
13.5% of graduates pursue further studies
- École de technologie supérieure
- École polytechnique de Montréal
- Bishop's University
- Concordia University
- Université de Montréal
- Université de Sherbrooke
- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
- Université du Québec en Outaouais
- Université du Québec à Montréal
- Université du Québec à Rimouski
- Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Université Laval
- McGill University
- TÉLUQ
Electrical, electronic or communications engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 81.4%
14.1% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 72.3%
18.5% of graduates pursue further studies
- École de technologie supérieure
- École polytechnique de Montréal
- Concordia University
- Université de Sherbrooke
- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
- Université du Québec en Outaouais
- Université du Québec à Montréal
- Université du Québec à Rimouski
- Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Université Laval
- McGill University
- Institut national de recherche scientifique
Probability and statistics
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 62.5%
37.5% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 60%
30% of graduates pursue further studies
Software, computer or computer construction engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 82.1%
16.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 83.9%
12.9% of graduates pursue further studies
Sometimes required
- Knowledge of Python, R, and SAS programming languages usually required.
- Computer programming experience usually required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Programing
- Information processing
- Data collection
- Active learning
- Mathematics
- Critical thought
- Solving complex problems
- Quality control analysis
- System analysis
- Reading comprehension
- Active listening
- Oral expression
- Learning strategies
- Technological design
- Systems evaluation
- Teaching
- Written expression
- Judgment and decision-making
- Operation analysis
- Time management
- Coordination
- Result evaluation
Abilities
- Information organization
- Mathematical reasoning
- Written comprehension
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Awareness of issues
- Verbal skills
- Near vision
- Written expression
- Oral comprehension
- Basic numeracy
- Selective attention
- Speech clarity
- Classification
- Idea generation
- Perception speed
- Speech recognition
- Originality
- Processing flexibility
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Autonomy
- Capacity to adapt
- Spoken and written bilingualism (French and English)
- Capacity to work in a team
- Rigour
- Attention to detail
- Knowledge of computer science, digital and electronics
- Desire to upgrade one’s competencies
- Learning speed
Interests
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work with numbers
- Work in an office
- Create, design
- Work in computer science or information and communication technologies (ICT)
- Carry out research
- Self-employment
- Assist and advise
- Collect, verify, sort, and classify data or information
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
- Artistic
- People with this profile prefer to express their emotions and thoughts through various art forms. They like to use their imagination.
Official name of the NOC 21211
Data scientists
Job titles
- Data scientist
- Data analytics specialist
- Artificial intelligence (ai) analyst
- Artificial intelligence (ai) designer
- Big data analyst
- Data mining analyst
- Quantitative analyst
- Data architect
- Data analytics consultant
- Big data developer
- Data miner
- Data engineer
- Big data engineer
- Machine learning engineer
- Data modeler
- Lead data scientist
- Machine learning specialist
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026