What Data Scientists Actually Make: Junior to Senior
My favourite courses to start or grow your Data Science career:
DataCamp Associate Data Scientist track: https://datacamp.pxf.io/GbVRmL
DataCamp Machine Learning Scientist track: https://datacamp.pxf.io/gR6a19
DataCamp is also doing a Free Access week from June 1st-7th, 2026 where you can try any course/lession/module out for free!! This is a great opportunity to learn something that you've been meaning to learn with hands-on practice. You can check it here! https://datacamp.pxf.io/gR6aoA
After 7 years as a data scientist, here's what to realistically expect at every stage — from junior at a legacy company to senior at big tech. No averages, just my actual progression and the reasoning behind every job move. I break down why industry matters more than title, how stock changes everything at senior, and the stepping-stone approach that got me there 📊
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 exact progression
01:55 tradeoffs in early career
05:35 when to leave in early career
06:20 mid career
07:50 resources throughout career (DataCamp)!
09:38 senior career (stock packages, expectations)
🧠 Keywords: data science resources 2026, how to learn data science, data science roadmap, best data science books, ISLR, data science interview prep, SQL practice for data science, DataCamp review, data science career advice, machine learning resources, senior data scientist tips
👉 Subscribe if you want honest, experience-based takes on what it actually takes to thrive as a data scientist. Drop a comment with the resources that helped you most — always looking for new recommendations myself.
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Welcome to The Almost Astrophysicist — I’m Priya, a data scientist sharing real, unfiltered stories about navigating tech 💻, burnout 🧠, career growth 📈, and (mostly) just learning out loud. From physics undergrad to startups, Uber, and Stripe, I’ve picked up a lot (and maybe made a lot of mistakes too 😅). This channel is where I break down what it’s actually like to work in tech, reflect on the messy parts of ambition, and talk through both the qualitative and quantitative sides of building a meaningful career. Expect technical data science content, chat about what it's like working at high-growth companies, dealing with imposter syndrome, and figuring out what “success” even means.
Subscribe if you’re into data science that feels a little more human 🤍 — and comment anytime, I’d love to hear your story too!!
LinkedIn: / priya-l-520311145