Top Data careers in 2024

In 2024, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the way companies function internally, as well as their products and services.

According to the 2024 CEO Survey conducted by PwC, UK CEOs are the most eager to adopt Generative AI compared to their worldwide counterparts, with almost half expecting to increase headcount as a result.

The age of AI is creating fascinating job opportunities; however, AI doesn't work in a vacuum, and all these processes have implications for specialists in Data Science, Cyber Security, Machine Learning, and more.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the top 5 Data careers for 2024.

1. Data Engineer

In the age of AI, an increasing number of organisations rely on data to inform their decision-making, driving demand for Data Engineers.

These professionals bridge the gap between traditional Data Science and Software Development. They maintain, optimize, and pipeline big data into models that Data Scientists then develop and assess, paving the way for efficient Machine Learning (ML) and AI deployment in their companies. Roles such as Data Architect, Data Governance Manager, and Infrastructure Engineer use similar skill sets.

In the UK, the median salary for this job in 2024 is £65,000.

2. Machine Learning Engineer

Many professionals wonder whether to choose a Data Science or a Machine Learning career, whether Machine Learning is the main part of Data Scientist jobs, and whether Machine Learning jobs are mostly just cleaning data. The answer is complex.

Machine Learning Engineers develop and optimise Machine Learning models. Like Data Engineers, they are at the crossroads between Data Science and Software Development; however, they also have a strong research mindset as well as expertise in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Neural Networks, and related fields.

ML Engineers stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field and work closely with Data Scientists, Software Engineers, AI specialists, and cross-functional teams.

The average salary of a Machine Learning Engineer in 2024 is £65,000.

3. AI Data Analyst

Data Analyst is on the list of AI jobs to consider too, with many professionals searching for Data and AI jobs at major healthcare providers such as AstraZeneca. If you're wondering what an AI career is like or whether Data Analysis will become fully automated, this would be a good place to start. 

The advent of AI has put a new spin on the classic Data Analyst role: in 2024, Data Analysts work closely with AI and Machine Learning models to collect, clean, process, and analyse data for insights.

AI Data Analysts have a strong background in Data as well as languages such as SQL and Python, analytics dashboards and visualization such as Tableau and Microsoft Power BI, statistics, and more. If you're passionate about Statistics and Mathematics, this could be a great career for you.

The average AI Analyst salary in the UK is £37,000.

4. Business Analyst

Sometimes known as Systems Analysts or Business Intelligence Data Analysts, Business Analysts research the processes of their business, analyse how they can be improved, and present their recommendations to Senior Management to secure buy-in.

Business Analysts are highly skilled in statistics, programming, data visualisation, databases (Oracle DB, MySQL, etc.), Business Intelligence (BI) tools, Cloud Computing, Agile technologies such as Scrum or Kanban, and more.

In 2024, most Business Analyst jobs are in IT and management consulting. The average Business Analyst salary is £45,000.

5. Statistician

Data Analysts/Statisticians analyse and interpret large amounts of data to help their employers make informed business decisions. 

They are passionate about data and logic and have exceptional attention to detail. Their wide-ranging skillset includes database systems (SQL), data mining, statistical software packages (SPSS, STATA), statistical methods such as linear regression, ANOVA, and factor analysis, time series analysis, logistic regression models, Machine Learning, and more.

Due to the high complexity and creativity of this role, it is not likely to be replaced by AI. This role is also highly versatile; if you choose a career as a Statistician, you can work in any industry, from finance, healthcare, and transportation, to environmental, education, and Government jobs.

In the UK, the average Statistician salary in 2024 is £40,000.