Explore a comprehensive guide on pursuing data science careers and education in U.S. metropolitan areas. With detailed insights into the best cities for data science, salary expectations, and top sectors, this guide provides valuable information to those looking to start or advance their data science careers.
Key Insights
- Data Science is a broad field that encompasses areas such as mathematics, computer programming, and artificial intelligence. It provides actionable insights across various sectors including health and wellness, retail, web and application development, banking and finance, and governmental agencies.
- Data Scientists and Data Analysts can find top opportunities in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Palo Alto/San Jose, Dallas, Boston/Cambridge, Houston, San Francisco, Raleigh, and Seattle.
- Data Scientists in NYC make approximately $130,000 annually. In cities like Chicago and Raleigh, they can earn around $135,000, while in San Francisco and Seattle, they might earn about $140,000-$145,000.
- Whether you’re a beginner or have prior data science experience, several data science courses are available across these cities. You can also opt for online courses for flexibility and convenience.
- Noble Desktop offers a range of Data Science programs such as the Data Science Certificate, Data Analytics Certificate, and Python for Data Science Bootcamp.
- Online data science courses are an excellent option for those who don't live near major metropolitan areas in the U.S., providing a flexible way to gain expert instruction on topics such as data visualization with Tableau or querying databases with SQL.
Students interested in learning data science at a dedicated training facility will find that almost all of their options are located in major metropolitan areas. Since this is also where many of the highest-paying jobs are located, it makes sense that students looking for a career change may want to consider looking at the kinds of cities that offer the most robust training options for aspiring Data Scientists and Data Analysts.
What is Data Science?
Data science is a broad field that encompasses the disciplines of mathematics, computer programming, and artificial intelligence (AI). Data professionals such as Data Scientists and Data Analysts use advanced techniques like machine learning algorithms to find patterns in a vast amount of information. This process can provide actionable insights to stakeholders, from Product Managers to C-suite executives.
Today nearly every sector requires data science expertise, whether public or private. Among the top sectors where data science is critical are health and wellness, retail, web and application development, banking and finance, and governmental agencies. The field continues to project dramatic growth over the next decade; Glassdoor even listed Data Scientist as number three in its 50 Best Jobs in America in 2022.
Read more about what Data Science is and why you should learn it.
What Can You Do with Data Science Skills?
Data science has so many applications in different industries that a comprehensive review could fill a book. Professionals as diverse as Business Analysts, Machine Learning Engineers, and Enterprise Architects use data science in their day-to-day activities.
Top sectors for data science include banking and finance, marketing and advertising, and healthcare:
- Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) - Business Analysts and Data Scientists use data for everything from fraud detection to customized financial advice. Machine learning algorithms can assist with risk analytics, stock trading, and other tasks.
- Marketing & Advertising - Data Analysts and Marketing Analysts use data science in advertising to create targeted ad copy, recommend products and services, and leverage social media platforms. Programming languages like Python and R, often key to data science positions, help experts analyze data and make recommendations.
- In healthcare, Data Scientists create algorithms to create care plans and improve patient services. Using data analysis in medical imaging can help care providers with diagnoses and treatment decisions.
Data science has proven crucial to many other sectors, from retail and manufacturing to the public sector. If you want to combine challenging work with job security, start with data science.
Best Cities in the U.S. For Data Science
If you’re interested in becoming a Data Scientist, you may wonder which cities have the most job opportunities and best chances for professional development in this field. The following sections will explore ten of the top cities in the U.S. for aspiring Data Scientists, as well as what makes each location a good possibility for relocation.
New York City
New York City remains one of the most popular cities in the U.S. The Big Apple is home to many of the largest organizations, companies, and banks in the country, such as JP Morgan Chase, JetBlue Airways, HBO, American Express, Nielsen Company, and W.W. Norton & Company. Some of the world’s top financial institutions are located in NYC, as are huge companies like Bloomberg, Deloitte, and IBM Watson. No matter what your interests are, New York is a city that offers something for everyone. This booming metropolis is the location of Broadway, the New York Stock Exchange, a range of top-tier colleges and universities like NYU and Columbia, and 100-plus museums. This city is also the location of Noble Desktop’s training facility, which is in central Manhattan.
One of the best reasons to consider relocating to NYC for a career in data science is that it has more corporate jobs than any other location in the U.S. The NYC growth rate is also currently above the national average. This city provides a range of incentives for professionals; it has more than 17 incubators with low-cost workspace, as well as resources for tech companies operating in different sectors. New York City is also considered a digital hub in that it offers startups a way to connect with one another, find funding, and succeed professionally. Data Scientists in NYC make about $130,000 annually.
If you’re looking to study data science in NYC, approximately five dozen course listings are available from top educators. You can find data science training in New York City using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. Beginner-friendly instruction is available from schools such as The Flatiron School, Practical Programming, and BrainStation. Those who already have experience working with data science may consider classes that allow them to take their skills further, such as Byte Academy’s Data Science Bootcamp or General Assembly’s Data Science Course.
Chicago
Chicago is one of the largest and most vibrant metro areas in America. The windy city is known for its beautiful architecture and skyscrapers, as well as its world-famous museums like the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition, Chicago is a great place to study since it is home to over 100 higher learning institutions like The University of Chicago. For those interested in pursuing a career in data science, Chicago is a great location to consider because of its above-average job growth rate. Currently, more than 40,000 Software Developers work in Chicago. This city was ranked fourth in 2021 for job postings, with 11,000 jobs in the tech industry alone added. Chicago-based Data Scientists earn a competitive salary of about $135,000 a year.
For those interested in learning data science, Chicago is a great city for studying this topic. You can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to find data science classes in Chicago. Over two dozen courses are available from top educators in this city. Interested learners can choose from a range of data science courses in topics like data visualization, Python, SQL, and data analytics. Northwest Boot Camps Data Science and Visualization Bootcamp offers training with Tableau. New Horizons SQL Querying Fundamentals - Part 1 provides introductory-level instruction on querying with SQL.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ranks as the second-most populated city in the U.S. With more than 60 universities and colleges, such as California Institute of Technology, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, and UCLA, Los Angeles is a great city to study data science. This city offers more than education; Los Angeles is also the location of some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, as well as more than 90 museums. This diverse city has a world-class food scene and economy driven by creative entrepreneurs, such as fashion designers, actors, artists, and manufacturers.
If you’re interested in studying data science, Los Angeles is quickly becoming a hub for companies interested in moving beyond the Bay Area. The main startup and tech scene in Los Angeles is known as Silicon Beach. This is home to more than 500 companies, like Headspace, ChowNow, Google, and Hulu. Those interested in pursuing a career in data science in Los Angeles can expect to make a yearly salary of approximately $125,000.
In addition to ample job opportunities in data-related fields, Los Angeles also offers a range of excellent educational options for aspiring Data Scientists. If you’re searching for learning options, Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool allows you to find and compare data science training options in Los Angeles. Over 30 courses are listed by a range of educators. Students interested in studying data science basics can enroll in UCLA Extension’s Data Science Fundamentals. If you want to learn more about deep learning, you may wish to explore theDevMaster’s Mastering Data Science with Deep Learning course.
Palo Alto/San Jose
Palo Alto is home to Silicon Valley, one of the biggest tech hubs in the world. It is also one of the wealthiest and most expensive places in the U.S. to live. Palo Alto boasts a young and creative population, a vibrant nightlife, ample coffee shops, parks, and restaurants, and some of the most competitive tech jobs in the country. Stanford University, one of the best schools in the country, is located in Palo Alto, and its campus spans nearly 8,000 acres. With moderate weather and top-tier public schools, this city offers much more than a tech hub; it’s also a good place to raise a family. Data Scientists living in Palo Alto areal make about $130,000 a year.
If you live in the Palo Alto area and are interested in learning more about data science, you can find data science courses near Palo Alto using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. Coursework is currently available in a range of data science topics. Interested learners can select from courses like Coding Dojo’s Data Science Immersive, Academy X’s SQL or Python Advanced, or Galvanize’s Data Science Immersive Bootcamp.
Dallas
The Dallas metropolitan area is another great location to pursue a career as a Data Scientist. Dallas is known for being a relatively affordable place to live for a major city (about one percent over the national average). It also has an expanding job market that listed nearly 50,000 jobs in 2021. Dallas is also home to many Fortune 500 companies, such as Southwest Airlines, AT&T, and ExxonMobil. In addition, it’s considered to be one of America’s safest cities, with its well-maintained neighborhoods and streets. This city also offers top-tier healthcare options, a range of financial and manufacturing industries, and a range of career options in oil, gas, and technology. In 2021, Dallas was designated the tenth Best City for Business and Careers. Dallas-based Data Scientists make approximately $125,000 annually.
For those interested in pursuing a career in the data sciences, Dallas offers many great training options. Interested learners can browse data science classes in Dallas with the help of Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. Nearly two dozen course options are currently listed by top educators like General Assembly and Dallas Data Science Academy. If you’d like to learn how Python is used in data science, Coding Temple’s Python + Data Science teaches participants how to use this coding language for full stack web development. Business Data Analytics is also available from Dallas Data Science Academy. This intermediate-level course provides instruction on using Excel, Tableau, and Python for data cleaning and analysis.
Boston/Cambridge
Another excellent location to study data science is Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is part of the Boston metropolitan area. Often referred to as the “intellectual capital of the world,” Cambridge is home to top-tier schools like Harvard, Tufts, Lesley, and MIT. In addition to being excellent higher learning institutions, these schools also employ most of Cambridge’s workforce. This city has excellent cultural culinary options and has been running the Cambridge Arts River Festival for more than four decades. Cambridge has more than 16 parks and wetlands, as well as the country’s first garden cemetery. In 2022, Cambridge was ranked as the second-best place to live in the U.S. It also offers competitive pay rates for Data Scientists, with a yearly salary of about $125,000.
If you’re looking to start your data science career in Cambridge, you may need to brush up on some core data skills. Fortunately, the greater Boston area has a range of top educators offering hands-on training. You can search for data science courses near Boston using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. General Assembly offers a Data Science Immersive as well as a Data Analytics Course. If you’re interested in studying SQL and its various uses in data science, New Horizon’s SQL Querying Fundamentals Part 1 and Part 2 cover querying fundamentals, as well as techniques for advanced querying.
Houston
Houston is one of the most popular destinations in the U.S. for travel and career opportunities. With a cost of living that’s 8% less than the national average and a third less than other large metropolitan areas, Houston is a very popular destination for those interested in moving to an affordable city. Another aspect of Houston that makes it a great location is diversity. Houston currently ranks as the most diverse city in America, with excellent dining and entertainment options, more than 150 museums and cultural institutions, and over three dozen colleges and universities. Those interested in becoming Data Scientists in Houston earn around $125,000 a year.
For those who are looking to brush up on their data science skills in Houston, many top educational providers have current class listings in a range of data science topics. You can search for data science classes in Houston using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. More than 20 courses are available from local schools. The Flatiron School has a beginner-friendly Data Science Bootcamp. Byte Academy also offers a Data Science Bootcamp for intermediate-level learners. For students looking to learn how to analyze and visualize data, Rice University Boot Camps has Data Analytics & Visualization Boot Camp, which covers how to work with Tableau, Python, SQL, GitHub, and JavaScript.
San Francisco
San Francisco has long been considered one of the tech hubs of the country. The Bay Area is home to many people who work near or in Silicon Valley, for organizations like Twitter, Dropbox, Salesforce, or Uber. This progressive city’s minority-majority population enjoys many parks within the city, as well as Muir Woods and other redwood forests just outside San Francisco. The food scene in San Francisco is diverse as well, with year-round farmers’ markets and access to fresh and locally sourced ingredients. For those interested in pursuing a career in data science in San Francisco, the average pay is $140,000 annually.
Enrolling in a data science class in San Francisco can provide you with the necessary training to work in a range of industries and professions. If you want to browse data science courses in San Francisco, Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool allows you to compare beginner, intermediate, and advanced programs, certificates, courses, and bootcamps. The Flatiron School’s Data Science Bootcamp teaches core data science topics, like working with SQL, Python, machine learning, and statistics. Berkeley Boot Camp’s Data Analytics Bootcamp is also available for those who want to work with Tableau and HTML/CSS, among other data analytics tools.
Raleigh
Raleigh is a medium-sized town that’s long been considered an excellent alternative to moving to Silicon Valley. This semi-southern city has a low cost of living, with housing prices 3% below the national average, transportation prices 8% below the national average, and grocery prices 9% below the national average. The “triangle” comprises Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh and is known for its research and technology community. This area is home to large employers like Cisco and Lenovo. Data Scientists interested in working in Raleigh earn an average salary of $135,000.
If you’re interested in studying data science in the Raleigh area, many top educators offer in-person study options in various data-related skills, languages, and tools. Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool allows you to search data science classes in Raleigh to find the best match for you. If you’d like to study Python and machine learning, General Assembly’s Python and Machine Learning Bootcamp provides instruction on Python libraries like NumPy and Pandas, as well as regression analysis and machine learning. Data Analytics Boot Camp is available from UNC-Chapel Hill Bootcamps. This course offers beginner-level instruction on how to work with SQL, Python, HTML/CSS, and Tableau to analyze and visualize data.
Seattle
Also called the “Emerald City,” Seattle is renowned for its year-round green landscape. This makes it a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts to travel or relocate. The Pacific Northwest offers more than just beautiful nature; it also is a great place to pursue a career in data science. In 2024, Seattle ranks 11th in the Best Cities for Jobs. Data Scientists based in Seattle make approximately $145,000 a year. Seattle is the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest and is home to Amazon and Amazon Web Services, both of which provide many jobs. Residents of this city have access to over 40 museums, world-class dining, great coffee, and five dozen breweries. In addition, the weather in the summer is beautiful in Seattle, and there is no income tax. For these reasons, Seattle is considered the 36th-best city in America.
If you’d like to study data science in Seattle to prepare for a career, Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool can help you find the perfect course. More than two dozen data science courses in Seattle are listed in topics like data analytics, SQL, and data science. Skillspire’s Intro to Data Analytics is a beginner-level course that teaches students how to use SQL, Microsoft Power BI, and SQL to analyze and visualize data. Intermediate-level instruction is offered from Galvanize. Their Data Science Immersive Bootcamp covers topics like statistics, Python, machine learning, and natural language processing.
Learn Data Science Skills Online
If you’d like to study data science but don’t live near one of the major metropolitan areas in the U.S., online coursework is an excellent alternative. Online courses are available live online, as well as in the asynchronous format. These flexible learning options provide expert instruction on a range of relevant data science topics and skills, such as visualizing data with Tableau or querying databases with SQL. Because all coursework can be completed remotely, online data science classes provide a great way to study data science without leaving your home or office.
To learn more about live online data science courses, consider exploring your options with Noble’s Classes Near Me tool.
Learn Data Science Skills with Noble Desktop
Because data science is a broad field, targeted training can prepare you for a data-centered position or even help you choose a specific role. You might think you’ll need a four-year data science degree, but this isn’t necessarily so. The bootcamp or certificate educational model has become increasingly popular for data professionals, thanks to features like small class sizes, hands-on training from industry experts, and individual mentoring. Noble Desktop offers a wide range of data science programs to help get you started.
- Data Science Certificate - The comprehensive Data Science Certificate provides all the skills required for entry-level data science, data analytics, or software engineering roles. Students learn how to write complex queries and build machine learning models while preparing a portfolio on a real-world basis. Skills covered include Python, SQL, NumPy, Pandas, and Jupyter Notebook, to name a few.
- Data Analytics Certificate - The comprehensive Data Analytics Certificate program offers the perfect training ground for Data Analysts, Business Intelligence Analysts, and Marketing Analysts. With a heavy emphasis on Tableau data visualization software, you’ll learn skills like Python programming, SQL, and machine learning, among others. Registrants of the Data Analytics Certificate or Data Science Certificate can also attend Noble’s Power BI Bootcamp at no additional charge.
- Python for Data Science Bootcamp - The Python for Data Science Bootcamp covers everything from programming fundamentals to data visualization. Students can save by taking this course as part of Noble’s Data Science Certificate, Data Analytics Certificate, or FinTech Bootcamp.
Check out all the Noble data science classes and bootcamps for additional options, like the Python Data Science & Machine Learning Bootcamp, Python for Data Science Bootcamp, or Python Machine Learning Bootcamp.
How to Learn Data Science
Master data science with hands-on training. Data science is a field that focuses on creating and improving tools to clean and analyze large amounts of raw data.
- Data Science Certificate at Noble Desktop: live, instructor-led course available in NYC or live online
- Find Data Science Classes Near You: Search & compare dozens of available courses in-person
- Attend a data science class live online (remote/virtual training) from anywhere
- Find & compare the best online data science classes (on-demand) from the top providers and platforms
- Train your staff with corporate and onsite data science training