Qualifications improve your chances; they do not gate the job. Level 3 is the most recognised.
Typical pay: £32,000 to £83,000Level 3 most recognisedOpen entry
Pay range: National Careers Service.
Your route in
You can start without qualifications - direct entry/volunteering; a qualification improves your chances
1
Qualifications employers recognise (Level 3)
Any of these strengthens your application.
2
Where this can take you
With experience, you could specialise in: artificial intelligence, machine learning and database management. You might also: move up to senior or principal data scientist, become a departmental strategy manager, go into academic research and university teaching, analyse satellite and telescope data for the space industry and work as a freelance data consultant.