Are you considering a career in data science? Or looking to see which companies out there are hiring? Good news — the list of job opportunities for data scientists is abundant with thousands of available job postings. But which company is the right fit for your skills, experience, values and career goals?
In this guide, we explore the industries that are looking for skilled individuals and, more specifically, the top companies that are hiring for data scientists right now. You’ll also learn what to consider when selecting a position and questions you can ask your potential employer during the interview process.
Top Industries Hiring Data Scientists
You may equate data science with technology companies, and while you are correct in doing so, there are many other businesses and organizations across a range of industries that are looking for skilled data professionals. Here are some of the top fields that are hiring and examples of how each is using data science.
- Healthcare — Personalized medicine, predicting patient deterioration, hospital staffing models
- Banking and financial services — Risk analytics, fraud detection, flagging unusual charging patterns, personalized services, customer data management
- Retail — Product recommendations, sales forecasting, analysis of customer spending habits, personalized marketing
- Government, aerospace and defense — Identifying public trends, fraud detection, using real-time analytics to detect possible threats and terrorist activity, cyber attack prevention and security
- Higher education — Personalized education plans and teaching practices, marketing to prospective students, identifying trends among students, analyzing test scores and outcomes
- Telecommunications — Price optimization, customer churn prevention, fraud detection
- Media and entertainment — Personalized marketing, analysis of customer sentiment, leveraging social media content for consumer insights, product recommendations
- Sports — Online gambling, coaching decisions that are influenced by player and opponent data, determining ticket prices based on who is playing and other factors
Top Companies Hiring Data Scientists
What Makes a Data Science Company The Best?
While the terms “top” and “best” are subjective, the companies on this list come with thoughtful consideration. Many are featured on “best of” lists such as America’s Best Companies and World’s Best Employers from Forbes. We looked at a variety of factors, including, most importantly, the company’s work in data science, but also their leadership in the technology sector, company culture and employee benefits and support.
The following companies are listed in alphabetical order and are not ranked in any way. While some are specifically data science or technology companies, others are well-known businesses that are creatively and effectively using data science in their work.
Top Companies Hiring
Accenture
Recognized as a global business leader, Accenture’s capabilities and services include providing cyber protection, cyber strategy, scalable AI solutions, Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI, data migration, data platform modernization and more. The billion-dollar company, which has garnered top awards and widespread recognition as one of the best places to work, serves a range of industries, including retail, health, automotive, travel, banking, energy and insurance, among others. Employees within the technology sector work on programs for global customers using the latest technologies in enterprise platforms, intelligent automation, security, data, cloud and artificial intelligence.
Accenture also offers internships, co-ops and apprenticeships.
Sample of positions available*: Azure Data Engineer, Data Engineer Manager, Senior Data & Reporting Analyst, Advanced Senior AI Research Scientist, Technology Architecture Manager, Sales Director – Data & AI
Salary example: Compensation is not publicly available for every position. The role of Sales Director – Data & AI has a range of $136,800–$237,600. A Senior Data & Reporting Analyst can earn anywhere from $51.44 to $61.44/hour.
Benefit highlights: Benefits include bonus programs; a personalized financial education platform; apps, tools and resources designed to support mental health, as well as a Mental Health Ally Network that connects employees with trained Accenture staff members.
Airbnb
It’s safe to say that Airbnb has transformed the short-term rental market since its debut in 2007, even taking over Google as the Best Place to Work in 2016. With more than 6 million active listings around the world in more than 220 countries, the company has expanded to include Airbnb Experiences, Airbnb Adventures and Airbnb for Work, and there are a variety of data-related careers available.
Author and entrepreneur Neil Patel even discusses how Airbnb uses data science on his popular blog, explaining that the company uses data to improve its customer service and search options but also its hiring practices, especially in terms of recruiting female data scientists.
Sample of positions available*: Staff Data Scientist – Algorithms, Guest Merchandising; Staff Data Scientist – Policy & Economics; Tech Lead Manager, Data Science – Algorithms
Salary example: $120–$150 per hour for contractual positions; full-time positions typically range from $185,000–$245,000.
Benefit highlights: Employees have the option of working wherever they’d prefer — whether it’s at home or in the company’s San Francisco-based office. Airbnb employees may be eligible for a $2,000 annual travel credit.
Capital One
If you’re interested in exploring both data science and finance, consider Capital One, which has earned a variety of awards as an inclusive employer, technology leader and one of the best places to work. The company even has an entire blog for prospective or current employees that’s dedicated to career development, culture, benefits, thought leadership and more.
When it comes to job opportunities, Capital One has a variety of data science and analyst positions available, some of which work within specialized fields such as retail banking, card fraud detection and compliance risk. Graduate students are also eligible for Capital One’s Data Science Internship Program, which is a comprehensive 10-week educational experience for master’s students and PhD candidates who are interested in exploring data science.
Sample of positions available*: Principal Data Scientist, Marketing Intelligence; Senior Manager, Data Science – Business Card & Payments; Manager, Data Science – Financial Services; Manager, Data Science – NLP
Salary example: $197,400–$238,700, but the specifics will depend on the position, location and whether it’s a hybrid on-site or remote role.
Benefit highlights: Capital One’s benefits include tuition assistance, fertility coverage, registered on-site dietitians, cooking classes and free virtual fitness classes.
Chewy
A fan favorite among pet owners, Chewy’s mission is “to be the most trusted and convenient destination for pet parents and partners, everywhere,” and they seemingly deliver on all fronts, including as a top employer. Chewy is well-known for their above-and-beyond customer service, but the company is committed to hiring skilled professionals in all areas. This includes data science and analytics, which is essential since the company relies heavily on intel and numbers to inform product decisions and to “differentiate the Chewy customer experience.”
Sample of positions available*: Applied Scientist III, Senior Financial Analyst, Software Engineer III, Marketing Data Engineer III, Senior Data Scientist – Experimentation
Salary example: Unavailable
Benefit highlights: The perks of working at Chewtopia (as the company refers to it) includes professional development opportunities, wellness programs, a dog-friendly office, team member discounts, volunteer opportunities, happy hours and team events.
The Cigna Group
The Cigna Group has a mission “to improve the health, well-being, and peace of mind of those we serve by making health care simple, affordable, and predictable.” The company relies heavily on innovative technology solutions to deliver quality care and services to its customers, which means there are a variety of technology jobs available that work directly with patient data, analytics and statistical techniques.
Cigna also offers opportunities for graduate students, including the Analytics Leadership Development Program, which is geared toward individuals pursuing a master’s degree in statistics, data science, business analytics, mathematics or a related quantitative field.
Sample of positions available*: Data Science Analyst, Data Privacy Analyst, Senior Software Engineer, Senior AI Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Senior Analyst Machine Learning Engineer, Data Solutions Architect
Salary example: Unavailable
Benefit highlights: The Cigna Group offers five core medical plan options for in-network preventive care, which includes child well visits, immunization, physicals, prenatal care and cancer screenings — all of which cost $0. The company also has a Community Ambassador Fellowship Program; each year, Cigna chooses 15 employees to represent the company and complete a healthcare project that positively impacts the community. Selected individuals receive paid leave for up to three months and $20,000 to help execute the project.
Cisco
Ranked #1 by Fortune on the 2023 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, Cisco is a digital communications technology company that manufactures networking hardware, software, security products, data solutions and more. The company offers a robust apprenticeship program, which combines on-the-job training and education; approximately 80% of program graduates have found a job either at Cisco or a partnering organization within the technology industry.
Sample of positions available*: Data Analyst, Technical Consulting Engineer, Software Engineer, Senior Product Designer – Cloud Security, Distinguished Engineer – Applied Science, Tech Lead – Machine Learning Engineer
Salary example: Unavailable
Benefit highlights: Cisco provides tuition reimbursement, annual bonuses, “time swap” opportunities (in which you can swap 20% of your job with another employee so that you can learn something new) and 10 paid days off each year for volunteer opportunities.
Fidelity
With more than 74,000 employees in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, Fidelity is a global powerhouse in the banking and investment industry. Described as a “technology company at our core,” Fidelity invests more than $2.5 billion each year in technology and research and development. Recognized as one of Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work in 2025, the company also features the LEAP Technology Program, which is designed for students who are interested in advancing their technology and professional skills.
Sample of positions available*: Senior Data Scientist, Senior Quantitative Analyst, Data Science Practice Lead, Senior Manager Data Science, Director of Data Architecture, Principal IT Data Analyst, Director of Data Analytics and Insights
Salary example: Unavailable
Benefit highlights: The perks of working at Fidelity include flexible wellness programs, student loan assistance and concierge services. Employees can receive up to $15,000 to put toward their student loan balance.
Humana
A health insurance company based in Kentucky, Humana has been committed to providing personalized care since the company was founded in 1961. With a goal of transferring “solutions through health informatics and technology innovations,” Humana’s technology team is at the heart of what they do. The company has a range of available positions within cybersecurity and information protection, engineering and architecture, data science and analytics and business intelligence.
Sample of positions available*: Senior Business Intelligence Engineer, Senior Data Manager, Lead Enterprise Architect, Cognitive/Machine Learning Professional, Senior Full Stack Engineer
Salary example: Unavailable
Benefit highlights: Humana’s benefits include tuition assistance, leadership development, mentorships and scholarships for eligible dependents. The company is also committed to giving back to the community and provides employees paid time off to volunteer.
Lowe’s
You may not have considered that retail giant Lowe’s offers data-centric careers, but the company prides itself on “shaping the future of retail technology” and employs a number of engineers, analysts and data scientists in order to improve products and services and provide top-notch customer service. Areas within the technology arm of the company include data analytics and consumer insights, software engineering and information security.
Lowe’s has received many awards and honors — even earning accolades as a military-friendly employer and one of the best places to work for disability inclusion.
Sample of positions available*: Lead Software Engineer, Senior Data Scientist – Store Inventory, Senior Data Analyst, Lead Analyst, Senior Analyst in Information Security – Risk Analytics
Salary example: Unavailable
Benefit highlights: Some of the benefits of working at Lowe’s include cash bonuses, a 10% associate discount, flexible schedules, Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund and access to mental healthcare.
NVIDIA
NVIDIA is known for designing and manufacturing graphic processing units (GPUs), but the trillion-dollar technology company is also making waves in the world of artificial intelligence, now specializing in “products and platforms for the large, growing markets of gaming, professional visualization, data center, and automotive.” NVIDIA, which has a long list of awards and honors, became the most valuable company in the United States in 2024, surpassing Apple.
Students who are interested in data science (or working toward a data science degree) may also be interested in NVIDIA’s extensive internship program.
Sample of positions available*: Senior Software Engineer, Data Engineer – Finance, Senior Data Scientist, Developer Advocate – Data Science, Senior Cloud and Data Center Test Developer Architect, DevOps Manager – Big Data and AI
Salary example: $168,000–$327,750 for a Product Manager for the Data Center Ecosystem; $160,000–$253,000 for a Technical Marketing Engineer and $148,000–$287,500 for a Solutions Architect, Retail Data Science.
Benefit highlights: Some of NVIDIA’s benefits include support for LGBTQ+ employees and their family members, discounted home insurance and legal help for employees who are moving or purchasing a home and resources for adoption, fertility testing and IVF treatment. NVIDIA’s partnership with Collegewise include complimentary counselor, webinars, resources and more for employees and their dependents.
SeatGeek
SeatGeek bills itself as a live entertainment platform that’s “rethinking ticketing by caring more about fans, teams and venues.” Consumers can use the company’s search engine to explore and buy tickets for professional and college sporting events, concerts, Broadway shows, comedy shows, golf tournaments, tennis matches and more. Since SeatGeek is data-driven and relies heavily on analytics, many of its positions focus on key metrics, conducting exploratory analysis and studying the impact of new products on customers.
Sample of positions available*: Senior Data Analyst, Cloud Database Engineer, Senior Software Engineer, Risk Agent
Salary example: Unavailable
Benefit highlights: SeatGeek’s perks and benefits include health and wellness subscriptions, team events, a flexible work environment and a monthly ticket-purchasing stipend.
Target
With nearly 2,000 stores in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Target is a major go-to for retail shopping and an employer of more than 400,000 people. The company’s technology team includes a focus on data science, which helps “empower our Target teams with the insights they need to improve product and system performance and further innovate for our guest experience.” Employees in data science work closely with algorithms, machine learning techniques and statistical forecasting models.
Sample of positions available*: Director of Data Sciences – Search, Senior Data Scientist, Principal Data Scientist, Senior Manager of Data Analytics, Lead Data Scientist, Lead AI Engineer, Senior Analyst
Salary example: Most were unavailable, but a director-level role listed a salary of $160,900–$289,700.
Benefit highlights: Some of the perks of working at Target include education assistance and free, confidential 24/7 access to trained mental health clinicians. The company also provides access to a self-paced therapy program that addresses mental health concerns such as anxiety, substance misuse or sleep issues.
Honorable mentions
Other companies that deserve consideration include Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, IBM, Deloitte, Northrop Grumman and Samsung.
* Positions recently available with listings subject to change.
Your Career in Data Science
Top Considerations When Choosing a Company
With so many available opportunities, knowing where to start in your data science career can seem overwhelming. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:
- Explore different types of positions. Data science experience and know-how are widely applicable across a number of technology careers — not just data scientist positions. Many analyst, engineering and developer roles are heavily reliant on data science, which means your range of opportunities may be greater than you may think.
- Think beyond the technology sector. While it’s true that many technology companies hire data scientists, these data-centric positions are quite common at retailers, financial firms, sports companies, entertainment venues — the list goes on. For example, Chick-fil-A, Nissan Motor Corporation, Walmart, U.S. News & World Report, The Sporting News, Warby Parker and Lyft are all hiring. If you enjoy working in data science and you’re interested in finance, consider a career at a bank or investment company. Love numbers but also the hospitality industry? Look for positions at hotel management companies. Type “data scientist” into the search engine on LinkedIn, and see the results for yourself.
- Don’t focus 100% on compensation. While compensation is certainly important, you also want to look at the company as a whole. What kind of perks and benefits do they offer? What is the company culture like? Are there opportunities for advancement? Do the company’s values align with your own? Also, keep in mind that while data scientists often earn six-figure salaries, compensation will depend on a number of factors, including the specific role, company, education and experience requirements and location.
- Location, location, location. Are you looking for a hybrid, remote or in-office role? Many companies offer flexible working environments and even allow you to filter job search results based on your preferences.
Questions to Ask During the Interview Process
Congratulations — you’ve secured an interview! To help you prepare, we’ve compiled some helpful questions from The Muse and Indeed that you should consider asking your potential new employer. You don’t need to ask every question on this list; 2–3 questions should suffice.
- Can you show me some examples of data science projects I’d be working on?
- What are the skills and experiences you’re seeking in an ideal candidate?
- Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities of the role?
- What challenges has this company faced in the last few years?
- What are the most important things you’d like to see someone accomplish in the first 30, 60 and 90 days on the job?
- What are the company’s plans for growth?
- What are the team’s biggest strengths and challenges?
If you’re looking to explore an advanced degree program that can help elevate your career in data science, we invite you to consider the University of San Diego’s Master of Applied Science in Data Science. This program is designed to equip graduates with the technical knowledge, skills and strategies needed to apply powerful and modern analytical tools to real-world applications.