What It Means To Be A Data ScientistWhat It Means To Be A Data Scientist

9 Tips For Hiring Data Science Talent

Good data scientists have been called "unicorns" because it is so rare to find professionals who possess all the required skill sets. When a company seeks to hire a data scientist, it's typically seeking someone with skills in advanced programming and statistical analysis, along with expertise in a particular industry segment, such as healthcare, finance, or marketing.

The proliferation of data, and the potential for organizations to turn data into something valuable that didn't exist before -- think Uber and Netflix -- has increased demand for such professionals.

[Looking for your next gig? Read 10 Best Tech Companies to Work for in 2016.]

Linda Burtch, an executive recruiter who has specialized in quantitative professionals for 30 years, told InformationWeek the demand for data scientists is at the highest level she has ever seen.

But how do these professionals spend their time? What degrees do they have? What tools do they use?

We looked at a few studies to get the answers for this handy infographic. One study from Stitch Data looks at data from LinkedIn, and provides a comprehensive view of degrees, geographies, and more. Another study is based on O'Reilly's annual salary survey.

(Image: Jessica Davis/InformationWeek)