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Census · Data & analytics · occupation code 15-2051

Data Scientists

Every task in this role, whether it passes the census's structural hand-over screen, which models pass it, and why. It is a screen, not a claim about what AI can do: a task can pass and still be beyond the systems of the day. The stricter and looser rules re-vote every task, and small differences between roles are noise.

Passes the screen · 6 of 54 tasks

  • Generate data queries, based on validation checks or errors and omissions identified during data entry, to resolve identified problems.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 3.5% of the role's time · $998M · passed by Claude Sonnet, Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed

  • Apply feature selection algorithms to models predicting outcomes of interest, such as sales, attrition, and healthcare use.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M · passed by Claude Sonnet, Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed

  • Compare models using statistical performance metrics, such as loss functions or proportion of explained variance.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M · all three pass it

  • Write new functions or applications in programming languages to conduct analyses.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M · passed by Claude Sonnet, Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed

  • Prepare appropriate formatting to data sets as requested.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 1.9% of the role's time · $535M · all three pass it

  • Track the flow of work forms, including in-house data flow or electronic forms transfer.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 1.8% of the role's time · $531M · passed by Claude Sonnet, GPT-6 Sol · the models disagreed

Does not pass

  • Generate standard or custom reports summarizing business, financial, or economic data for review by executives, managers, clients, and other stakeholders.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 4.2% of the role's time · $1.2B · waiting on a check

  • Process clinical data, including receipt, entry, verification, or filing of information.

    reason given most often: a failure is too expensive · 4.0% of the role's time · $1.1B · passed by Claude Sonnet · the models disagreed

  • Manage timely flow of business intelligence information to users.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 3.4% of the role's time · $985M

  • Maintain or update business intelligence tools, databases, dashboards, systems, or methods.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 3.2% of the role's time · $939M · passed by Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed · waiting on a check

  • Monitor work productivity or quality to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.7% of the role's time · $786M

  • Provide technical support for existing reports, dashboards, or other tools.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.6% of the role's time · $743M · passed by Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed · waiting on a check

  • Synthesize current business intelligence or trend data to support recommendations for action.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 2.2% of the role's time · $622M

  • Supervise the work of data management project staff.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $607M

  • Identify and analyze industry or geographic trends with business strategy implications.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 2.1% of the role's time · $604M

  • Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M · passed by Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed

  • Apply sampling techniques to determine groups to be surveyed or use complete enumeration methods.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M · passed by Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed

  • Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M · passed by Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed

  • Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M · waiting on a check

  • Deliver oral or written presentations of the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M · waiting on a check

  • Design surveys, opinion polls, or other instruments to collect data.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M

  • Identify business problems or management objectives that can be addressed through data analysis.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M

  • Identify relationships and trends or any factors that could affect the results of research.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M

  • Identify solutions to business problems, such as budgeting, staffing, and marketing decisions, using the results of data analysis.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M

  • Propose solutions in engineering, the sciences, and other fields using mathematical theories and techniques.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M

  • Read scientific articles, conference papers, or other sources of research to identify emerging analytic trends and technologies.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M · waiting on a check

  • Recommend data-driven solutions to key stakeholders.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M

  • Test, validate, and reformulate models to ensure accurate prediction of outcomes of interest.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and a failure is too expensive · 2.1% of the role's time · $602M

  • Design and validate clinical databases, including designing or testing logic checks.

    reason given most often: a failure is too expensive · 2.1% of the role's time · $594M

  • Collect business intelligence data from available industry reports, public information, field reports, or purchased sources.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 2.0% of the role's time · $590M · waiting on a check

  • Create business intelligence tools or systems, including design of related databases, spreadsheets, or outputs.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 1.9% of the role's time · $540M

  • Conduct or coordinate tests to ensure that intelligence is consistent with defined needs.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 1.8% of the role's time · $530M · passed by Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed

  • Prepare data analysis listings and activity, performance, or progress reports.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 1.7% of the role's time · $502M · waiting on a check

  • Identify or monitor current and potential customers, using business intelligence tools.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.7% of the role's time · $482M

  • Disseminate information regarding tools, reports, or metadata enhancements.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 1.6% of the role's time · $452M · waiting on a check

  • Analyze competitive market strategies through analysis of related product, market, or share trends.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.5% of the role's time · $428M

  • Evaluate processes and technologies, and suggest revisions to increase productivity and efficiency.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.4% of the role's time · $419M

  • Document specifications for business intelligence or information technology reports, dashboards, or other outputs.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 1.4% of the role's time · $397M · waiting on a check

  • Communicate with customers, competitors, suppliers, professional organizations, or others to stay abreast of industry or business trends.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.3% of the role's time · $388M

  • Contribute to the compilation, organization, and production of protocols, clinical study reports, regulatory submissions, or other controlled documentation.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 1.3% of the role's time · $387M

  • Design forms for receiving, processing, or tracking data.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.3% of the role's time · $381M

  • Provide support and information to functional areas such as marketing, clinical monitoring, and medical affairs.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 1.3% of the role's time · $369M

  • Develop technical specifications for data management programming and communicate needs to information technology staff.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 1.2% of the role's time · $359M

  • Develop project-specific data management plans that address areas such as coding, reporting, or transfer of data, database locks, and work flow processes.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.2% of the role's time · $349M

  • Confer with end users to define or implement clinical system requirements such as data release formats, delivery schedules, and testing protocols.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 1.1% of the role's time · $323M

  • Analyze clinical data using appropriate statistical tools.

    reason given most often: a failure is too expensive · 1.0% of the role's time · $299M

  • Perform quality control audits to ensure accuracy, completeness, or proper usage of clinical systems and data.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and a failure is too expensive · 1.0% of the role's time · $275M

  • Maintain library of model documents, templates, or other reusable knowledge assets.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 0.9% of the role's time · $263M · passed by Claude Sonnet · the models disagreed · waiting on a check

  • Read technical literature and participate in continuing education or professional associations to maintain awareness of current database technology and best practices.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 0.9% of the role's time · $254M

  • Create or review technical design documentation to ensure the accurate development of reporting solutions.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 0.9% of the role's time · $247M

  • Train staff on technical procedures or software program usage.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 0.8% of the role's time · $219M

  • Analyze technology trends to identify markets for future product development or to improve sales of existing products.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it, and a failure is too expensive · 0.7% of the role's time · $213M

  • Write work instruction manuals, data capture guidelines, or standard operating procedures.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 0.7% of the role's time · $192M

  • Develop or select specific software programs for various research scenarios.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 0.4% of the role's time · $108M

Where this role works