Also called: Head of Research and Development (team), VP of Analytics
Leads a pro team's analytics department, using data to guide drafts, trades, lineups, and strategy.
They manage analysts and engineers, build models that predict player value, and present findings to the GM and coaches. Before the draft, they rank every prospect. Moneyball made this job famous.
Estimate based on data science pay and reported team salaries.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 10 years after high school. Bachelor's or master's in statistics, math, economics, or computer science plus years of experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science.
Growing much faster than average (about 34% over 10 years). BLS projects data scientists to grow much faster than average; every major team now has an analytics staff.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI speeds modeling and reports so departments stay lean; asking the right questions and persuading coaches stay human.
Classes: AP Statistics, AP Calculus, AP Computer Science A.
Official data: O*NET occupation 15-2051.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.