Role report · Data & AI
Applied Scientist: what employers ask for
Of 307 Applied Scientist postings from 35 employers in the United States and Canada over the last 180 days, 93% ask for Machine Learning, 88% for Python, 69% for C++, 65% for Java and 52% for LLMs.
From 307 Applied Scientist postings in the United States and Canada, April 23, 2026 to October 20, 2026. Updated October 20, 2026. How we count
- Postings read
- 307from 35 employers
- Remote
- 6%of postings
- Most common level
- Mid47% of postings
- Experience asked
- 3 yearsmedian, from 266 postings that state it
- Advertised pay
- $197,000median a year, from 278 postings in US dollars
The skills employers ask for most
The share of Applied Scientist postings that name each skill, and how often a posting that names it lists it as required rather than nice to have.
| Skill | Share of postings | Required when named |
|---|---|---|
| Machine Learning | 95% | |
| Python | 98% | |
| C++ | 97% | |
| Java | 98% | |
| LLMs | 84% | |
| Deep Learning | 87% | |
| Distributed Systems | 68% | |
| AI Agents | 74% | |
| Generative AI | 85% | |
| Statistics | 81% | |
| A/B Testing | 93% | |
| Mathematical Optimization | 97% | |
| Data Structures & Algorithms | 93% | |
| Reinforcement Learning | 76% | |
| Data Mining | 98% | |
| TensorFlow | 24% | |
| High-Performance Computing | 97% | |
| AWS | 88% | |
| Software Engineering | 17% | |
| NLP | 74% |
Taking a larger share
Month on month, comparing like with like; only moves clear of noise are named.
Seniority
| Level | Share | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mid | 145 | |
| Senior | 107 | |
| Principal | 34 | |
| Staff | 10 | |
| Lead | 8 | |
| Junior | 2 | |
| Director+ | 1 |
Professional skills
Asked for alongside the technical ones.
- Stakeholder Management41%
- Leadership32%
- Communication25%
- Collaboration10%
- Technical Leadership8%
Advertised pay
278 of these postings state pay in US dollars. The middle half of their ranges' midpoints runs from $168,000 to $214,000 a year, with a median of $197,000. Pay by level, and what each skill adds to it like for like, is in the app.
Employers with the most postings
- Amazon218 postings
- Amazon Web Services15 postings
- Microsoft10 postings
- Oracle8 postings
- Thomson Reuters5 postings
- Zillow4 postings
- UnitedHealth Group4 postings
- Datadog4 postings
Quick answers
What skills does an Applied Scientist need?
The skills named most often in Applied Scientist postings are Machine Learning, Python, C++, Java and LLMs. Machine Learning appears in 93% of them.
Are Applied Scientist jobs remote?
6% of the 307 Applied Scientist postings in the last 180 days were remote.
How much experience do Applied Scientist jobs ask for?
Postings that state it ask for a median of 3 years. The most common level is Mid (47% of postings).
What does an Applied Scientist earn?
Postings that state pay advertise a typical $168,000 to $214,000 a year, with a median of $197,000, from 278 postings in US dollars.
Which skills are growing for Applied Scientist roles?
Java, Distributed Systems, C++, High-Performance Computing and Mathematical Optimization are taking a larger share of Applied Scientist postings, month on month and comparing like with like.