Before you sit down and apply to do a course, chances are, you will have spent hours leading to that moment in front of a laptop or conversing with someone, trying to find out whether the course you want to do will actually enable you to land a job – and not just any job, a well-paying job.

With the current rate of inflation in Kenya being at an all-time high, a whopping 6.29 per cent, a lot of job seekers are getting ambitious with their searches, carving career pathways that will allow them to not only survive in the current economy but also thrive.

Apart from the financial appeal, when applying for a course, you have to find out whether that piece of paper can actually secure you a job in the country without help from Uncle Sam.

This brings us to our initial question, will learning data science in Kenya pave the way for a successful career?

Salaries of data scientists in Kenya

Let’s face it, the first thing we look at when we receive a potential job offer is the salary column. Once your eyes land on that figure, you immediately start chopping it away, attaching numbers to specific needs. If the figure depletes before you finish your list of needs, the job offer suddenly starts losing its appeal.

So, how much does a data scientist in Kenya earn?

Salaries as stipulated by Glassdoor

Below is a list of salary monthly estimates from some of the different corporations in Nairobi as reported by Glassdoor:

Nones Intern: ksh77,000 to 83,000

First Student: ksh421,000 to 449,000

NCBA Bank: ksh145,000 to 259,000.

KMPG: ksh115,000 to 125,000

Freelancer: ksh192,000 to 208,000

Not too shabby for a starter, right?

Salaries by Salary explorer

A report compiled by Salary explorer this year revealed that data scientists in Kenya earn about ksh236,000 per month on average. Salaries typically range between Ksh 116,000 to 369,000.  

What are some of the factors that affect how much you will earn as a data scientist in Kenya?

Depending on the number of years you have been toiling away in this field, and the skills that you have garnered over time, you can expect a decent salary.

From this chart, it becomes evident that the more years you have on the job, the more legible you become to earn a higher salary. The assumption here is that the more years of experience someone has in the data science field, the more skills they have to effectively execute their tasks.

Naturally, these old-timers tend to earn more than fresh meat in this industry.

It is vital to note that other factors play a role in determining how much a data scientist will earn namely; education level, skillset showcased and the company you wind up in.

What is the average salary increment that data scientists are eligible for?

“You are going to get a pay rise!”

These eight words have the potential of causing you to leap from your seat just so you can do a hundred cartwheels. But you will not do that. Partly because you physically cannot and partly because you do not want to be labelled as clinically insane, I mean you have just gotten a pay rise.

So how regularly do data scientists receive pay rises and how much are they likely to receive?

According to Salary explorer, data scientists in Kenya are eligible to get a salary increase of about 8 per cent after every 29 months.

This is 4 per cent more than professionals earn when they are due for a salary increment over the same period.

Again, not too shabby for a data scientist right?

Will you get a job in Kenya after taking the course?

A majority of Kenyan industries have migrated from using traditional ways to using real-time data when it comes to decision-making processes.

A survey conducted this year by Xetova, a technology company in Kenya, revealed that organizations within the country are designing a plan that is meant to upgrade their IT departments. These departments will include data scientists who will apply intelligence tools to optimize their supply and distribution systems.

The research also disclosed that 80 percent of the more than 50 CEOs who participated in the survey have already implemented digital solutions within their organization for the purpose of effective decision-making.

Evidently, Kenya is embracing the use of data in decision-making. This means that there are increased opportunities for aspiring data scientists within the country. Industries such as financing, real estate, marketing, education, medicine, etc., are all keen on obtaining real-time data so that they can streamline their products and services.

The question is, how do you stand out in a sea of data scientists? 

How do you make sure you start your journey to a thriving career?

The answer lies in JENGA School.

Where can I learn data science in Kenya?

JENGA School is a professional skills development virtual learning institution with hands-on instructors who are determined to ensure that graduates come from under their wing with practical skills fit to solve real-world problems.

As a data scientist enthusiast/professional with the end goal of applying data to optimize processes, you will be able to garner knowledge and skills that actually present themselves in different industries and organizations.

Through the Foundations in Data Science course, you will be able to learn how to: use Power Query to automate the process of importing and preparing data for analysis, use the Python language to learn programming, and manipulate Python libraries and Jupyter notebooks in a way that helps you navigate data in a useful and productive way.

Additionally, JENGA School offers a rigorous Advanced Data Science program that imparts learners with knowledge on how to employ cutting-edge tools and technologies to analyze Big Data, use programming techniques to find solutions to real-world problems, apply principles of Data Science and statistical data analysis techniques to analyze company problems and make vital decisions as well as work in teams, demonstrate leadership and decision-making skills and organization theory.

Remember, there are factors that influence exactly how much you will be able to earn once you join the job pool. Among them are the skills that you present and the company you end up in. JENGA School enables you to acquire Data Science skills that set you apart in a crowd allowing you to leapfrog into a flourishing career.