What Is a Data Visualization Engineer?

Many businesses use graphics to translate data into accessible reports. In turn, this helps organizations make more informed decisions, identify important trends, and forecast future planning. The professionals who take complex data and turn it into these valuable graphics are called data visualization engineers. Read on to learn more about what a data visualization engineer job entails, how to get into the field, and what you might expect from a data visualization engineer's salary.

What is a data visualization engineer?

A data visualization engineer transforms raw data and uses their design and programming knowledge to create appealing and interactive graphical representations of data for other professionals to understand. These visual displays make it easier for others to observe patterns, identify trends, or trace correlations between the different data sets. As a data visualization engineer, you’ll be a valuable data science team member because your expertise will help your organization distill immense amounts of data into actionable steps to improve business operations.

What is data visualization?

Data visualization is the process of turning data into graphics and images, which then become a part of statistical presentations and reports. This helps to make the data easier to digest. Some examples of data visualization include pie charts, waterfall charts, maps, infographics, timelines, and bar graphs.

What does a data visualization engineer do?

Data visualization engineers use visual media—such as infographics, charts, and graphs—to translate data so nontechnical people can engage with and understand. They do this because visual formats, like bar charts, make large data sets easier to read and comprehend. In this role, you’ll work with software to turn data sets into visual representations.

Industries that employ data visualization engineers

As a data visualization engineer, you can work across many different industries, including aerospace, banking, IT, and business. You’ll typically work within businesses that gather data for later analysis, acting as the go-between for IT and business leaders.

For example, the health care industry uses data visualization engineers to distill patient data into valuable insights and trends concerning things like chronic disease mitigation and patient health outcomes. The hospitality industry uses these engineers to support better customer experiences and increased revenue.

Data visualization engineer tasks and responsibilities

As a data visualization engineer, your main responsibility is taking text-based data into a visual representation that other nontechnical people can use. To achieve this goal, some typical tasks and responsibilities include:

• Using software to create visualizations

• Designing data interfaces with usability and accessibility in mind

• Collaborating with other data professionals, such as analysts and scientists

• Assist with finding trends and patterns within the data sets

Data visualization engineer skills

Data visualization engineers typically need robust skills in both data and design. This enables them to make complex data accessible for a wide range of uses. While the specific skills you might need depend on the industry you choose to work within, some general technical and workplace skills include:

Technical skills

• Data analysis

• Graphic design

• Computer programs such as Tableau, Excel, and PowerBI

• Programming languages such as SQL, Python, and R

• Math and statistics

• Data analysis and modeling

Workplace skills

• Communication

• Problem-solving

• Adaptability

• Interpersonal skills

Data visualization engineer salary and job outlook

Data visualization engineers, integral to the broader field of data science, have a highly promising future. Jobs for computer and information research scientists, in general, are likely to grow at a much faster-than-average rate of 26 percent through 2033 [1]. As more organizations gather data for strategic purposes, they will seek out data professionals to help support their goals. According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for data visualization engineer jobs is $107,634 [2]. This does not include potential additional pay, such as bonuses.

Data visualization engineer career path

It usually takes about six years to become a data visualization engineer, with the bulk of those years focused on earning the necessary education. You’ll need to develop skills in data analysis and design. You might introduce yourself to these concepts through online courses and tutorials to familiarize yourself with the field’s requirements. It’s also often a common requirement to have experience in the form of entry-level jobs, internships, or projects.

As a data visualization engineer, you’ll have the opportunity to work across a wide range of industries, from banking to health care and more.

Education and training

To become a data visualization engineer, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree in data analytics, computer science, or a similar field. Some roles, particularly those beyond entry-level, might also require a master’s degree. Whatever degree you choose, it’s important to remember that mathematics and statistics are key skills for this position, so you’ll want to ensure your major involves those subjects to some degree.

Once you’ve earned the foundational education required, you might pursue an entry-level role or an internship. Personal projects and freelance opportunities also help you develop your skills and knowledge. Certifications and certificates are typically useful to further your skills or qualify yourself for advancement due to increased expertise. Power BI and Tableau are two effective choices since both are widely used tools, but it’s worth researching the options. Continue to seek out both networking and skill development, such as through conferences and workshops, to stay current with the newest techniques and tools.

Getting started in data visualization with Coursera

A career as a data visualization engineer is a great choice if you love math and design, enjoy solving problems, and desire to continually learn. Discover the field of data analysis and explore careers such as data visualization engineering through courses and certificates on Coursera. With options like Google’s Share Data Through the Art of Visualization or IBM’s Data Analysis and Visualization Foundations Specialization, you can learn more about data visualization and what a career in this field might look like.