R Programming Jobs and How to Get Started

With numerous programming languages in existence, it can be challenging to determine which one would be best for you to learn. Still, if you’re interested in a career involving data analysis and statistics, you might consider R language. Although it’s essential to look at some different programming careers and the languages they use regularly, R will open opportunities for you to pursue a career in several data analytics and statistics-based positions, such as data scientist, data analyst, data architect, statistician, or data engineer.

Finally, learning the R language can create lucrative opportunities for you. The average annual pay in the US in 2024 for someone with this skill is $124,000, according to March 2024 data from ZipRecruiter [1]. Discover more about several R programming jobs, their responsibilities, and their earning potential and education requirements.

What is R programming?

R is an open-source programming language available at no cost for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. Its primary use is for statistical computing and data science. R stands out for its ability to store, manipulate, and process data and develop graphics. Within R, you can find several packages to help you perform tasks in areas such as statistics, data analysis, and even machine learning.

Although R may not be as versatile as popular general-purpose programming languages such as Python, if you’re looking to pursue a career in a data science or statistics-centric field, R offers the best environment for these specific cases because it contains more statistical functions than all other software programs.

R programming jobs

The ability to program with R will present you with career opportunities within industries looking to optimize the vast amounts of data they have access to, such as health care and finance. The following offers insights into some of the R programming jobs in these industries.

Data scientist

Average annual US salary: $129,767 [2]

Job outlook: 35 percent projected growth from 2022 to 2032 [3]

Education requirements: A bachelor’s degree in computer science, statistics, mathematics, or a related field will help you enter the field. Some employers may require a master’s or even a doctoral degree.

As a data scientist, you can use your programming abilities to collect and analyze massive amounts of data to draw valuable insights to solve relevant problems in your industry. Your job will involve testing and developing predictive models, creating visualizations to show results, and making recommendations based on your findings.

Statistician

Average annual US salary: $91,426 [4]

Job outlook: 30 percent projected growth from 2022 to 2032 [5]

Education requirements: A bachelor’s degree in statistics or mathematics can help you qualify for entry-level roles. However, more advanced positions will typically require at least a master’s degree.

As a statistician, you will likely work in research, academia, or for a data-driven business. You will use statistical analysis methods to assist in decision-making processes and problem-solving. To develop these conclusions, your work as a statistician will involve collecting and analyzing data to find patterns and trends that reveal valuable insights. You can find many of these positions in various industries, including health care, business, government, or environmental sciences.

Data analyst

Average annual US salary: $76,995 [6]

Job outlook: 35 percent projected growth from 2022 to 2032 [3]

Education requirements: A bachelor’s degree in computer science, data analytics, statistics, or a related field is typically required. Additionally, remember that as technology continues to advance, many companies may seek candidates with a master’s degree.

This role is similar to data scientists; however, as a data analyst, you will prepare data and analyze the data to establish meaningful insights that you can use to solve problems. More specifically, you will identify outliers, calculate averages, and refine data to discover these insights. Programming languages such as R and Python are valuable skills, as is the ability to create visualizations, which can assist you in explaining the results to non-technical executives. However, data analysts and data scientists are different since data scientists play a more prominent role in building the systems and models you use to analyze data.

Data architect

Median annual US salary: $140,128 [7]

Job outlook: 8 percent growth projected from 2022 to 2032 [8]

Education requirements: Employers will generally require at least a bachelor’s degree in an area such as data science or computer science. To increase your job prospects, you might consider earning a master’s degree.

As a data architect, you will help design and build the infrastructure for storing and managing your organization's data. Essentially, you will determine how various IT systems within your organization store, consume, integrate, and manage data. This is important as it enables secure access to data so that you and other team members can use it for various business purposes. R is a valuable skill data architects use to develop systems and warehousing.

Data engineer

Median annual US salary: $106,894 [9]

Job outlook: 8 percent growth projected from 2022 to 2032 [8]

Education requirements: Data engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in software engineering, computer science, or a similarly related field.

As a data engineer, you will blend the responsibilities of a software engineer and data analyst. You will help develop databases and analytical systems and then regularly test these systems to ensure proper performance. Additionally, you will want to gain an in-depth knowledge of programming languages such as SQL, Python, and R. In this position, you will work alongside data scientists to establish relevant plans based on your organization's data needs.

Is R difficult to learn?

R can be challenging to master if you have no previous programming experience. However, as you become more accustomed to It, you will likely find it comfortable to use. R is a low-level programming language, meaning the syntax is less similar to human language, making It more challenging to understand.

How to learn R

While you can develop your programming skills through completing a degree program, you can take a more cost and time-efficient approach by taking a bootcamp or several online courses.

With the bootcamp option, you can develop job-ready skills in a matter of three to six months, with options available full-time, part-time, online, or in person, making it easy to find an option that suits your circumstances. Bootcamps focus on teaching you the specific skills and tools you will need to be competitive in today's job market. Alternatively, online courses are a great way for you to move at your own pace through the material, with several options available, such as those found on Coursera.

Get started with Coursera.

Learning R can be valuable, depending on the type of career path you’re aiming for. You can explore various highly-rated courses on Coursera to learn more about R programming. For example, Data Science: Foundations using R Specialization from Johns Hopkins University can help you develop skills in several data science techniques using R, such as cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing data.

Duke University's Data Analysis with R Specialization is another option for learning relevant skills in R, including probability and statistics, data analysis, interpreting statistical results, and more.