Oh, my apologies, I understand the question you were asking. You weren't asking for my opinion on how this should work, you were specifically asking about what

Oh, my apologies, I understand the question you were asking. You weren't asking for my opinion on how this should work, you were specifically asking about what kind of data is needed. Ok, got it. I'm interested in how viable a career path it is to try to go into software development without any degree, without a CS or related degree, or without a MS or PhD. The reason is that I've been on interviews for "data science-ish" positions (this was before it was a term), and I was whiteboard quizzed on: Tree operations Markov chains Formulating linear programs Set permutations (you know, all permutations of a string, but hidden in a different question) Database normalization and queries. I have an MS in industrial engineering, so I've studied this stuff, but I definitely have to hit the books and re-study for my midterms every time I go into an interview like this. I could look it up on the job, but to have it sharp and ready enough for a whiteboard quiz, I definitely would need to study. So I guess I'd be interested in knowing the salary bands, job title, and degree. But here's the thing, that only tells you who got the job. To really analyze this, you'd need to know the percentage of people who apply and get interviews. I definitely think that having an MS from a top program does increase my odds getting some of these interviews. The difference is that it doesn't save me from having to re-take the exam every time I interview, unlike many other professions that have a more formal process for taking entry exams and keeping credentials up to date.