Data Science Lead Jobs in Illinois

Data Science Lead jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology, with openings at every level from senior individual contributor through director-track leadership. Chicago anchors the market, with additional hiring activity in Naperville and Peoria, where major employers such as Allstate, Abbott, and Discover Financial maintain established analytics teams. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois listings include machine learning engineering, NLP, and applied analytics for risk and clinical decision-making. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles25
Top employerUniversity of Illinois
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring11
Work type70% Hybrid
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 25+ Data Science Lead jobs

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Data Science(AI/ML)
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Added 1d ago
Data Science(AI/ML)
Paramount Global US Inc
Virginia, Illinois
Compliance & Risk
Project Management
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
$27.5 - $33.12/hr
On-Site

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Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Summer 2027 Intern- PhD Data Science or Computer Science
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Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Added 1d ago
Summer 2027 Intern- PhD Data Science or Computer Science
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Data Science
$20 - $33/hr
1,001-5,000

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Busey Bank
Senior Manager, Applied AI and Data Science
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Busey Bank
Added 1d ago
Senior Manager, Applied AI and Data Science
Busey Bank
Illinois
Data Analytics
Data Science
Healthcare Administration
$120k - $160k/yr
Bachelor's degree in statistics
1,001-5,000

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Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Summer 2027 Intern-Data Science and Business Analytics
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Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Added 1d ago
Summer 2027 Intern-Data Science and Business Analytics
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Data Analytics
Data Science
$20 - $33/hr
1,001-5,000

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Illinois State University
Director of Data Engineering and Data Science
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Illinois State University
Added 2d ago
Director of Data Engineering and Data Science
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois
Compliance & Risk
Project Management
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
$125k - $135k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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See All 25 Data Science Lead Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Data Science Lead Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Oak Brook
2 jobs
Riverwoods
2 jobs
Normal
1 job
Virginia
1 job
Champaign
1 job
Deerfield
1 job
Northbrook
1 job
Westchester
1 job

Data Science Lead Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

University of Illinois
University of Illinois3 open roles
Chamberlain
Chamberlain2 open roles
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education
  • Manufacturing
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Banking & Financial Services

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in data science lead jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in statistics, computer science, mathematics, or a related quantitative field
  • Proven experience leading cross-functional data science teams through full project lifecycles
  • Advanced proficiency in Python or R with production-level machine learning model deployment experience
  • Demonstrated expertise with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud in analytical workflows
  • Strong communication skills translating complex model outputs into business decisions for executive stakeholders
  • Experience with Illinois-relevant industry domains such as financial risk modeling, healthcare analytics, or industrial IoT

Data Science Lead Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a data science lead in Illinois?

Becoming a data science lead in Illinois does not require a state-issued license, but Illinois employers consistently expect a graduate degree in a quantitative field alongside several years of hands-on modeling experience before promoting into a lead role. Building a portfolio of end-to-end projects, contributing to open-source work, and gaining familiarity with the industries dominant in Illinois, such as finance, insurance, and healthcare, meaningfully shortens the path to a leadership position.

How much do data science leads make in Illinois?

Data science leads in Illinois earn a median of about $106,560 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $68,810 for the lowest 10% to over $168,880 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire data science leads in Illinois?

Employers hiring data science leads in Illinois right now include University of Illinois, Chamberlain, and Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's concentration of insurance carriers, regional banks, and large hospital systems means demand for data science leads extends well beyond the Chicago tech sector into suburban and mid-state employers with mature analytics functions.

Which Illinois cities have the most data science lead jobs?

Chicago, Oak Brook, and Riverwoods account for the largest share of data science lead openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because of its dense concentration of financial institutions, health systems, and technology firms, while Naperville and Downers Grove attract openings from suburban corporate headquarters in the corridor along I-88, where companies like Navistar and Advocate Health maintain significant analytics operations.

Are there remote data science lead jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 80% of data science lead openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the desk-based and collaborative nature of the role. The modeling, code review, and stakeholder presentation responsibilities that make up most of the work transfer well to distributed teams, though roles embedded within hospital systems or manufacturing operations tend to require more on-site presence.

How can I get hired as a data science lead in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is moving into a data scientist or senior analyst role first, then pursuing the lead track from within. Large Illinois employers such as Allstate, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, and Caterpillar run graduate rotational and associate analytics programs that place early-career candidates on teams alongside senior leads. Building a portfolio of applied ML projects relevant to financial risk or clinical outcomes, areas central to Illinois hiring, gives candidates without formal experience a concrete way to demonstrate readiness for the role.

Where can I find and apply to data science lead jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to data science lead jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated in real time. Search the listings, find roles that match your background and preferred location, and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 25 Data Science Lead Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Data Science Lead Jobs