Define key roles and responsibilities in both careers.

Compare educational paths including degrees and certifications.

Review the technical skills unique to each profession.

Assess the types of problems each role solves.

Explore salary and job growth projections.

Look at the industries that hire data scientists versus actuaries.

Understand the use of statistics, programming, and domain knowledge.

Identify overlapping skills like predictive modeling.

Consider the work environments and team structures.

Choose a career based on your passion and skill set.