Table of Contents / Quick Navigation
- 1.Who is a Data Analyst?
- 2.Key Responsibilities of Data Analyst
- 3.Required Qualification/Education
- 4.Recommended Courses
- 5.What makes you qualified for this job?
- 6.In-demand Certifications
- 7.Top Companies/Organizations Hiring Data Analyst
- 8.Data Analyst Salary Statistics
- 9.Data Analyst Vs Data Scientist
- 10.Data Analyst FAQs
Who is a Data Analyst?
Data analysis is known to be a process where we glean several insights from data to make better business decisions. This process of analyzing data usually involves five iterative phases: first identifying data to analyze, collecting data, cleaning data, analyzing data, and interpreting the results of data analysis.
“Data analysts scrutinize the data using special tools which then generate information for making decisions. With that, data analysts also use data modeling techniques for summarizing the overall features of data analysis.”
Key Job Responsibilities
Professionals in this role carry out essential day-to-day operations to ensure smooth systems and workflow performance:
- 1Extract Data: He has to extract data from both primary and secondary sources using automated tools.
- 2Removes Corrupted Data: He has to fix all coding errors and remove corrupted data and solve all the relevant problems.
- 3Maintain Databases: It is a data analyst's job to not only develop but maintain databases, data systems, and reorganize data in a readable format.
- 4Filter Data: He has to filter data by reviewing reports and use performance indicators to identify and correct code problems.
- 5Use Statistical Tools: He is required to identify, analyze, and interpret patterns by using statistical tools.
- 6Assess Business Performance: He has to assess the business performance by assigning a numerical value to essential business functions.
Required Qualification & Education
Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Economics or equivalent experience.
- A Bachelor's degree in data analytics is a simple requirement to become. But know that not all universities offer this degree. So there has to be another way to land a job in data analytics right? Below you can find some alternative degrees that also teach data analysis skills:
- Data Science
- Applied Mathematics or Statistics
- A Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Computer Science
- Finance or Economics
- Management Information Systems
Recommended Courses & Certifications
CourseraGoogle Data Analytics Professional Certificate
via Google
• 6 months (10 hours weekly)
• 786,814+ students enrolled
edXData Analysis for Life Sciences
via Harvard University
• 4 Months (2-4 hours weekly)
• 4 Skills-building courses
CourseraIBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate
via IBM
• 11 Months (3 hours weekly)
• 64,369+ already enrolled!
What makes you qualified for this job?
If you wish to do this job really well, then there are some technical hard skills and general soft skills you need to possess:
Technical Hard Skills
- •Structured Query Language (SQL)
- •Predictive Modeling
- •Microsoft Excel
- •Building Data Sets
- •Machine Learning Algorithms
- •Decision-making
- •Machine Learning Models
- •Knowhow of Python and other Programming Languages
- •Data Optimization
- •Regression Analysis
General Soft Skills & Aptitude
- •A very strong level of mathematical ability is required.
- •A very good understanding of the ethics of gathering and working data is a must.
- •Similarly, the ability to not only analyze but model and interpret data is very important.
- •You need to possess written and verbal communication skills.
- •Similarly, problem-solving skills are also required.
- •Accuracy and attention to detail add value.
- •Interpersonal and team working skills are also valued.
In-Demand Certifications
Earning industry-recognized credentials validates your skills and boosts career advancement:
Top Companies & Organizations Hiring
Major enterprise organizations actively recruit qualified professionals in this field across leading sectors:
Salary Statistics by Country
Below is the average annual salary breakdown for working professionals across top global destinations:
| Country | Average Salary (Yearly) |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸United States | $80,109 |
| 🇨🇦Canada | CA$70,175 |
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | £38,123 |
| 🇮🇳India | ₹672,500 |
| 🇦🇺Australia | A$95,500 |
🇺🇸United States:
The average annual salary of a data analyst working in the United States is around $80,109.
🇨🇦Canada:
If you are working as a data analyst in Canada, then you can expect to make an average annual salary of CA$70,175.
🇬🇧United Kingdom:
In United Kingdom, data analysts can make an average annual salary of £38,123.
🇮🇳India:
In India, data analysts can make around ₹672,500 per year.
🇦🇺Australia:
Working as a data analyst in Australia can help you make around A$95,500 per year.
Data Analyst Vs Data Scientist
| Data Analyst | Data Scientist |
|---|---|
| Data Analyst examines large data sets for identifying trends and develop charts. He creates visual presentations for helping the business make more strategic decisions. | On the other hand, Data Scientist designs and constructs new processes for data modeling and production by using prototypes, algorithms, predictive models, and custom analysis. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It can take as little as six months to as long as 4 years or even more depending on the type of skills you plan to gain. You can become a data analyst in six months and many career paths are ahead of you with this skill set. Then there is the option of gaining a proper 4 years bachelor's degree of full-time study that will give you an edge over all those who don't have one.
Concluding Remarks
Working as a data analyst can be a rewarding career only if you work hard enough to get the required degree and the skills to become the best. The above article has almost everything you need to know about a data analyst and what the requirements are.
EXPLORE A CAREER
Job Responsibilities, Qualifications/Education, Desired Skills, In-demand Certifications, Market Trends & Salary Statistics