What Does a Data Analyst Do? Your Career Guide

Data analysis is a demanding and ever-daunting career path for freshers and professionals who intend to begin their careers as data analysts—many top companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple hire skilled individuals. Moreover, data analysts can work in many industries, such as business, finance, criminal justice, science, medicine, and government.

Additionally, the demand rises due to the increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making in businesses and organizations. The role requires working with complex and diverse data sources, including big data and IoT devices, necessitating a high level of expertise. Furthermore, data analysts must stay updated with rapidly evolving technology and possess specialized statistical analysis, data visualization, programming languages, and data management skills. Their work directly impacts business outcomes, driving growth and improving operational efficiency, making their skills highly sought after in the job market.

What Does a Data Analyst Do? In this blog, we will discuss the essential skills and how to become a data analyst. We will also delve deeper into career opportunities and salary perks.

Who is a data analyst?

A data analyst collects, processes, and analyzes data to provide insights and support decision-making in various industries. 

They are responsible for interpreting complex data sets, identifying trends and patterns, and creating visualizations and reports to communicate findings.

Data analysts often work with large volumes of data from diverse sources, such as customer transactions, social media, or IoT devices, and use statistical and programming tools to extract valuable information. 

Their role is crucial in helping organizations make informed decisions, improve processes, and drive business growth through data-driven strategies.

Data analyst roles and responsibilities

As discussed above, their primary responsibility is gathering and interpreting large amounts of data and derive insightful data. 

Here’s what many data analysts do on a day-to-day basis:

Gather data:  In data gathering, data analysts collect and extract relevant information from various sources, including databases, surveys, and digital platforms. They also ensure data quality, clean and organize the data, and prepare it for analysis to derive meaningful insights.

Clean data: In data cleaning, data analysts identify and rectify errors, inconsistencies, and missing values within the dataset using statistical methods, programming tools, and data wrangling techniques. This process ensures data accuracy and reliability for further analysis and interpretation.

Model data: In data modeling, data analysts use statistical and mathematical techniques to create models representing complex relationships within the data. They apply algorithms and predictive modeling to identify patterns and make predictions based on the data.

Interpret data: In data interpretation, data analysts analyze and interpret the results of their data analysis to draw meaningful insights and conclusions. 

Present: After these processes, you must visualize the significant data for the respective team via a chart or graph. 

What tools do data analysts use?

Data analysts often use various tools to make their work more accurate and efficient during data analysis. Some common tools in the data analytics industry include:

Programming language- Python, R, and SQL for Data manipulation and analysis

Statistical software - SPSS, SAS, or Stata

Data visualization tools- Tableau, Power BI, or ggplot2

Big data platforms -Hadoop and Spark 

Machine learning libraries -TensorFlow or scikit-learn for predictive modeling. 

Database management - MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB for data storage and retrieval

Paths to becoming a data analyst

If you intend to become a data analyst, you should follow these crucial steps:

Bachelor's degree: A data analyst should have a bachelor's degree in a field such as statistics, mathematics, computer science, or economics. These degrees provide a strong foundation in quantitative analysis, data management, and programming, essential skills for a data analyst. Data visualization, database management, and machine learning coursework can also benefit aspiring data analysts. 

Professional certificate: Obtaining a data analyst certification can be beneficial as it demonstrates expertise and proficiency in data analysis. These certifications often cover statistical analysis, data visualization, database management, and programming languages commonly used in data analysis. They can also provide hands-on experience with data analysis tools and techniques.

Self-study: Support all the above two crucial steps by putting yourself in self-study. Self-development and practice will help you sustain the skills and knowledge obtained from academic studies and certification programs.

Skill required to become a data analyst:

1. Strong analytical skills

2. Proficiency in statistical analysis and data visualization

3. Knowledge of programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL

4. Familiarity with data mining and data cleaning techniques

5. Ability to interpret and communicate complex data findings

6. Experience with data modeling and predictive analytics

7. Understanding of database management systems

8. Attention to detail and accuracy in data analysis

9. Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills

10. Ability to work with large datasets and extract meaningful insights.

Types of data analysts' roles:

Data analysts are required in various industries where data-driven decision-making is essential. You’ll find data analysts in Technology, Finance and Banking, Healthcare, Retail and E-commerce, Marketing and Advertising, Government and Public Sector, etc. There are several types of data analysts, each specializing in different aspects of data analysis. Some common types of data analysts include:

1. Business Analyst

2. Financial Analyst

3. Marketing Analyst

4. Healthcare Analyst

5. Operations Analyst

6. Risk Analyst

7. Data Science Analyst

8. Research Analyst

These are just a few examples. There are many other specialized roles within the field of data analysis, each focusing on specific industries or areas of expertise.

Data analyst salary and job outlook

As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, the salary and job outlook for data analysts in the USA are generally positive. An Entry-Level Data Analyst typically earns an average annual salary of $50,000 to $70,000.

Job Outlook:

The demand for data analysts is high across various industries, including finance, healthcare, technology, and e-commerce. The increasing emphasis on data-driven decision-making contributes to sustained demand for skilled data analysts. As businesses continue to leverage data for strategic decision-making, the need for professionals who can analyze and interpret data is expected to grow. 

Data analysts are crucial in helping organizations make informed decisions by transforming raw data into actionable insights. Their work contributes to strategic planning, process optimization, and overall business performance improvement.