Data analysis has become one of the highest in-demand jobs worldwide. Data analysts are sought after by the world’s biggest organizations. In this article on ‘What Do Data Analysts Do‘ let us take a look at all the aspects related to this job role.
What Is Data Analysis?
Data analysis is concerned with the transformation of raw data into meaningful statistics, information, and explanations. The procedure helps reduce the risks inherent in decision-making by providing useful insights and statistics. Data analysis tools assist you in uncovering key insights that lead to better-informed and successful business decisions.
Recommended: How to Become a Financial Analyst
Who Is A Data Analyst?
A data analyst is someone who looks at a large amount of data and turns it into useful information to help people, businesses, and organizations make better decisions. They bring technical expertise to ensure the quality and accuracy of that data, then process, design, and present it in ways that help people understand it more effectively.
Types of Data Analyst
There are different types of data analysts and so, provides a broader scope for a data analyst to create his niche. These include:
- Business analyst
- Intelligent Analyst
- Market research Analyst
- Operation Research Analyst
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Medical & Healthcare Analyst
Tools for Data Analysts
These are some common tools and software a data analyst must master to be efficient in the job. These include:
- SQL
- SPSS and VBA
- Microsoft Excel
- SAS software
- Google Analytics
- Jupyter Notebooks
- R
- Microsoft Power BI
- Google Tag Manager
- Tableau
- Google AdWords
What Does A Data Analyst Do: Job Description of a Data Analyst
There are various roles these professionals play in the organization. In a broader view, the job description of a data analyst typically includes:
- Analyzing data sets to find ways to solve problems relating to a business’s customers.
- Communicating information to management and other stakeholders.
- Turning raw data into information and insight for the management to make decisions.
- Developing and maintaining databases, and data systems, and performing analysis to assess the quality and meaning of data.
Data Analysis Key Skills
There is a set of skills you must develop and possess to excel in the role. Data analysis makes use of a range of analysis tools and technologies. Some of the top skills for data analysts include SQL, data visualization, statistical programming languages (like R and Python), machine learning, and spreadsheets. Others include but are not limited to:
- Attention to details
- Teamwork & communication skills
- Proven working experience in data analysis.
- Adept at using data processing platforms like Hadoop and Apache Spark.
- Strong mathematical skills to help collect, measure, organize, and analyze data.
- Proficiency in statistics and statistical packages like Excel, SPSS, and SAS to be used for data set analysis.
Recommended: Top 10 Countries in the World with Highest Salaries in 2023
What is the Salary for a Data Analyst?
The average annual salary of data analysts in the United States is $79,566.The average pay is reported by other sources to be between $60,000 and $70,000, including Payscale and Glassdoor. Data analysts self-report self-reported data from various sources across different companies could account for the discrepancies in their salaries.
Job Prospects for a Data Analyst
There is no shortage of jobs for data analysts in whichever location you are. A data analyst career is a rewarding journey to embark on, irrespective of the industry you choose to work in.
- Amazon
- Netflix
- Intuit
- Apple
- CISCO Systems
- Focus KPI
- Affinity Solutions
- Norgate Technology
- Paypal
- Barclays
How to Become a Data Analyst
If you’re looking for a career in data analytics, you’ll need a degree in the field or related field. You can begin a data analytics career with a degree in mathematics, statistics or economics. An associate degree is a great way to get your foot in the door.
A master’s in data analytics can further your career, exploring how to use data to make predictions and how data relates to risk management. Finding an internship during your studies can give you essential hands-on experience that will stand out when applying for jobs as a data analyst.
Top 10 Highest Paying Countries For Nurses
20 Highest Paying Airlines in the World for Pilots
