Data analyst– Currently, many companies are starting to open vacancies in the field of data science on a large scale. Data analyst is one of the professions that currently has many vacancies. But actually, what is a data analyst?
What is a Data Analyst?
Data analyst is someone who will interpret data into useful information. The analyzed data will be used by the company to support the development of the product being made.
Data analyst is a promising profession because currently, data is one of the keys to a company’s progress. Data obtained from data researchers certainly cannot be used directly, but needs to be interpreted first by data analysts .
Difference between Data Analyst and Data Scientist
Because they both come from the data science group , many people assume that data analysts and data scientists are the same profession. In fact, the two have significant differences, you know!
The first difference between a data analyst and a data scientist is in terms of the origin of the data being worked on . Generally, a data analyst pulls data based on the tools or programming languages they use, such as R, Tableau, or PHP.
Meanwhile, data scientists tend to work without the help of tools to make data conclusions . More complex than the task of a data analyst , a data scientist needs to work with special algorithms to be able to find the origin of the data.
The second difference between data analyst and data scientist is in terms of difficulty. Based on the explanation above, we can conclude that data scientists have more difficult and complex tasks than data analysts . However, it is possible that after becoming a data analyst , you can also become a data scientist .
Education Levels to Become a Data Analyst
If you want to become a reliable data analyst , you must take a certain major. In this major, you will get learning related to reading to processing data. Starting from quantitative to qualitative processing.
Here are the majors you can take to become a data analyst :
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Statistics
- Mathematics
Although certain majors can immediately become data analysts after graduation, if you do not take these 4 majors, you can also aim for this profession. However, of course you must have previous experience so that the company is confident that you can carry out the responsibilities of a data analyst .
Data Analyst Job Description
Before applying for a data analyst job , of course you need to first understand what the duties or job description of a data analyst are, including:
- Have a good understanding of the company’s product database system.
- Maintain company database systems .
- Collaborate with data researchers to obtain data needed by the company.
- Organize the data obtained to be managed according to the data type.
- Analyze grouped data using statistical tools.
- Presenting processed data in a meeting to explain to all teams about the existing data so that it can be used as needed.
- Collaborate with programmers, engineers, and other team managers for data processing and use.
Types of Analysis Performed by Data Analysts
A data analyst must know 4 types of analysis. These types of analysis will later be used by data analysts to map the data analysis that must be done so that the results are accurate. The four analyses that must be done by data analysts are as follows:
1. Descriptive Analysis
Usually descriptive analysis methods are used to analyze data related to data that has been done in a certain period of time. For example, data analysts must analyze website visitor data that occurred during 2021.
Later, the data can be used to find out customer habits: what they like the most, what products they like the most, and whether the website is difficult to operate.
2. Predictive Analysis
Predictive analysis is the opposite of descriptive analysis. Later this method will become a method of advanced analysis from descriptive and diagnostic. Dana analyst will map what happens from the data that has been obtained.
For example, when visitor data during 2021 on the website shows a tendency for customers to buy product A, but product D is less in demand. Well, data analysts can provide this data to the marketing department to the product manager to find a solution so that product D becomes in demand.
3. Diagnostic Analysis
Diagnostic analysis will be performed by data analysts to find out the reason for the emergence of data. When website visitors visit a particular channel more often , it means that the things on that channel are more interesting than other channels .
The reasons for this interest will also be analyzed by data analysts to obtain comprehensive data.
4. Prescriptive Analysis
The prescriptive analysis method is a continuation of predictive analysis. Later, the data analyst will provide recommendations on what the relevant division should do.
Skills That Data Analysts Must Have
To be able to do all the responsibilities above, a data analyst must of course master various skills or abilities. At a minimum, the skills that a data analyst must have are as follows:
- Mastering programming languages such as SQL, XML, Javascript, and ETL frameworks will provide you with the tools to collaborate with programmers .
- Knowing how to manage data models to database development.
- Understanding market trends and segmentation.
- Have good knowledge of business projections.
- Skilled in statistical data processing.
- Have strong analytical skills.
- Have good problem solving skills.
- Detail and discipline.
- Able to communicate well.
- Have high collaboration skills.
Data Analyst Career Path and Salary Range
A Data Analyst plays a key role in businesses by analyzing data to help companies make informed decisions. The career path typically starts with an entry-level role, where professionals work on data cleaning, visualization, and basic analytics. With experience, they can move into senior analyst positions, taking on complex data modeling and predictive analytics. Further growth leads to roles like Data Scientist, Business Intelligence Analyst, or Analytics Manager.
The salary range for data analysts varies based on experience, industry, and location. In India, entry-level analysts earn ₹4-7 LPA, while mid-level professionals make ₹8-15 LPA. Senior analysts can earn over ₹20 LPA. In the US, salaries start at $60,000-$80,000 per year and can go beyond $120,000 for senior roles. High-paying industries include finance, healthcare, and technology.
Continuous learning in SQL, Python, R, and machine learning helps data analysts grow in their careers and increase their salary potential.
How to Become a Data Analyst for Beginners
If you are interested in becoming a data analyst, but have absolutely no background in this role, you can try the method below.
However, you must remember that to undergo a profession cannot be done instantly. You must be ready to go through the learning process from 0 and continue to update technological developments.
Here’s how to become a data analyst for beginners:
- Continue your studies in a major that suits your data analyst qualifications.
- Take a course to get more compact material and even be able to do direct practice.
- Studying data analyst tasks from various media: books, learning videos on YouTube, and attending seminars.
- Start trying to do data analyst tasks independently to build a portfolio.