I’ve worked in many different roles in the 3 decades of my working life. In most of my roles I’ve worked with data and observed the Data Analyst function explode in the last few years. This is my experiences and I hope it can give some clarity to those that don’t know much about the purpose of a Data Analyst.
What does a Data Analyst do?
Typically, a Data Analyst looks at the past to identify why an event may have occurred. They will look for any patterns or outliers in data. They will extract information from source systems and files. The analysed information will then be passed on for review by decision makers.
It seems the traditional Data Analyst role is becoming a blend between Data Analysis and Data Science with many expecting Data Analysts to predict what may occur in the future.
How to become a Data Analyst?
I started my journey in accounts receivable, fortunately my Manager at the time saw I had an ability to pick things up quickly and had an eye for detail. Many Data Analysts I know have started in similar office support roles. It seems to be a great foundation and helps you understand the business before working with the data which helps you interpret the data to output key information.
If I had to start again, I would start with the fundamentals such as T-SQL and Excel before moving into other applications such as Python, however, I’m sure many would disagree and start with Python as it’s a very in demand skill.
Why do I need a Data Analyst?
A Data Analyst is a key function in any business. They can identify patterns for what is occurring and look for opportunities to exploit. With so much information available in the micro and macro environments a Data Analyst is key to gaining competitive advantage.
What is in the Data Analyst toolbox?
When I began my career it was all about Excel. A great underutilised tool that has so many unknown capabilities. SQL and Access were also used but not by as many analysts. Not long into my career SQL together with Excel became the bread and butter for many Data Analysts. In more recent times there has been a shift to Python, R and other analytical tools such as Power BI, Tableau and many more. However, T-SQL and Access still play an important role.
How much does a Data Analyst get Paid?
With organisations now understanding the importance of analysing data the Data Analyst salary has made significant increases over the past few years. Entry level starts at circa $60k annually with the more experienced Senior Data Analysts earning upwards of $120k. This is only my observations and location also plays a part in renumeration.