What does a data analyst do?
Data analysts are responsible for interpreting the company's statistics and providing sound recommendations to the organization. They manage the organization's data sets, usually related to market performance, finance, or human resources. They are in charge of studying the available data, spotting trends, interpreting what the data and the trends mean, and recommending suggestions that will help the organization perform better. Their recommendations should also be relevant and backed up with strong analyses. Data analysts are expected to have a good grasp of the current market trends in the industry.
Data analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real data analyst resumes:
- Manage patient s data in UNIX system.
- Manage loan performance in Hyperion Financials using SQL and PL/SQL tools.
- Manage and contribute to EDI processes ensuring HIPAA compliance and access to clearing house review on individual case status.
- Develop Java application to automate reformatting of text files for an internal application.
- Execute deterministic modeling and Monte Carlo simulations in MATLAB to achieve greater mathematical confidence in results obtain from analysis.
- Manage weapon system project websites via SharePoint, including troubleshooting technical issues and developing guidelines for public/private information and user permissions.
- Load Hadoop views into database using ETL tools.
- Create logical and physical data models, data flow diagrams using VISIO.
- Import the data into STATA to perform regression analysis and figure out significant factors.
- Used SSIS task to move files from SFTP into staging tables for data validation, transformation and cleansing.
- Work with the client architecture team in defining tools, processes and technologies to be leverage on the data warehouse.
- Develop Hadoop streaming Map/Reduce works using Java.
- Develop and initiate more efficient data collection/validation procedures using VBA and/or python solutions.
- Utilize SAS programming knowledge and statistical analysis methods to produce quarterly reports base on wayside detector data.
- Provide statistical analysis, visualization and interpretation with a focus in statistical analysis in sports for a variety of organizations.
Data analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Data Analysts are proficient in Data Analysis, Python, and Power Bi. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Time-management skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Data Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Analysis, 10%
Conducted data analysis and trend interpretation for developing statistical process control methods in support of aviation information and readiness reporting requirements.
- Python, 7%
Worked on sentiment analysis in python to analyze the severity of crime/fraudulent activity from the articles.
- Power Bi, 6%
Created multiple data visualization solution for initial Power BI business preview.
- Data Management, 6%
Contributed to development of new products and functionality by working in conjunction with editorial, data management and technology groups.
- Visualization, 5%
Initiated and designed dashboards locally before publishing to Tableau Server for data visualization, statistical trend analysis and KPI evaluation.
- Data Quality, 4%
Partner with cross functional teams and business stakeholders to identify issues and implement business process improvement to enhance overall data quality.
"data analysis," "python," and "power bi" are among the most common skills that data analysts use at work. You can find even more data analyst responsibilities below, including:
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for a data analyst to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." Additionally, a data analyst resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "job skills include excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills. "
Time-management skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling data analyst duties is time-management skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." According to a data analyst resume, here's how data analysts can utilize time-management skills in their job responsibilities: "develop tools using vba to validate input and export data correlation to decrease manual validation time needed by data owners. "
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for data analysts to perform their duties. For an example of how data analyst responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a data analyst: "develop interactive powerpivot and power view dashboard solutions for better data visualization and understanding, including overlaying data on maps. ".
Analytical skills. A big part of what data analysts do relies on "analytical skills." You can see how essential it is to data analyst responsibilities because "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical data analyst tasks: "perform descriptive analysis, data visualization and statistical significance analysis for global student surveys * write and present reports on analyses results"
Communication skills. Another common skill required for data analyst responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of data analysts all the time, as "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." An excerpt from a real data analyst resume shows how this skill is central to what a data analyst does: "utilized data visualization, verbal, and written communications to elucidate complex quantitative arguments for agile business decisions. "
The three companies that hire the most data analysts are:
- General Dynamics516 data analysts jobs
- General Dynamics Mission Systems
459 data analysts jobs
- Meta405 data analysts jobs
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Compare different data analysts
Data analyst vs. Business analyst internship
A Business Analyst Intern provides support to the business analysis team in preparing business plans and strategies. They make suggestions for improvements, write reports, perform research, and analyze data.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between data analysts and business analyst internship. For instance, data analyst responsibilities require skills such as "data management," "data quality," "data collection," and "analyze data." Whereas a business analyst internship is skilled in "user stories," "project management," "first hand," and "business analysis." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Business analyst interns really shine in the professional industry with an average salary of $55,443. Comparatively, data analysts tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $86,172.business analyst interns tend to reach higher levels of education than data analysts. In fact, business analyst interns are 6.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Data analyst vs. Business process analyst
The business process analysts are responsible for producing, managing, and enhancing business processes to improve business performance using data. They gather, analyze, and transcribe information about internal processes to obtain a comprehensive picture of the company's internal workings. Their responsibilities include developing strategies, identifying the needs of the user, and communicating compound data in a comprehensible way. Also, they identify, implement, and assess business metrics that are essential to the end-users. Additionally, they may act as consultants to project teams providing them with recommendations for product or service improvement.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, data analyst responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "python," "power bi," "data management," and "visualization." Meanwhile, a business process analyst has duties that require skills in areas such as "process improvement," "project management," "subject matter experts," and "continuous improvement." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Business process analysts earn a higher average salary than data analysts. But business process analysts earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $92,966. Additionally, data analysts earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $86,172 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Business process analysts tend to reach similar levels of education than data analysts. In fact, they're 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for data analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Christopher Ball Ph.D.
Director Central European Institute & Istvan Szechenyi Chair Associate Professor of Economics, Quinnipiac University
Data analyst vs. Junior business analyst
Junior business analysts work with senior business analysts and project teams to ensure the applications or products in development comply with end-user needs. Their primary responsibility is data analysis, in which they report the findings to the senior business analysts as well as the developers. Other duties and responsibilities include analyzing the impact of projects on business outcomes, collecting systems information, and giving feedback to developers who work on the deliverables. Junior business analysts are also expected to contribute to the development of test scripts and test plans.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a data analyst is likely to be skilled in "python," "power bi," "data management," and "data quality," while a typical junior business analyst is skilled in "user stories," "jira," "application development," and "confluence."
Junior business analysts earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $73,417. Data analysts earn the highest pay from the finance industry, with an average salary of $86,172.Most junior business analysts achieve a similar degree level compared to data analysts. For example, they're 4.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Data analyst vs. Business development analyst
A business development analyst's role is to perform research and analysis on the different operations and procedures in a company to ensure efficiency and profit growth. They are also responsible for devising strategies and improvements for optimal performance, monitoring the sales and customer feedback, identifying opportunities from the marketing trends, and building positive relationships with customers. They must also perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, maintaining data, and monitoring schedules. Furthermore, as a business development analyst, it is essential to adhere to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision, mission, and goals.
Types of data analyst
Updated January 8, 2025
