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What Does a Data Analyst Do? Your 2025 Career Guide
A data analyst gathers, cleans, and studies data sets to help solve problems. Here's how you can start on a path to become one.
December 16, 2020
Article
As an entry-level data analyst, you’ll be gleaning insights from data to answer questions and solve problems that inform business decisions. Get started on this career path with the resources below.
Learn the basics of data analysis
IBM
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Plotly, Data Presentation, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, SQL, Generative AI, Interactive Data Visualization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Cleansing, Big Data, Jupyter, Matplotlib, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), Excel Formulas, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Data Ethics, Rmarkdown, Interactive Data Visualization, Interviewing Skills, Data Cleansing, Data Validation, Ggplot2, Tableau Software, Presentations, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Stakeholder Communications, Dashboard, Sampling (Statistics), Analytics, Stakeholder Management
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Unilever
Skills you'll gain: Data Governance, Descriptive Analytics, Data Storytelling, Supply Chain, Data Presentation, Supply Chain Management, Demand Planning, Presentations, Data Visualization, Supply Chain Systems, Supply Chain Planning, Transportation, Supply Chain, and Logistics, Process Improvement, Data Management, Data Lakes, Predictive Analytics, Forecasting, Data Analysis, Data Analysis Software, Real Time Data
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Data analysts collect, clean, and interpret data sets to drive better business decisions. They can work in many industries, including business, technology, finance, science, medicine, and government.
As an entry-level data analyst, you’ll be expected to know the basics of data collection, modeling, analysis, and visualization. You’ll need to know how to use software tools like Microsoft Excel, SQL, or Tableau to pull data sets and organize them before synthesizing the insights for a business use case and presenting them to stakeholders.
Similar roles include data scientist, business analyst, market research analyst, and business intelligence analyst.
Read more about entry-level data analyst careers and tips:
Entry-level data analysts can expect to make an average base salary of $63,537 with 0-1 years of experience, according to Glassdoor. That number goes up to $73,127 per year with 1-3 years of experience. Glassdoor. Data Analyst Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/data-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,12.htm. Accessed February 5, 2024.
To become a data analyst, you’ll want to gain skills in data analysis, programming languages like SQL, Python, or R, and Microsoft Excel. Many entry-level data analyst jobs seek candidates with bachelor’s degrees, so it might be helpful to earn a degree in a related field. Build your skills with a professional certificate and start conducting data analysis, before applying for entry-level jobs and internships.
Some skills to add to a data analyst resume include data analysis (highlight examples of collecting, cleaning, interpreting, and visualizing data), programming languages such as SQL, Python, or R, experience with programs like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, SAS, and Tableau, communication, problem solving, and project management.