What is a Data Analyst?

Similar Job Titles:

Data Scientist, Data Architect, Data Engineer

A Data Analyst is responsible for interpreting data, analyzing results using statistical techniques, and providing ongoing reports for organizations. Data Analysts gather insights that directly inform business decisions and strategies to achieve objectives through data-driven guidance.

What does a Data Analyst do, typically?

Collects and Manages Data

Data Analysts collect data from primary or secondary sources and maintain data systems to ensure efficient data storage and consistency.

Develop Data Tools and Techniques

Data Analysts identify, develop, and implement new process improvements, including the creation of automated tools or scripts to simplify data analysis processes.

Analyze Data Sets

Data Analysts review large datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights. They use statistical tools to interpret data sets, paying particular attention to trends and patterns that could be valuable for diagnostic and predictive analytics efforts.

A Data Analyst is not:

A Business Intelligence Analyst

A Business Intelligence Analyst focuses on analyzing data to produce insights that inform business decisions and strategies. They often use BI tools and dashboards for data visualization, which is a more specific scope compared to the broader data processing and analysis tasks of a Data Analyst.

A Database Administrator

Database Administrators are responsible for maintaining, backing up, and securing databases, whereas a Data Analyst is more focused on analyzing the data contained within those databases.

Important Metrics for a Data Analyst

Data Analysts are commonly evaluated based on accuracy, insights, and adherence to timelines. Simplified, standard metrics cover:

  • Analysis Accuracy
  • Deliverable Timelines
  • Impact of Insights
  • Continuous Improvement

Data Analyst Salary

US Based, employer-reported data for a Data Analyst:

  • 25th Percentile $52.2K
  • Average $67.6K
  • 75th Percentile $79.7K

Data Analyst Job Description

Bonus copy for your Data Analyst job description or job ad!

Copy the text below and paste it into your own job description, or, into our FREE downloadable template in the section that looks like this: <INSERT JOB DESCRIPTION COPY FROM BLOG POST HERE>

As a Data Analyst at <Company XXX>, you’ll get to showcase your expertise by analyzing data to help business leaders make informed decisions, streamline operations, and identify new market opportunities.

More specifically, you’ll get to:

  • Drive keyword research and develop strategies to improve search rankings and increase organic traffic.
  • Collect, process, and clean data from various sources to prepare it for analysis, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of data.
  • Analyze large datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights.
  • Create reports and visualizations to communicate findings to stakeholders.
  • Apply statistical techniques to forecast outcomes and provide actionable insights.
  • Work closely with various departments, including marketing, sales, and operations, to understand their data analysis needs and support decision-making processes.
Free Job Description Template

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