Four Reasons to Consider Becoming a Data Analyst (Plus Potential Career Paths)
There’s currently a high demand for data analysts and a career in data analysis can be very lucrative and rewarding. So, now is the ideal time to consider working in this field.
Not convinced it’s the right career path for you? Then check out the following four reasons why you should seriously think about working as a data analyst.
What Does a Data Analyst Do?
Basically, the role of a data analyst involves collecting, cleaning, and interpreting data sets in order to solve problems or answer questions.
The organization or business you work for can then make informed decisions.
While the role is similar to data science, there is a difference. Both disciplines involve working with data, but data scientists are mostly focused on nurturing and gathering data. Check out this insightful post to understand more about the difference between data analyst versus data scientist.
Potential Career Paths
Before looking at the reasons why you should consider becoming a data analyst, let’s first take a quick look at the potential career paths available to you.
Data analysis is a broad field and covers numerous industries, so you have the opportunity to work in a sector that you’re passionate about. You also have the opportunity to change sectors as your career progresses.
Examples of industries that employ data scientists include finance, marketing, retail, media, insurance, education, health, and IT, to name just a few. Roles in finance are particularly in demand. You could work in areas like fraud analysis, risk analysis, or investment analysis.
Business product analysis is another growing area, as is marketing analysis; especially for companies that work with big data.
Reason 1: You Can Gain an Attractive Salary
A good job isn’t solely about how much money you can earn, but at the same time, everyone wants a good salary.
Because data analysts are in high demand, they can command excellent salaries, especially as they grow in experience and expertise.
Junior data analysts can earn an average of around $51,000 per year while senior data analysts can earn around $78,000 per year.
The more experience and certifications you gain, the more you can earn.
Reason 2: It Can Be a Challenging and Rewarding Job
Knowing how to interpret data to help organizations make better decisions is an important job, so you can gain a lot of satisfaction by working in data analysis.
It can be challenging to identify patterns in data, spot anomalies, and come up with useful insights, but that’s a good thing. Data analysis always brings new problems to solve, so you’ll never be bored and you can gain a great sense of satisfaction for a job well done.
Reason 3: Freelancing Opportunities Are Widely Available
As mentioned earlier, all kinds of industries require data analysts. So, if you prefer working for a variety of sectors to always keep your day-to-day tasks interesting, you have the opportunity to work as a freelancer.
Not only does a freelance data analyst get to work for various industries. He or she also gets to be the boss.
If you want varied work and you want to stay in control of your hours and working practices, freelancing as a data analyst could be the right choice for you.
Reason 4: You Get to Solve Problems on a Daily Basis
Problem-solving is at the heart of data analysis, so if you enjoy doing things like solving puzzles and finding new solutions, a career in data analysis is sure to be an enjoyable and engaging one.
Everyone should enjoy the work that they do. If you enjoy continually learning and solving different problems, you’ll likely be happy in your career as a data analyst for years to come.