Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on
Getting a job as a data analyst can open up a variety of exciting career paths, including data science, management, consulting, or specialization.
Getting a job as a data analyst is the first step in what could be a larger data career. So what happens after you become a data analyst? Let’s take a closer look at four common career paths you can take once you get started in this high-demand field.
Getting started: Entry-level data analyst jobs
If you’re new to the field of data analysis, your first job might be an entry-level role as a junior analyst. If you have some experience with transferable analytical skills from a previous job, you may be able to get hired as a data analyst.
Before applying for that first job, you’ll want to develop some core data analyst skills, including SQL, R or Python, data management, statistical analysis, and data visualization. Read more about how to become a data analyst, even if you don't have previous experience or a degree.
Leveling up: Four career paths for a data analyst
As you gain experience as a data analyst, you may encounter opportunities to advance your career in a few different directions. Depending on your goals and interests, you may progress into data science, management, consulting, or a more specialized data role.
In this video, data professionals discuss the various career options you could choose to pursue as you continue to build your data skills.
Let's take a closer look at four possible career paths you might take in the world of data.
1. Data scientist
Many data scientists start out as data analysts. Making this transition typically involves:
Advancing your programming skills
Learning more advanced mathematics
Developing an understanding of machine learning
Many data scientists also have a degree in data science, computer science, or a related field. While a degree may not be strictly necessary, having one can mean more job opportunities.
Read more: Data Analyst vs. Data Scientist: What’s the Difference?
2. Management
Another common career path for data analysts is to move into management positions. You might start out as a data analyst before advancing to senior-level analyst, analytics manager, director of analytics, or even chief data officer (CDO).
If you’re interested in pursuing this path, you’ll want to focus on developing your leadership skills alongside your data skills. In some companies, a master’s degree in data analytics or business administration with a focus on data analytics might be required to attain these higher-level positions.
3. Specialist
As a data analyst, you might work in one of many different industries. Sometimes, your career path might take you deeper into the specialized knowledge of that industry.
Business analysts use data to help make an organization’s IT processes, organizational structures, or staff development more efficient and effective.
Financial analysts use data to help guide investment opportunities, identify revenue opportunities, and mitigate financial risk.
Operations analysts are tasked with optimizing a company’s performance by identifying and solving technical, structural, and procedural issues.
Marketing analysts, also called market research analysts, analyze market trends to help determine product and service offerings, price points, and target customers.
Systems analysts use cost-benefit analysis to help match technological solutions to company needs.
Health care analysts use data from health records, cost reports, and patient surveys to help providers improve their quality of care.
4. Consultant
Once you’ve gained several years of experience analyzing data for a company (or several different companies), you can consider working as a data analytics consultant. Instead of working for a company directly, you’d work as a freelance contractor or for a consulting firm, conducting analysis for a variety of clients.
Working as a consultant often means more variety in the type of analysis you’re performing, as well as greater flexibility (particularly if you’re self-employed).
How much can you make? Data analyst salaries by role
Even entry-level data analyst positions tend to be well-paid. As you add years of experience and advanced job titles, salaries often go up accordingly. Here’s a quick look at the average base pay of different data analyst roles in the US in October 2023, according to Glassdoor:
Junior analyst: $61,807
Data analyst: $71,993
Senior data analyst: $95,902
Analytics manager: $126,541
Director of analytics: $168,145
Chief data officer (CDO): $183,481
Data scientist: $111,315
Business analyst: $79,069
Financial analyst: $71,610
Operations analyst: $58,649
Marketing analyst: $68,822
Systems analyst: $90,781
Health care analyst: $70,385
Data analyst consultant: $89,631
Build your data analytics career
Take the first step toward a career in data analytics with the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, available on Coursera. Build job-ready skills in less than six months. Upon completion, you’ll have a shareable certificate for your resume, as well as the ability to start applying for jobs directly with Google and more than 130 other US employers.
Explore business analytics with the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate. Learn how to drive data-driven decision-making and prepare for the industry-recognized Microsoft PL-300 Certification exam. Plus, learners who complete this program will receive a 50% discount voucher to take the PL-300 Certification Exam.
Grow your SQL skills with the University of California, Davis's Learn SQL Basics for Data Science Specialization. Go beyond simple queries and use SQL to complete four progressively more difficult SQL projects with data science applications.
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