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Data Analyst
O*NET-SOC: 15-2051.00
Technology
Develops and applies techniques of data analysis, data mining, machine learning, and statistics to large structured and unstructured datasets to extract meaningful insights for business decision-making.
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$113K
Median Salary
+35%
Growing
Bachelor's Degree
Min. Education
Good Balance
Work-Life Balance
About This Role
Data analysts turn raw numbers into actionable insights by cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to answer business questions. They spend much of their day in tools like SQL, Python, Excel, and visualization platforms such as Tableau or Power BI, pulling data from databases, joining tables, and building dashboards that track KPIs like sales, user engagement, or operational efficiency. A data analyst might define a weekly report format, then refine the logic if stakeholders notice anomalies or request new metrics.
A Day in the Life
9:00 AM
Scan email inbox and Slack
Review overnight messages, urgent requests from stakeholders, and any alerts from automated dashboards or data pipelines before deciding which tasks to prioritize.
9:30 AM
Query and clean data
Write or refine SQL queries to pull data from a database, then use Python or spreadsheet tools to clean outliers, missing values, and duplicate records for an upcoming report.
11:00 AM
Build or update a dashboard
Connect cleaned data to a Tableau or Power BI worksheet, create filters, add calculated fields, and design charts that highlight key trends for a weekly performance review.
12:30 PM
Lunch and light reading
Step away from the screen, then browse a short article or blog post on data storytelling or a new feature in a visualization tool to stay current.
1:30 PM
Attend a stakeholder meeting
Join a meeting with product or marketing to walk through the latest dashboard, explain what changed, and clarify what new metrics or slices of data leadership wants to see.
3:00 PM
Run exploratory analysis
Dig into a one-off question-such as a sudden drop in sign-ups-by segmenting data by channel, region, or cohort and testing hypotheses with simple statistical checks.
4:30 PM
Document and version changes
Update a README or internal wiki page describing the logic for a new metric, then commit SQL or Python scripts to version control with clear comments.
5:30 PM
Wrap up pending tasks
Send a summary email to stakeholders with updated numbers, schedule recurring reports, and flag any data quality issues that developers or engineers need to address.
Tools & Technologies
- Databases & Data Tools
- AWS
- PyTorch
- SQL
- AWS EC2
- Amazon Redshift
- Programming Languages
- Database Systems
- Apache Hadoop
- Apache Cassandra
- Apache Hive
- Elasticsearch
- MongoDB
- Development Tools
- Microsoft Azure
- Apache Kafka
- C
- Go
- Ruby
- Analytics & Science
- SAS
- TensorFlow
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Google Looker Analytics
- Business Intelligence
- Apache Spark
- Microsoft Power BI
- Tableau
- Alteryx
- MapReduce big data software
Salary Details
Salary Distribution
Salary distribution for Data Analyst: 10th percentile $64K, 25th $83K, median $113K, 75th $156K, 90th $194K Median $64K $83K $113K $156K $194K
Most professionals earn between $83K and $156K
Data Analyst salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $64K 25th $83K 50th (Median) $113K 75th $156K 90th $194K
Salary by State
Data Analyst salary by state map
Data Analyst salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $159K $93K - $227K District of Columbia $137K $82K - $209K California $137K $73K - $221K Massachusetts $132K $81K - $201K New Jersey $130K $75K - $185K Virginia $126K $79K - $197K New York $125K $65K - $212K Maryland $124K $77K - $199K Hawaii $124K $83K - $172K Vermont $121K $74K - $158K Minnesota $118K $59K - $171K Utah $116K $58K - $173K North Carolina $115K $58K - $173K Rhode Island $114K $70K - $181K Illinois $113K $65K - $172K Kansas $110K $46K - $149K Connecticut $110K $65K - $181K Idaho $109K $68K - $197K Montana $107K $76K - $162K Texas $107K $61K - $169K Colorado $107K $67K - $172K Oregon $106K $71K - $192K Arizona $106K $67K - $165K Florida $106K $59K - $194K Alabama $105K $62K - $148K Tennessee $105K $62K - $190K Arkansas $104K $58K - $164K Georgia $103K $63K - $166K Pennsylvania $100K $61K - $165K Wisconsin $100K $74K - $148K Michigan $99K $60K - $146K New Hampshire $99K $64K - $146K Ohio $99K $54K - $152K Iowa $98K $55K - $141K Nebraska $96K $67K - $131K North Dakota $96K $58K - $123K Wyoming $96K $49K - $130K West Virginia $96K $49K - $166K Maine $94K $58K - $142K Kentucky $93K $58K - $160K Nevada $93K $54K - $150K South Dakota $92K $62K - $118K South Carolina $91K $57K - $151K Missouri $86K $52K - $153K New Mexico $85K $45K - $125K Indiana $84K $52K - $135K Oklahoma $80K $55K - $146K Alaska $77K $48K - $135K Louisiana $71K $50K - $93K Mississippi $69K $43K - $112K
Data Analyst salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range Washington $159K $93K - $227K District of Columbia $137K $82K - $209K California $137K $73K - $221K Massachusetts $132K $81K - $201K New Jersey $130K $75K - $185K Virginia $126K $79K - $197K New York $125K $65K - $212K Maryland $124K $77K - $199K Hawaii $124K $83K - $172K Vermont $121K $74K - $158K Minnesota $118K $59K - $171K Utah $116K $58K - $173K North Carolina $115K $58K - $173K Rhode Island $114K $70K - $181K Illinois $113K $65K - $172K Kansas $110K $46K - $149K Connecticut $110K $65K - $181K Idaho $109K $68K - $197K Montana $107K $76K - $162K Texas $107K $61K - $169K Colorado $107K $67K - $172K Oregon $106K $71K - $192K Arizona $106K $67K - $165K Florida $106K $59K - $194K Alabama $105K $62K - $148K Tennessee $105K $62K - $190K Arkansas $104K $58K - $164K Georgia $103K $63K - $166K Pennsylvania $100K $61K - $165K Wisconsin $100K $74K - $148K Michigan $99K $60K - $146K New Hampshire $99K $64K - $146K Ohio $99K $54K - $152K Iowa $98K $55K - $141K Nebraska $96K $67K - $131K North Dakota $96K $58K - $123K Wyoming $96K $49K - $130K West Virginia $96K $49K - $166K Maine $94K $58K - $142K Kentucky $93K $58K - $160K Nevada $93K $54K - $150K South Dakota $92K $62K - $118K South Carolina $91K $57K - $151K Missouri $86K $52K - $153K New Mexico $85K $45K - $125K Indiana $84K $52K - $135K Oklahoma $80K $55K - $146K Alaska $77K $48K - $135K Louisiana $71K $50K - $93K Mississippi $69K $43K - $112K
Lower ($69K-$114K)Middle (~$114K)Higher ($114K-$159K)
Highest Paying States
- 1.Washington$159K
- 2.District of Columbia$137K
- 3.California$137K
- 4.Massachusetts$132K
- 5.New Jersey$130K
Lowest Paying States
- 1.Mississippi$69K
- 2.Louisiana$71K
- 3.Alaska$77K
- 4.Oklahoma$80K
- 5.Indiana$84K
Certifications & Training
Recommended
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
Google
Certification
A structured program that covers spreadsheets, SQL, data visualization, and basic statistics, often used by career changers to demonstrate foundational data analysis skills.
Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate
Microsoft
Certification
Validates ability to use Power BI to model, visualize, and share data insights, including creating reports and dashboards for business users.
Helpful
Tableau Data Analytics Certification
Tableau
Certification
Assesses skills in connecting to data sources, building interactive dashboards, and using Tableau to communicate data stories effectively.
Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
INFORMS
Certification
A senior-level credential that focuses on the end-to-end analytics lifecycle, from problem framing to model deployment and evaluation.
Data Analytics certificate programs
Various universities and online platforms
Course
Week-long or multi-month courses that teach SQL, Python for data analysis, and basic statistics, often used to complement formal education.
Work Environment
Remote Work Fully Remote
Work Setting Traditional office / indoor
Physical Activity Mostly sedentary
Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction
Schedule Extended hours common
Your Skills & Attributes
Skills & Competencies Matches (47)
Moderate Match
Moderate Match
Moderate Match
Moderate Match
Moderate Match
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Data Analyst a good career?
Data Analyst can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $113K and job outlook is growing (35% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match.
What degree do you need to become a Data Analyst?
The typical education requirement for a Data Analyst is a Bachelor's Degree. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience.
How long does it take to become a Data Analyst?
Becoming a Data Analyst typically requires about 4 years of undergraduate study. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements.
What is the work-life balance like for a Data Analyst?
The work-life balance for a Data Analyst is generally considered good, with reasonable hours and manageable workloads. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location.
What is the job outlook for Data Analyst?
The job outlook for Data Analyst is growing. Employment is projected to grow by 35% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization.
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