The world of data analytics is rapidly evolving, with businesses keen on breaking down the data on hand and finding how it might benefit them. As a result, there is high demand for data analysts. From numerous opportunities to competitive salaries, a career in data analytics is worth the hassle.
Before we discuss the salaries or the career options you can explore with a degree in data analytics, here are a few other reasons to convince you to pursue a career in data analytics.
Is a career in data analytics worth it?
The answer is Yes. Why? Because today, a data-driven analytic strategy is no longer an option but an indispensable tool every business must use to its advantage.
To fuel growth, companies must gather insights from the data available, which is possible when data is analyzed, calling data analysts to work.
With every business scaling itself into the virtual platform, data analysis has become a top priority to open doors to new opportunities and produce results, making the future of data analytics much brighter.
Since businesses have understood the importance of making data-driven decisions, they are willing to pay more to individuals willing to do the job. Due to this, data analytics has become of the highest-paying careers.
Pursuing a data analytics field, you have numerous options to advance your career. For instance, you can enroll in programs like an online MBA in Data Analytics or join a data analytics boot camp to enhance skills in high demand.
Besides that, there are multiple career pathways you can choose from, depending on your interests and skills. Check out the guide to career options you can look into as a data analyst.
1. Data Engineer
Data engineers collect, manage and convert raw data into helpful information for users to interpret. Discussing from a broader scale, data engineers identify anomalies and trends in the data sets.
Useful information is extracted by developing algorithms from scratch that manipulate data accordingly. To succeed in the role, data engineers must possess technical knowledge in managing and structuring data.
Moreover, they must be adept at programming languages like SQL and Python. These languages help in extracting performance metrics and developing reusable data structures.
Data engineers’ ultimate aim is to make data more accessible to organizations so that it is used to optimize performance. Some other common tasks data engineers oversee include creating new data validation methods and analysis tools and acquiring data sets that align with business needs.
Speaking of salary, on average, entry-level data engineers start earning around $77,000 a year, with numbers gradually increasing.
2. IT systems analyst
System analysts are problem solvers at heart. Their primary responsibility is to create a link between an organization’s IT and non-IT stakeholders, implementing the right software to solve business-related problems.
To become a qualified IT systems analyst, you must have an in-depth understanding of different devices’ software and hardware components to solve technical issues the company might face. Moreover, system analysts are responsible for researching trends in the technology sector and implementing customized solutions.
It improves functionality and enhances the performance of computer systems and networks. Besides knowledge, a few essential skills are also required to excel in the role: communication skills, creativity, and competency in investigation and analysis.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for IT system analysts will likely grow over the next decade.
3. Database Administrator
Also known as database managers, database administrators oversee database structures and software, ensuring they meet the corporation’s needs.
Administrators must be knowledgeable about data storage and proficient in programming languages like Java, Python, and MySQL. Database administrators are pulled into different projects due to their expertise in databases.
Database administrators also back up and troubleshoot database sets. Furthermore, they also upgrade and integrate old programs to implement the latest technology.
Among the daily tasks, database administrators oversee how employees use software tools to store company records and other valuable user information.
Aspiring database administrators must earn a degree and obtain requisite certificates for the job at hand. Salaries depend on experience, job location, and company size.
4. Business Intelligence Analyst
As a business intelligence analyst, you analyze data to prepare financial reports. These reports have identified patterns and trends that impact the company’s goals and actions. Business intelligence analysts are tasked with various responsibilities, including defining key performance indicators and implementing data warehouses.
A business intelligence analyst aims to provide decision-makers with actionable, real-time insights that improve workforce efficiency, strengthen market positioning, and increase productivity. Besides data analysis and creating data modeling designs, analysts participate in various other activities.
These include collaborating with stakeholders, creating reports to share insights regarding data, and giving presentations on key performance metrics. Due to high demand in various sectors, from finance to healthcare, a business analyst can expect a lucrative salary.
Though basic qualifications are enough, leading corporations emphasize long-term academic degrees. Moreover, organizations like Facebook and Google seek candidates with certifications from industry-recognized institutions.
5. Data Scientist
Data scientists are integral to data analytics; they collect and analyze large data sets. Data scientists must possess knowledge of databases and data structure for in-depth data analysis.
Tasks include finding patterns in data trends to gather insights and offering recommendations to the senior staff and team members accordingly. Data scientists develop models and use machine learning to analyze data better.
Becoming a qualified data scientist requires training, but the rewards, in the end, are worth the struggle. Regarding salaries, data scientists, besides earning huge numbers, also receive annual bonuses.
Moreover, some might even receive shares or stakes as perks for working towards ensuring company success.
6. Operations Analyst
As the name suggests, an operation analyst analyzes the external and internal business processes to gather insight into how they work. This clearly means understanding the company’s hierarchy, finding how different departments communicate, and how a company interacts with outsourced work.
Additional work includes reforming policies, adjusting logistics, and implementing changes to streamline operations. Being an operation analyst, you must be an expert in data validation and analytics to identify and solve problems.
Working in a technical field means operations analysts must advance their knowledge and skills to keep up with a faced paced environment.
Becoming an operation analyst is a good career choice as it doesn’t demand long hours and offers several opportunities to travel.
Conclusion
Today, data is everywhere, from big to unstructured, and every company wants to leverage it. However, companies fail to progress with the help of data if they cannot make sense of it. This is where data analytics comes to the rescue.
Data analytics allows users to dig deep into the information to draw powerful insights. As a result, companies make informed decisions and predictions, fueling growth.
So, if you want to dive into analytics, several career options will promote professional growth and enhance your learning and skills.
