Home · Careers · Engineering & Tech
Data Analyst
Engineering & TechPull insights from data. SQL + Excel + dashboards. Entry point into analytics careers.
What they actually do
Data analysts query databases, build dashboards, write reports for business users. Less ML-heavy than data scientist; more day-to-day operational analytics. Strong entry-tier career into DS, BI, product analytics.
A typical day
- SQL queries + data extraction
- Tableau/Power BI dashboard building
- Ad-hoc analysis for business teams
- Weekly/monthly reporting
- Stakeholder presentations
How to become a Data Analyst
2 viable paths.
Any bachelor's → Bootcamp/cert → Job
Common. Coursera Google DA, Microsoft PL-300 certificates help.
BTech/BSc Stats → Job
Direct entry via campus.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's (any quantitative)
- SQL + Excel + Tableau/Power BI
Skills that matter
- SQL (advanced)
- Excel (pivot tables, lookups, basic stats)
- Tableau/Power BI/Looker
- Communication + storytelling
- Basic stats
Salary bands by experience
Wide bands — real salary depends on city, employer, performance. Pick the midpoint for planning.
- Fresher₹3.5 - ₹8 LPA
- Mid (3-5 yr)₹8 - ₹18 LPA
- Senior (5-8 yr)₹15 - ₹30 LPA
Career growth + employers
Data Analyst → Senior Analyst → Analytics Manager → Director Analytics. Or pivot to DS, BI, Product Analytics.
Honest pros + cons
Pros
- Lower entry barrier than DS/SDE
- Skill compounds across industries
- Strong pivot opportunities
Cons
- Mid-career plateau if no specialisation
- Reporting work can feel repetitive
- Below DS pay at similar tenure
Demand outlook
Strong. Every company collecting data needs analysts. Entry-level a great launch.