What Does a Data Analyst Do? Jobs, Pay & Skills You Need

Summary: What does a Data Analyst do? This guide breaks down job responsibilities, required skills, salary insights, and a roadmap to success. Whether you’re new to the field or switching careers, data analysis offers strong opportunities. Explore how Pickl.AI can help you master essential data skills and launch your career.

Introduction

In today’s fast-moving digital world, data is everywhere—from the apps you use to the products you buy. Businesses collect tons of data daily, but raw data alone is useless. This is where Data Analysts come in. They help companies make sense of the numbers and use them to make smarter decisions.

The global data analytics market was worth USD 69.54 billion in 2024. It’s expected to grow at a fast pace—28.7% every year from 2025 to 2030. This shows how important data has become and why careers in data are booming.

If you’re curious about what a Data Analyst does and how you can become one, this guide will explain everything—job roles, skills, salary, and more.

Key Takeaways

• Data Analysts turn raw data into insights that support smarter business decisions.
• Core skills include Excel, SQL, Python, data visualization, and statistical analysis.
• Entry-level analysts in India earn ₹2–4 LPA, with scope to earn ₹10 LPA+ with experience.
• A strong foundation in business acumen and communication is critical for success.
• Pickl.AI offers hands-on Data Science courses to help you become a job-ready Data Analyst.

Who is a Data Analyst?

A Data Analyst is someone who examines data and turns it into useful information. They gather data from various sources, such as company databases, surveys, or sales reports. Then, they clean and organise the data to ensure its accuracy.

Once the data is ready, they share their findings using charts, graphs, and reports. This helps managers and teams understand what’s happening and make better decisions.

Think of a Data Analyst as a data detective—finding patterns, spotting trends, and solving business puzzles using numbers.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Data Analyst

The daily work of a Data Analyst involves different tasks. Here are the key responsibilities:

• Data Collection and Analysis: Gather data from various sources, including databases, surveys, and other data collection tools, and analyse it to identify trends, patterns, and insights.
• Data Cleaning and Preparation: Ensure the accuracy and quality of data by cleaning and preparing it for analysis, removing duplicates, and handling missing data.
• Statistical Analysis and Modeling: Use statistical techniques and software tools to analyse data, build predictive models, and generate insights.
• Reporting and Visualisation: Create reports and dashboards to present findings clearly and visually appealingly, helping stakeholders understand complex data.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, such as IT, marketing, and finance, to understand their data needs and provide support.
• Data Interpretation: Translate complex data into actionable insights, making recommendations to improve business processes and strategies.
• Data Governance: Ensure data privacy and security by adhering to data governance policies and best practices.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay updated with the latest tools, technologies, and industry trends to improve Data Analysis processes continually.

Skills You Need to Become a Data Analyst

To become a Data Analyst, you need a mix of technical skills and soft skills. Don’t worry if you don’t know everything yet—many of these can be learned over time.

• Data Processing and Analysis: Data Analysts should have robust data processing, cleaning, and analysis skills. They should be proficient in software tools such as Excel and SQL and programming languages such as R and Python.
• Statistical Analysis: Data Analysts must be familiar with statistical concepts such as probability, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis to analyse and interpret data accurately.
• Data Visualisation: Data Analysts should be able to create clear and concise visualisations to communicate their findings effectively. They should have expertise in tools like Tableau and Power BI and Python libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn.
• Critical Thinking: Data Analysts should be able to analyse and interpret data critically and objectively, which results in more precise and unbiased outcomes.
• Problem-solving: Data Analysts should have problem-solving skills to identify and resolve data quality, accuracy, and completeness issues.
• Communication: A data Analyst’s role is not limited to deriving insights and patterns. They should also be able to communicate complex data findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Hence, having expertise in communication language is paramount.
• Business Acumen: It is essential to comprehend the business objective before working on it. Hence, Data Analysts should have a good understanding of the business and industry in which they work. This includes key performance indicators, industry trends, and business operations.
• Time Management: Data Analysts often work on multiple projects simultaneously and must manage their time effectively to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality work. 

Salary of a Data Analyst

A data analyst’s salary in India can vary widely based on experience level, location, educational background, industry, and specific skill sets. On average, entry-level Data Analysts can expect to earn around ₹2.0 to ₹4.0 Lakhs per year, while professionals with 2 to 5 years of experience often earn between ₹5.0 to ₹9.0 Lakhs annually. 

Highly experienced analysts or those working in large tech companies and metropolitan cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, or Hyderabad may earn upwards of ₹10.0 to ₹13.5 Lakhs per year or more.

With businesses increasingly relying on data to guide their strategies, skilled Data Analysts have become essential across finance, healthcare, retail, and technology industries. This high demand leads to strong salary growth and numerous opportunities for advancement. 

As analysts gain expertise, they can transition into senior roles such as Business Analyst, Data Scientist, or Analytics Manager, making this a stable and rewarding career path.

Qualifications Required for a Data Analyst

To become a Data Analyst, most companies look for these qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, economics, or information technology.
• A score of at least 60% or equivalent CGPA.
• Around 3–4 years of hands-on experience working with data, especially in data mining, reporting, or analysis.

Some people also start by taking online certification courses, which provide practical training and help them build their skills.

Roadmap to Become a Data Analyst

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you become a Data Analyst:

• Acquire Fundamental Skills: To build a solid foundation, master Excel, SQL, and basic statistics.
• Learn Data Visualisation Tools: Familiarise yourself with tools like Tableau or Power BI for effective data presentation.
• Gain Proficiency in Programming: Learn Python or R for data manipulation, analysis, and visualisation.
• Understand Data Wrangling: Learn techniques to clean, transform, and preprocess data for analysis.
• Develop Analytical Skills: Practice interpreting data, drawing insights, and making data-driven decisions.
• Expand Knowledge of Machine Learning: Gain insights into algorithms, model evaluation, and implementation.
• Build a Portfolio: Showcase projects demonstrating your analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Stay Updated: Follow industry trends, attend webinars, and join communities to stay abreast of advancements.

Is Data Analysis a good career? 

Yes, it absolutely is!

Data Analysts are in high demand across industries—from healthcare and finance to e-commerce and technology. Businesses need experts who can help them make smarter choices using data.

Also, the field is growing fast and offers many opportunities to move up the ladder. You can start as a Data Analyst and grow into roles like Business Analyst, Data Scientist, or even Data Manager.

One of the best things about this career is that you always learn and solve new problems. If you love numbers, enjoy solving puzzles, or simply want to work in an important and rewarding role, data analysis is a great choice.

Final Thoughts

Now you know the answer to “What does a Data Analyst do?”—they turn messy data into meaningful insights that help businesses grow.

With a fast-growing market, high demand, and exciting career opportunities, becoming a Data Analyst is a smart move in 2025 and beyond. If you’re ready to explore the world of data, start learning today. Your future in data analytics is just a few steps away!

To fast-track your journey, consider joining Pickl.AI’s Data Science courses. These industry-relevant programs offer practical training, mentorship, and hands-on projects to turn you into a job-ready data professional. Start today and unlock exciting opportunities in the ever-growing world of data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Data Analyst do daily?

A Data Analyst collects, cleans, analyzes, and interprets data to help businesses make informed decisions. They use tools like SQL, Excel, and Tableau to identify patterns, build reports, and share insights.

What skills are needed to become a Data Analyst?

Key skills include data processing, statistical analysis, data visualization, SQL, Python, and critical thinking. Communication and business acumen are equally important for translating data into meaningful business insights.

Is data analysis a good career choice in 2025?

Yes, it’s a high-demand, high-growth career path. With companies relying heavily on data, skilled analysts enjoy job stability, strong salaries, and chances to grow into roles like Data Scientist or Analytics Manager.