Technology & Data

Data Analyst

Turns raw data into reports and insights that inform business decisions.

Content last reviewed: August 2026

A data analyst spends much of the day pulling data from databases or spreadsheets, cleaning it up (fixing errors, handling missing values), and building reports, dashboards, or one-off analyses that answer a specific business question, like which product line is underperforming, or whether a change actually improved a metric. Tools like SQL, Excel, and dashboard software (Tableau, Power BI, Looker) are used constantly.

A lot of the job is also communication: presenting findings clearly to people who aren't data specialists, and figuring out what question a stakeholder is actually trying to answer, which isn't always the question they first ask.

Core tasks

✓Writing SQL queries to pull and combine data
✓Cleaning and validating datasets
✓Building dashboards and recurring reports
✓Running ad hoc analyses to answer specific business questions
✓Presenting findings to non-technical stakeholders
✓Identifying trends, anomalies, or data quality issues

Tools & skills used

SQLSpreadsheet software (Excel/Google Sheets), often at an advanced levelDashboard/BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, Looker)Basic statisticsData visualization principlesClear written and verbal communication

Typical entry paths

→Statistics or Data Science provides the most direct preparation
→Business, Economics, or Information Systems majors often move into this role, especially with SQL/analytics coursework or internships
→Many analysts are self-taught in SQL and BI tools on top of an unrelated major

Common misconceptions

It's not the same as data science; data analysis tends to focus on explaining what already happened, while data science more often builds predictive models.
Heavy coding isn't always required, SQL and spreadsheet fluency matter more day to day than advanced programming for many analyst roles.
A large part of the job is figuring out the right question to ask, not just running numbers on request.

Frequently asked questions

What does a Data Analyst do?

Turns raw data into reports and insights that inform business decisions.

What are the core tasks of a Data Analyst?

Day to day, this typically includes: Writing SQL queries to pull and combine data; Cleaning and validating datasets; Building dashboards and recurring reports.

What tools or skills does a Data Analyst use?

Common tools and skills for this role include SQL, Spreadsheet software (Excel/Google Sheets), often at an advanced level, Dashboard/BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, Looker), Basic statistics.

How do people typically become a Data Analyst?

Statistics or Data Science provides the most direct preparation. Business, Economics, or Information Systems majors often move into this role, especially with SQL/analytics coursework or internships.

What's a common misconception about being a Data Analyst?

It's not the same as data science; data analysis tends to focus on explaining what already happened, while data science more often builds predictive models.

What college majors lead to becoming a Data Analyst?

Majors that commonly lead here include Statistics & Data Analytics, Data Science, Economics. A major shapes what you study, it isn't a guarantee of landing this specific role.

From our guides

Computer Science vs. Data Science vs. Information Technology: What's Actually DifferentThese three majors get lumped together on nearly every college website. Here's what actually separates them in practice, and how to tell which one fits how you think.Data Analyst vs. Data Scientist vs. Business Analyst: What's the DifferenceThree job titles that show up in nearly identical postings but mean different things day to day. Here's what actually separates the work, and which majors tend to lead where.

This describes what the role typically involves day to day. It's not a guarantee of hiring, salary, or advancement, actual responsibilities vary by employer, industry, and location. See our disclaimer.