Jobs that use data analysis are in very high demand because the skills in this profession can be applied to so many different industries. Many businesses rely on data analysis to achieve their goals. From market research analysts to operations analysts, data analysis is becoming an increasingly common skill in job descriptions.
Even without an analytics degree or previous work experience, it’s possible to break into this budding career field. If you’re wondering what data analysis is and whether data analysis is in high demand, then this article is for you. In it, we’ll discover the best jobs that use data analysis and discuss their respective salaries and job outlooks.
What Is Data Analysis?
Data analysis entails inspecting, cleansing, transformation and modeling data to highlight important information. That information will then be used to support decision-making within the organization. There are many approaches and techniques you can use in data analysis, depending on the goal you’re trying to achieve.
Data analysis is often used by businesses seeking to understand markets and improve performance. It often plays a key role in a company’s decision-making. It’s also used in many areas of science and tech. As computers have evolved over the years, so has their ability to store and analyze huge amounts of data.
Is Data Analysis in High Demand?
Yes, data analysis is in high demand because it is necessary for the smooth operation of practically all types of businesses. This is evident in the job outlook of careers that require data analysis.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has put the job outlook of Operations Research Analysts at 25 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average of just over 7 percent. Another job that requires data analysis is Quality or Industrial Engineering. The job outlook for quality engineers is double that of the national average at 14 percent.
Types of Data Analysis Jobs
Data analysis cuts across and is relevant in a wide range of fields. If you are interested in working on a job based on data analysis, we have put together a few types of jobs you should be looking to build a career in to land your dream job.
Tech Jobs
If you like to write codes and are interested in data analysis, taking a tech-related job will be a great career choice. A perfect example of a tech job that requires data analysis is working as a machine learning engineer. If you want a career in analytics, search for entry-level data analyst positions at tech companies with high growth rates.
Health-Related Jobs
Yes, you can get jobs that use data analysis in the medical field. Nursing is one such job. They usually collect and analyze data in their places of work. Epidemiologists are also known for analyzing data to determine trends and patterns of diseases. If you like the health line and want to work with data, this could be a good choice.
Finance And Commerce Jobs
A wide range of finance-related jobs use data analysis to achieve their objectives. Economists, for example, analyze data to study wealth creation and distribution. Working as a business analyst is another example of a job that requires data analysis. Business analysts analyze data to spot ways to boost profits in business.
How to Establish a Career in Data Analysis
If you’re interested in starting a career that requires data analysis, you may be confused about starting your career path. If indeed you are, we have listed a few relevant career tips below, making it easier for you to achieve your goal and land a dream job.
- Take a course. You first need to decide on a role and then dedicate time to understanding your role of choice. There are many courses available, meaning you will find whatever it is that interests you. After finding the courses you need, you must be dedicated and put in the time to understand them.
- Focus on practical learning. As you undergo your courses, you should also focus on practical applications to help you learn faster. You will get a deeper understanding of how things work in reality. Ensure you work on all exercises to understand applications. You can also work on some open data sets to apply your learning.
- Work on your skills. Data analysis jobs require not only technical skills and analytics skills, but also good communication skills. You can build up your soft skills by speaking to people who you study or work with, and asking them for honest feedback. From there, you will know what to improve on.
- Network. Talk to people around you about your dreams and goals. Seek out people who are already effective data analysts and establish communication with them. They can serve as a mentor and show you the ropes as you work toward your own analytics career.
- Update Your Resume. Before you apply for an analyst job, you should ensure that your resume is up to date and properly organized. You should tailor your skills to the specific analyst role to which you’re applying. Also include any analytics tools you’ve learned during your studies, and examples of your most successful analytics projects.
The 15 Best Jobs That Use Data Analysis
Below is a list of jobs in the data analytics field that you might be interested in. We’ll look at all of the pertinent information about these jobs, including the median salary and individual job outlooks.
| Job Title | Average Salary | Job Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Data Analyst | $64,875 | 25% |
| Operations Research Analyst | $86,200 | 25%* |
| Industrial Engineer | $88,950 | 14% |
| Qualitative Analyst | $83,660 | 6% |
| Registered nurses | $75,330 | 9% |
| Actuary | $111,030 | 24% |
| Economist | $108,350 | 13% |
| Project Manager | $73,570 | 8% |
| Digital Marketer | $141,490 | 10% |
| Product Manager | $71,450 | 8%** |
| Business Analyst | $87,660 | 14% |
| Data Scientist | $103,930 | 33% |
| Machine Learning Engineer | $126,830 | 22% |
| Statistician | $96,090 | 33%*** |
| Data Architect | $98,860 | 8% |
*Job outlook has been sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report on operations research analysts.
**Job outlook has been sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report on cost estimators.
*** Job outlook has been sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report on mathematicians and statisticians.
What Careers Use Data Analysis? An In-Depth List
Data Analyst
A data analyst gathers and organizes large volumes of data for predictive models or statistical analysis. They use this analysis to arrive at business conclusions such as cutting costs and reducing the price of products. Data analysts manage everything related to an organization’s data, including collecting, reporting, and analyzing data accurately. Data analysts usually have a bachelor’s degree in statistics, math, or a related field.
Operations Research Analyst
Operations research analysts aim to optimize the efficiency of business processes using mathematical methods like machine learning and simulations. They are mostly employed mostly in the defense, insurance, logistics, and transportation industries.
Industrial Engineer
The job of an industrial engineer is to improve their employer’s production processes using statistical process control. They can also employ other related data analysis methods. They may work in transportation equipment manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and others.
Qualitative Analyst
A qualitative or financial analyst forecasts changes in the valuation of financial instruments like bonds and stocks. These data analysis professionals in the finance industry are also known as “quants.” They play an essential role in risk management, helping clients make sound financial investments.
Registered Nurses
Registered nurses are best known for helping doctors look after sick patients. However, they also carry out other important tasks that involve data entry and analysis. Nurses regularly collect, analyze and report data in nursing homes, hospitals, and other medical facilities.
Actuary
An actuary uses data and analysis to manage risk. Actuaries are the livewire of the insurance industry. You will also find them in the financial services industry, where they play an essential role working for large corporations or as consultants.
Economist
The job of an economist is to study wealth creation and transfers, as well as utilize data analytics to project how future economic trends will look. These experts play an important role in the banking and financial industries. Many economists have an area of specialty in different sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and law.
Project Manager
If you want to become a project manager, you should be aware that their main duty is to define a project and complete it successfully and within budget. Project managers analyze marketplace trends so that they can be aware of possible problems before they happen. Then, they work to find a solution to these problems.
Digital Marketer
Digital marketers give a company insight into marketing campaigns and promotions when launching a new product or service. They gather this insight by analyzing data. A digital marketer’s services are crucial, as one misplaced product launch can cause a business to flourish or crash. A digital marketer pulls out every trick in the bag to ensure marketing campaigns and promotions are a success.
Product Manager
A product manager is responsible for managing a product from its conception. They analyze data at every stage to notice market trends and predict any potential problems that may arise. During the growth stage, a product manager uses data to determine what features should be added to or removed from a product.
Business Intelligence Analyst
Every business should be set up to profit, but some companies may run into troubled times. A business analyst works to provide a solution during such times. They collate and analyze data to help a business decide what to do with their company moving forward.
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Data Scientist
If you want to become a data scientist, you’ll play a vital role in helping a company interpret data, provide solutions, and uncover insight from an abundance of data. Data scientists build new processes or models that will reveal new information that is more useful for their employer.
Machine Learning Engineer
A machine learning engineer creates data funnels and provides software solutions. They must have programming and statistics skills and should also be knowledgeable in software engineering. Machine learning engineers run experiments and tests to monitor system functionality and performance.
Statistician
The job of a statistician is to collect information, carry out statistical analyses, and interpret data. They spot trends that are useful for organizational decision-making. Statisticians also design data collection processes and communicate what they find to key stakeholders.
Data Architect
Data architects build databases and design analytics applications that improve the way data is stored, organized, and visualized. Their work includes improving the performance of existing data systems and creating new ones.
Should You Get a Job in Data Analysis?
Yes, you should. Getting a job that requires data analysis is an excellent idea because it can significantly increase your chances of landing a job. Plus, occupations like machine learning engineer and data scientist come with high salaries. According to BLS, these will remain in very high demand for the foreseeable future.
Jobs That Use Data Analysis FAQ
Different careers across different fields use data analysis. Examples include data analyst, logistics analyst, marketing analyst, data architect, and business systems analyst.
Yes, data analytics is a great career choice. There is a high demand for jobs that use data analysis in the job market.
For an entry-level role, you will likely need to complete a bachelor’s degree program, but you have a few options as far as what you can specialize in. Data analysts can get a degree in statistics, mathematics, or economics. Just remember that analytical skills are a strong requirement for any data analyst position, no matter your educational background. You’ll likely learn more specialized skills later on the job.
Data analysis can be stressful due to tight deadlines, large volumes of data, and juggling multiple projects at once. However, you won’t be working alone. You’ll have a team of analytics professionals who will help lighten your load.
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