With an overwhelming demand for data across organizations, “data analysts'' have started gaining a lot of visibility in the job market. The role of a Data Analyst is not confined to any specific industry or sector. Every organization which is dependent on data for taking important business decisions like; new product development, new market launches, investment ventures or attracting new/existing customers, will need to appoint data analysts to analyze all the available information and relevant data. However, one must acquire certain skill sets and pursue relevant courses to become a Data Analyst.
The basic qualifications required to become a Data Analyst include aspiring candidates pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in the relevant field such as Computer Science, Mathematics or Statistics. They can also pursue Undergraduate or Postgraduate degrees in Data Science Courses or Data Analytics Courses from any of the top Data Science Colleges across the country. Admission to these colleges is done on the basis of various Engineering Entrance Exams such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and GATE.
The basic eligibility criteria required to become a Data Analyst in India is that; students must complete their graduation with preferably a major in IT along with some basic knowledge about Economics or Statistics. Candidates in their final year of the course should take up internships in different leading companies that offer options across different profiles of Data Analysts. The average course fee ranges from INR 10,000 -1.50 L per semester. The prestigious IITs charge a fee of INR 1 LPA – 1.50 LPA for Data Science courses. Candidates after completion of the course get an average starting salary of INR 3.25 LPA.
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Some of the top Data Analytics Companies that hire fresh graduates as well as experienced candidates for various positions are TCS, Accenture, Tech Mahindra, Capgemini India Pvt Ltd, Genpact etc.
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4.3 Social Media Data Analysts
4.4 Insurance Underwriting Analysts
6.1 How to Become a Data Analyst After 12th
7.1 Entrance Exams
9.1 India
9.2 Abroad
How to Become a Data Analyst: Quick Facts
| Industry | Information Technology |
| Eligibility | Undergraduate or Postgraduate degree in Data Science / Data Analytics |
| Top Recruiters | TCS, Accenture, IBM, Tech Mahindra, Capgemini India Pvt Ltd, Genpact & others |
| Required Skills | SQL Databases Database Querying Languages Knowledge Data Visualization Knowledge Advanced Microsoft Excel Knowledge Programming Languages (R/SAS) Knowledge |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 4.20 LPA |
| Highest Salary | INR 50 LPA & above |
Data Analyst Qualifications
The major qualifications required in order to become a Data Analysts are listed below for your reference,
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Aspiring students must complete their graduation preferably in Statistics or IT, with a minimum of 60% and above aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA
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Students must have a degree in Economics, Statistics, Computer Science or Mathematics in order to become a Data Analyst
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Data Analysts are required to have sufficient knowledge as well as working experience in the field of data mining, thus aspiring candidates should have a minimum of 3 – 4 years of working experience in Data Mining.
Types of Data Analysts
The different types of data analyst roles available in the job market are as follows:
Financial Analyst
| Job Profile | The most important role of a financial analyst is to evaluate the organisation's current value and future business prospects. Thus, the responsibilities usually revolve around analyzing financial data to generate business prognoses that would be highly beneficial while planning various investment decisions |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 4.31 LPA |
Healthcare Analyst
| Job Profile | Healthcare data analysts help in upgrading healthcare developments by using data from multiple sources. The job involves analyzing, collecting, and authenticating several critical medical data. In other words, healthcare analysts look into improvising the patient care system or making necessary transformations in the daily processes of the healthcare system. |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 2.11 LPA |
Social Media Data Analyst
| Job Profile | Social Media Data Analysts manage a plethora of data for social media sites for every small and big organization. The social media data analyst closely scrutinizes which data should be published and which needs to be discarded. They also make necessary changes when and where required. This helps organizations in the development, supervision, and technological advancement of their products and services. |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 3.80 LPA |
Insurance Underwriting Analyst
| Job Profile | Insurance Underwriting Analysts work for insurance companies in reviewing, analyzing, and processing various insurance applications. Their job is to evaluate the risk factor and then decide on behalf of the company whether or not they would offer the insurance coverage. Based on the approval given by the underwriting analyst, premiums would be collected by the insurance company. |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 6.07 LPA |
Know More: Social Media Management Course
Steps to Become a Data Analyst
In today’s fast-evolving world, students don’t take much time to decide which stream of education they would want to pursue and what profession they would like to be in. Nevertheless, it would require a certain level of preparation right from their school days. The below-mentioned steps would help students to know what needs to be done to become a data analyst.
- Complete Graduation: Earn a Bachelor's degree in relevant subjects along with a core understanding of statistics as well as analytical skills such as Computer Science or Mathematics. This will help gain a basic idea about the subject and help create a rock-solid foundation on the same.
- Adapt Data Analytical Skills: There are various Data Analytical skills which can be adapted in order to excel in the profession such as Data Visualization, SQL Databases, Data Mining and Cleaning, and Programming Languages.
- Pursue Relevant Certifications: There are a number of certifications that can be pursued in order to become a Data Analyst such as Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate, Google Data Analytics Certificate, Certified Analytics Professional and many more.
- Get into an Internship: Getting into an internship not only prepares a candidate for the profession but also gives a first hand experience about the same. Through an internship, candidates will get to know how things roll in an actual scenario.
- Pursue Masters Degree: Post gaining some substantial years of experience, candidates can choose to pursue a Masters degree in relevant subjects, which would eventually help them jump the ladder as well as witness an exponential hike in their salary packages as well
Know More: Machine Learning Courses
How to Become a Data Analyst in India
To become a data analyst in India, one must start preparations from right from school. After clearing Class 10 board exams one must preferably choose the Science stream along with some mandatory subjects such as Mathematics, Economics, Statistics or Computer Science. After clearing Class 12th board exams candidates have to pursue relevant courses such as BTech Computer Science, and BSc Statistics courses that would help them understand the basics and crux of the subject that would eventually help them become Data Analysts in India.
The sections below will discuss in detail, the steps that must be taken to become a Data Analyst in India. Know More: Qualifications to be a Data Analyst
School Level Preparation: To become a Data Analyst the steps that are to be followed are mentioned below,
- Those who want to become data analysts have to study Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics or Economics for their higher secondary level in school.
- They have to qualify various entrance exams to get admission into a Bachelor’s degree program in Computer Science or a relevant field.
- Candidates can prepare for the entrance exam by taking admission to the various coaching centres.
- Apart from that, the candidates can solve the previous year's paper and the different mock test samples released by the examination authorities.
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How to Become a Data Analyst After 12th
Undergraduate Preparations: Some of the crucial steps that are to be followed to become a Data Analyst after completing Class 12th board exams are mentioned below for your reference,
- At the undergraduate level, students aspiring to become data analysts should first focus on clearing the entrance test and getting enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program.
- It can be a B.E. or B.Tech. course. The candidates can also enrol in alternative courses such as a BCA, BSc in Computer science, BSc in Mathematics, etc
- Candidates during their undergraduate courses should focus on developing a deep understanding of different subjects such as Statistics, trends and pattern analysis, result analysis, etc.
- Candidates should try to maintain an average score of 7.5 CGPA or 65% overall during their UG degree.
- Candidates opting for the PG courses should start preparing for the GATE exam.
Post-Graduation Preparation: The key steps to be followed to become a Data Analyst after completing Undergraduate courses are,
- After the completion of the UG course, the candidates can take admission by taking the GATE exam.
- The candidates should put in much more effort for the GATE exam because every year only 15-20 % of the candidates are able to clear the entrance exam.
- The candidates must choose their specialization according to their strengths and preferences.
- Several Universities tie up with various corporate organizations and conduct internships, and assignments through which students can achieve real-time experience.
- After completion of the PG course, the candidates can opt for PhD courses and carry on with their research.
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Data Analytics Courses
Some of the top courses that can be pursued in order to become a Data Analyst are tabulated below for your reference,
| Parameters | BTech Computer Science | BSc Data Science | BSc Statistics | MTech Data Analytics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years | 3 years | 3 years | 2 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 Level with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics with 50% aggregate score. Must clear JEE main Must clear JEE advanced for admissions in IITs |
Science in 10+2 level with at least 50% score Some of the colleges take an entrance exam | Science in 10+2 level with at least 50% score Some of the colleges requires the candidate to take entrance exam | Should have passed the graduation level with at least 50% score and must qualify the GATE exam |
| Top Colleges | IIT Madras IIT Delhi IIT Bombay |
Techno India University KR Mangalam University Jain University |
Loyola College Presidency College St. Xavier’s Colleges |
IIT Hyderabad NMIMS BITS, Pilani Christ University |
| Entrance Exams | JEE Main JEE Advanced |
BITSAT, VITEEE, CUCET |
BITSAT, VITEEE, CUCET |
BITSAT, JEE Main |
| Average course fees | INR 80,000- INR 150,000 per semester | INR 2 – 6 LPA | INR 20,000 - 1.50 LPA | INR 1.20 - 9 LPA |
| Average Salary | INR 3 - 12 LPA | INR 5 - 7 LPA | INR 4 - 8 LPA | INR 5 - 10 LPA |
Entrance Exams
The list of Entrance Exams along with their important dates, that are conducted in order to enroll students for courses to become a Data Analyst are tabulated below for your reference,
| Entrance Exams | Registration Dates | Registration Deadlines | Exam Dates | Result Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main |
Session 1: December 15, 2022 Session 2: February 7, 2023 |
Session 1: January 12, 2023 Session 2: March 7, 2023 |
Session 1: January 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31, 2023 Session 2: April 6,8,10,11 & 12, 2023 |
Session 1: February 2023 Session 2: April 2023 |
| JEE Advanced | April 30, 2023 | May 4, 2023 | June 4, 2023 | June 18, 2023 |
| BITSAT | 2nd week of March, 2023 | 2nd week of June 2023 | 2nd week of July, 2023 | 2nd week of August, 2023 |
| GATE | August 30, 2022 | October 7, 2022 | February 4,5,11 & 12, 2023 | February 21, 2023 |
| KIITEE | December 10, 2022 | April 5, 2023 | April 14 – 18, 2023 | April 22, 2023 |
| NMIMS NPAT | December 1, 2022 | May 21, 2023 | January 4 – May 31, 2023 | To be Announced |
How to Become a Data Analyst Abroad
Apart from India, there are several other countries such as the UK, USA, Canada and Australia that offer Data Analytics courses. There are several renowned universities and colleges as well offering both undergraduate and postgraduate Data Analytics courses. However, before applying for these courses one should fulfil the basic prerequisites that are discussed below for your reference.
- Candidates should clear their class 12th boards or equivalent exam and must have Mathematics, Physics and chemistry in their 12th.
- The candidates must pass either of the English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- Candidates must produce a Statement of Purpose (SOP) for studying across any of the counties abroad
- In the case of PG programs, the candidates must obtain a minimum of 80% score in their Graduate Examination.
- Apart from the English proficiency tests candidates must also take the GRE exam.
- Candidates would have to provide proof of work experience in the relevant field.
- Some of the universities require the candidates to sit for the SAT exam. (The general Cutoff score is 1200)
- Finally, candidates also need to submit proof of their finances.
Top Data Analytics Colleges
India is home to more than 200 Data Science Colleges and more than 600 Top Statistics Colleges. Similarly, there are several top colleges and universities abroad that offer courses to become Data Analysts such as Columbia University, University of Edinburgh etc.
Some of the top colleges that help candidates become Data Analysts are tabulated below for your reference.
India
| Name of the Colleges | Location | Average Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Loyola College | Chennai | 16,790 |
| Madras Christian College | Chennai | 24,500 |
| Fergusson College | Pune | 11,135 |
| Christ University | Bangalore | 35,000 |
| IIT Madras | Chennai | 17,670 |
| IIT Guwahati | Guwahati, Assam | 23,750 |
| IIT Indore | Indore | 48,300 |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | Vellore | 77,000 |
| Aligarh Muslim University | Aligarh | 93,720 |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education | Manipal | 1,75,000 |
Abroad
| Name of the Colleges | Location | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | USA | 41.53 L |
| University of Southern California | USA | 58.96 L |
| University of Edinburgh | UK | 33.62 L |
| Kings Colleges of London | UK | 27.42 L |
| University of Manchester | UK | 23.28 L |
| University of British Columbia | Canada | 24.76 L |
| Ryerson University | Canada | 12.90 L |
| University of Toronto | Canada | 20.01 L |
| University of Melbourne | Australia | 41.01 L |
| University of Sydney | Australia | 26.48 L |
Data Analysts Scope
In the past decade, India has witnessed explosive growth in the data analytics industry due to the gradual increase of internet users. According to the World Bank, internet penetration doubled from 20% to 41% in the last 5 years and is expected to add over 900 million users by the end of 2025. This growth has subsequently supported the Data Analytics industry but significantly increasing the accumulation of data by exploring untapped markets. The Data Analytics market has recorded a substantial growth of 26.5% which amounted to INR 3.46 Billion.
Data Analytics helps companies and government organizations in collecting data and identifying patterns. The Data Analytics industry contributes significantly to economic growth and is used in a variety of industries. According to Analytics India Magazine, India's non-IT sectors have noticed a tremendous demand for data analytics engineers. The novel strategy of employing data analytics and AI to solve problems has resulted in the development of unique solutions for a variety of non-IT sectors. Some of the major sectors that have Data Analytics as a major part are discussed below.
- IT Sectors: The data analytics business is dominated by the IT sector, which accounted for 43% of the market in 2022. Tata Consultancy Services, Accenture, Infosys, Cognizant, Wipro, and Capgemini are among India's IT giants. With a gross personnel addition of 4,50,000 in the second half of FY22, this sector's tech demand is likely to rise.
- Banking, Financial Services & Insurance Sector: With a market share of 13.9%, BFSI is the second-largest sector in terms of data analytics investment. A number of organizations specializing in data analytics have emerged in the BFSI sector. India's fintech market is the world's third largest, with a value of US$ 31 billion. The value of India's fintech transactions is expected to surpass US$ 140 billion. Paytm, PhonePe, MobiKwik, and Policybazaar have all employed data analytics and/or artificial intelligence to build their businesses.
- Retail & E-commerce: In 2020, the e-commerce industry is expected to be worth $50 billion. Every day, 1.2 million transactions are made in the e-commerce industry, according to NASSCOM. By 2034, the sector is predicted to overtake the United States as the world's second-largest retail market. The retail and e-commerce industries account for 5.9% of the data analytics market. Amazon, the e-commerce behemoth, recently revealed that hybrid recommender systems account for 29% of its sales. Flipkart uses data analytics to streamline over 500 distributors in India's major cities. A total of 100 autonomous delivery vans are also used by the company.
Skills Required to become a Data Analyst
Some of the most essential skill sets that are required to become a Data Analyst in India are tabulated below for your reference,
| Data Visualization | Data Cleaning | MATLAB |
| Python | SQL & No.SQL | Machine Learning |
| Linear Algebra | Calculus | - |
Pros & Cons of Becoming a Data Analyst
Every job comes with its own package of perks as well as shortcomings. Some of the major positives and negatives of becoming a Data Analyst are tabulated below for your reference.
Pros of Becoming a Data Analyst
- According to Harvard Business Review, Data Analyst is one of the most highly demanding jobs along with huge compensation benefits. Plus 70% of job postings require experience below 5 years for a Data Analyst.
- The salary of a Data Analyst is one of the major factors that make it one of the most demanding jobs. The salary for a fresher ranges from INR 5 LPA - 6.5 LPA, which is comparatively higher as compared to other professions.
- Flexibility is one of the major scaling factors that comes to the focal point while discussing a Data Analyst job. A Data Analyst is not just restricted to any particular field but has the flexibility to work across various sectors such as IT, Banking, Health Care, Education etc.
- The process to become a Data Analyst is the easiest as compared to any other profession. Candidates having the required skill sets and knowledge are hired by top organizations even if they lack proper educational skills.
Cons of Becoming a Data Analyst
- Privacy challenges are one of the most common shortcomings that professionals face as Data Analysts. Data Analysts are required to work with large chunks of data online, which have a high chance of being prowled on.
- Considering this to be an ever-evolving industry, Data Analysts are required to stay updated 24*7 regarding all the major changes that are taking place globally.
- Data Analysts are targeted for an indefinite job role. The job of a Data Analyst is to find, analyze and visualize data. But in reality, the role of a Data Analyst will depend on the company that they are being hired for, as different companies have different sets of goals and ideologies.
Top Recruiters for Data Analysts
Some of the major MNCs who hire fresher as well as experienced Data Analysts are tabulated below for your reference,
| HData Systems | Hyperlink InfoSystem | TCS |
| Accenture | Tech Mahindra | Capgemini India Pvt Ltd. |
| Tiger Analytics | Genpact | DataFactz |
Salary of a Data Analyst
The average salary of a Data Analyst in India usually ranges between INR 4.2 LPA - 11.10 LPA. However, this amount gradually witnesses a steep hike with experience, knowledge and exposure.
The average salary of a Data Analyst across various companies is tabulated below for your reference.
| Name of the Companies | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| IBM | 7.4 L |
| TCS | 7.5 L |
| Accenture | 6.2 L |
| Capgemini India Pvt Ltd | 4.2 L |
| Genpact | 4.7 L |
How to Become a Data Analyst: FAQs
Ques. Is knowledge of Coding essential for a Data Analyst?
Ans. The data analyst profession extends across various industries. While some domains would require a data analyst to be proficient in programming languages for data analyses, others might just do the work using analytic software or Excel. Hence, the requirement of coding knowledge completely depends on the work domain or employer.
Ques. Is Data Analyst a good career option?
Ans. In recent times the demand for data analysts has increased by leaps and bounds. Anyone with analytical thinking skills, good communication skills, and knowledge of programming languages, would be best suited for a data analyst profession.
Ques. How to shape a career as a data analyst?
Ans. To build a career as a data analyst one has to first complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree program in either Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or Economics as a specialization subject. The qualifying marks should be a minimum of 50%. After that candidates can join an organization as entry-level data analysts. Candidates can also become data analysts after completing their post-graduation or doctorate in the relevant subjects. With these degrees, they can get placed in a higher position.
Ques. Where can I find internship opportunities?
Ans. You can look for data analyst internship opportunities in various private companies. It is always better to do internships with reputed private companies or firms.
Ques. What are the tools on which a data analyst works?
Ans. The tools which a data analyst use while working are Tableau, SQL, Python, R, Microsoft Excel, and many more.
Ques. What are the minimum eligibility criteria for pursuing a Data Analyst career?
Ans. To pursue a data analyst career the minimum eligibility criteria is qualifying 12Th exam with subjects, like, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, and Economics.
Ques. In which industries I can look for a data analyst job?
Ans. The demand for data analysts has spread across all sectors of business. Whether it's IT, finance, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, or whichever industry, everybody needs a data analyst to manage and analyze their data for better results.
Ques. What is the difference between Data Analytics and Data Science?
Ans. Data Analytics helps to draw conclusions on basis of certain available data. Whereas, Data Science helps to learn the technique of forecasting future risks and possibilities derived from past data.
Ques. What is the average annual salary of a Data Analyst?
Ans. The average annual salary drawn by a data analyst is nearly INR 4,10,000.
Ques. What are the factors that decide the salary of a Data Analyst?
Ans. The salary of a Data Analyst is highly dependent on the skills that one has, the company and to a great extent the location.
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