How to become a data analyst
Official title: Data analysts
Also called: Analyst, Mi analyst, O&m analyst, Data analyst, Data officer, Legal analyst, Sales analyst, Value analyst, Market analyst, Insight analyst, Methods analyst, Forecast analyst
Data analysts gather and organise a variety of data and analyse it to understand what it means for their organisation or society.
Main tasks
- Gathers, cleans and collates datasets and develops data management processes and policies
- Analyses data to identify trends and patterns in a variety of fields, such as opinion polling, predicting demand for goods and services, or the testing of new medications
- Creates visual representations of data, such as data dashboards and graphs
- Presents findings for technical or non-technical audiences to inform the decisions of companies, government or other organisations
How to become one
Entrants usually possess a relevant degree, although vocational qualifications and apprenticeships are also available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Data technician (level 3). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0795.
- University: Arts & Humanities degrees, Offered by 27 universities in the UK
- University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 27 universities in the UK
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £38,572 a year The middle half earn £30,835 to £47,045.
- About 123,700 people work in this job now, and about 129,500 are projected by 2035. (+4.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a data analyst?
Entrants usually possess a relevant degree, although vocational qualifications and apprenticeships are also available.
How much does a data analyst earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £38,572 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £30,835 to £47,045.
Is a data analyst a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 123,700 to about 129,500 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a data analyst?
Usually. 75% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.