What is an analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Erik Johnson Ph.D.
introduction image

An analyst examines information to identify patterns and draw conclusions. They use various tools and techniques to collect, analyze, and interpret data to support decision-making processes. Analysts work in different industries, including finance, marketing, healthcare, and technology. Their job involves conducting research, creating reports, identifying trends, and providing recommendations. Analysts use critical thinking skills to solve problems and improve business operations. They must have strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex information effectively.

What general advice would you give to an Analyst?

E

Erik Johnson Ph.D.Erik Johnson Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Assistant Professor of Economics, Carthage College

Economics gives you a set of tools to analyze a variety of policy and business problems. However, determining which tools to apply in which situation requires that you learn the industry, you are working from top to bottom. When you begin a new job in a new field, be sure to do everything you can to understand how the organization and the industry work to understand the primary incentives that everyone faces. One right way to do this is to make as many connections within the company you are working for as possible, and always be on the lookout for new opportunities within the company and how they can help you learn more. Moreover, do your best to ensure that a significant portion of your job involves some creative endeavors, such as economic modeling or building tools for yourself or others to use. As computing power continues to become cheaper, and artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, relatively repetitive tasks become more comfortable and easier to automate. Therefore, you will have less job security. Creative tasks, such as modeling and tool building, are difficult to automate and are more likely to provide you with more satisfaction.
ScoreAnalystUS Average
Salary
5.7

Avg. Salary $73,007

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.8

Growth Rate 11%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 14.33%

Black or African American 7.44%

Hispanic or Latino 8.45%

Unknown 4.44%

White 65.17%

Gender

female 47.59%

male 52.41%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
2.2

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Analyst?

Pros

Cons

  • High-pressure environment

  • Need to balance attention to detail with big-picture thinking

  • Constant need to stay up-to-date with new technologies and methodologies

  • Need to communicate complex findings in a way that non-analysts can understand

  • Risk of becoming siloed or overly specialized in one area of analysis

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Analyst career paths

Key steps to become an analyst

  1. Explore analyst education requirements

    Most common analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.3 %

    Master's

    12.6 %

    Associate

    11.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific analyst skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service13.19%
    Troubleshoot5.74%
    Data Analysis5.65%
    Management System5.23%
    Project Management4.71%
  3. Complete relevant analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real analyst resumes.
  4. Research analyst duties and responsibilities

    • Manage support incidents and mitigate customer issues meeting or exceeding establish SLA's.
    • Manage database including all ETL procedures, optimize SQL query to build an online sales platform.
    • Lead the requirement gathering effort from key customers for development of new JAVA applications and for troubleshooting customer issues.
    • Provide hands-on technical support and managing custom software, windows base systems, networking solutions, and database systems.
  5. Prepare your analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your analyst resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Analyst Resume templates

    Build a professional Analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Analyst resume.
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  6. Apply for analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Analyst Job

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Average analyst salary

The average Analyst salary in the United States is $73,007 per year or $35 per hour. Analyst salaries range between $53,000 and $99,000 per year.

Average Analyst Salary
$73,007 Yearly
$35.10 hourly

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How do analysts rate their job?

-/5

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Analyst reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Pros

-interacting with end users or customers - delivering successful products or services

Cons

Managing projects or leading large projects as this makes the BA role difficult to do well


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2021
Pros

Flexibility of schedule and type of work in Organizational Development. Telecommute options are also superb.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

As it seeks to solve problems in innovative way

Cons

It needs more patience to apply the true solution and satisfy your client


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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