How to Get Into Data Analytics: Steps and Requirements

Data analytics professionals help organizations in finance, health care, retail, government, and other sectors improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. Analytics includes a number of roles, including one of the fastest-growing jobs in the modern economy — data scientist — which is projected to increase by 34% between 2024 and 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

While titles vary, data analytics professionals share a core goal: transforming data into a valuable business asset. Their work involves collecting and cleaning data, developing models, and presenting their findings, all of which requires specific knowledge and training. A strong educational foundation is a key step toward getting into data analytics, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Information Technology (IT) can help students launch their careers in the sector.

What Is Data Analytics?

Data analytics is a broad term describing the process of extracting insights from raw or unstructured data to help guide decision-making.

Most analytics work falls into four types, each with its own purpose, although they often work in concert:

Descriptive analytics: Looks back to assess what has happened, such as sales figures, health care outcomes, or machinery performance
Diagnostic analytics: Seeks out trends and root causes to understand why events happened
Predictive analytics: Uses automation , machine learning, and statistical models to predict what is likely to happen
Prescriptive analytics: Uses forecasts and optimization algorithms to deliver recommendations for future actions that affect what happens.

What Does a Data Analyst Do?

Data analysts collect data from different sources, assess it to identify patterns that can help answer business questions, and present their findings to the stakeholders who drive decisions.

Their daily responsibilities include:

Identifying and collecting useful data from social media, internal databases such as customer relationship management (CRM) software, in-person interviews, surveys, and other methods
Cleaning and categorizing raw data, including sorting it in spreadsheets and using software for statistical analysis and data scrubbing, to ensure that the data is complete and duplicates are eliminated
Building and testing models, algorithms, or frameworks that analyze the data to forecast short- and long-term outcomes, solve business problems, and identify opportunities
Creating reports and data visualization dashboards to make information accessible to nontechnical decision-makers

Skills Needed

Data analysts should have a mix of technical, math, and statistical analysis skills, along with core competencies in communication, problem-solving, analytical thinking, and attention to detail. Common technological tools for entry-level data analysts include the following:

Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets: These spreadsheet programs help analysts with data wrangling: the process of cleaning, structuring, and enriching raw data to make it usable for analysis, visualization, or machine learning.
Structured Query Language (SQL): This domain-specific language, introduced in the 1970s, helps analysts manage information in databases.
Microsoft Power BI and Tableau: These are standard tools for creating data visualization dashboards, which present information in accessible visual formats.
Python and R: These programming languages allow for flexible statistical analysis of a variety of data.

Experienced data analysts also use Jupyter Notebook for interactive coding and Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio) for shareable reports.

Educational Requirements

Most data analyst roles require a bachelor’s degree in a field such as information technology (IT), data science, computer science, mathematics, or statistics. Key courses include linear algebra, calculus, probability, and programming; a data analytics concentration can help candidates gain useful skills in statistical modeling, data cleaning, and visualization. Business and communication classes also help students develop the soft skills that employers value.

A master’s or doctoral degree can lead to senior roles and higher pay, according to the BLS.

How to Get Into Data Analytics

Everyone’s path into the field is different, but aspiring data analytics professionals should gain the right experience and consider other ways to develop expertise.

Experience

Entry-level roles such as junior data analyst, associate data analyst, and reporting analyst can help individuals learn fundamental skills. Another option for experience is internships, which can pave the way for full-time data analytics jobs. Volunteering on data-related projects with a current employer can also provide valuable experience to include on a résumé .

Certifications

Students can also pursue certificate programs to learn core skills for entry-level roles or specialize. Popular certificates include CompTIA Data+, Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst, Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate, AWS Certified Data Analytics, Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, and IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate.

Common Careers

Data analytics spans a range of job titles across industries. Some entry-level roles focus on reporting and dashboards, while others involve modeling and strategy. Here are some common data analytics job titles and salary information:

Data analyst: Median annual salary approximately $70,478 (Payscale, May 2026)
Business intelligence analyst: Median annual salary approximately $80,000 (Payscale, April 2026)
Data scientist: Median annual salary $112,590 (BLS, May 2024)
Market research analyst: Median annual salary $76,950 (BLS, May 2024)

Start Your Data Analytics Career Journey

Employers are looking for professionals with technical and analytical expertise to turn raw data into knowledge that can contribute to better business outcomes and informed strategy. NCCU Online’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology can help you develop the knowledge and skills for this challenging, rewarding path.

Working adults can enroll in our online Flight Path Program, designed to balance academic studies with professional commitments. It combines flexibility with a curriculum covering key areas such as statistics, programming, data visualization, and analytics tools, taught by experienced faculty steeped in industry knowledge. With concentrations in cybersecurity, data analytics, and information and communications technology (ICT), NCCU Online lets you decide how to frame your education.

Learn how NCCU Online can prepare you for a future in data analytics.

Recommended Readings

What’s a Computer Network Architect?

How to Become a Database Administrator

Computer Science vs. Information Technology: What’s the Difference?

Sources:

CompTIA, 23 Must-Have Data Analytics Tools for Beginners and Career Growth

Indeed, How to Get Hired as a Data Analyst (6 Steps Plus Job Titles)

Indeed, “Top 10 Data Analytics Certification Programs to Consider”

Investopedia, “Data Analytics: What It Is, How It’s Used, and 4 Basic Techniques”

Investopedia, “Guide to Data Analyst Careers: Skills, Paths, and Salary Insights”

Journal of Global Information Management, “Data-Analyst Job Demands and Their Relationship With Economic Strength in the United States”