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Data Analyst

Collect, clean and analyze data to answer business questions.

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Start with: STEM Foundations: The Universal Skill StackTake the career survey

Career facts

Preparation
Considerable preparation needed · most need a bachelor's degree
Ways in
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Industry certification
  • Portfolio of projects
Field
Software, data & cyber

About this career

Data analysts pull data from databases, clean it, and build reports and dashboards that show what is happening in sales, operations or a product. They work in SQL, spreadsheets and tools such as Tableau or Power BI, and often use Python or R for larger analyses. Entry is usually a bachelor's degree, though a portfolio of analyses and a certificate can substitute.

Learning path

Take these courses in order, from beginner to mid-level.

  1. Step 1: STEM Foundations: The Universal Skill Stack

    The shared base every STEM career uses: working with numbers and units, testing ideas fairly, handling data and code, and explaining your work.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 18mAlso used in 34 other careers

  2. Step 2: Digital Literacy for Tech & STEM Work

    The everyday computer, internet, safety and AI skills every tech and STEM job assumes you already have.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 6h 8mAlso used in 34 other careers

  3. Step 3: Professional Communication & Teamwork

    Write clear emails and documents, present and run meetings, work well on teams, and navigate résumés, interviews and networking.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 24mAlso used in 34 other careers

  4. Step 4: Math for Tech & STEM

    The practical math behind tech and STEM work: numbers, algebra, functions, geometry, logic and counting, with short code exercises.

    Level: Beginner5 modules · 15 lessons · 7h 32mAlso used in 34 other careers

  5. Step 5: Spreadsheets for Data Work

    Clean tables, correct formulas, lookups, pivot tables and honest charts in Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc or Excel.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 6h 35mAlso used in 16 other careers

  6. Step 6: Python Fundamentals

    Learn to program in Python from zero: values, decisions, loops, functions, data structures, files, modules and a small data project.

    Level: Beginner5 modules · 15 lessons · 9h 53mAlso used in 22 other careers

  7. Step 7: SQL Fundamentals

    Query, summarise, join and change data in a relational database with SQL, practised in your browser.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 5h 44mAlso used in 11 other careers

  8. Step 8: Statistics Fundamentals

    Describe data, reason with probability, and draw honest conclusions from samples, with short fill-in-the-blank Python exercises.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 6h 50mAlso used in 14 other careers

  9. Step 9: Foundations for Software, Data, Design & Tech Education Careers

    Understand tech roles and career ladders, pick a realistic learning route, build portfolio evidence, and navigate postings, interviews and your first 90 days.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 7h 22mAlso used in 20 other careers

  10. Step 10: Intro to Data Analysis with Python

    Load, clean, reshape and explore real data with Python and pandas, then turn the results into clear findings.

    Level: Intermediate4 modules · 13 lessons · 12h 55mAlso used in 10 other careers

  11. Step 11: SQL for Analysis

    Go beyond the basics with subqueries, CTEs, window functions and the analytics patterns analysts use every day, practised in your browser.

    Level: Intermediate4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 18mAlso used in 5 other careers

  12. Step 12: Data Visualization & Storytelling

    Turn analysis into charts people read correctly: visual principles, matplotlib and seaborn, small multiples, dashboards and a short data story.

    Level: Intermediate3 modules · 9 lessons · 7h 29mAlso used in 3 other careers

  13. Step 13: Data Analytics in Practice

    Work like a mid-level data analyst: define KPIs, forecast, run and analyse A/B tests, model analytics tables and turn stakeholder requests into recommendations.

    Level: Mid-level4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 42m

Skills you'll build

SQL

The language for asking questions of relational databases. Used everywhere.

Python

A beginner-friendly, general-purpose language popular in data, AI, and scripting.

Pandas

The Python library data analysts and scientists use to clean and explore tabular data.

Statistics

The math of uncertainty. Foundation for data analysis, science, and machine learning.

Problem Solving

Breaking big, vague problems into small concrete steps. The most transferable skill in tech.

Free resources to get started

Hand-picked courses and reading from trusted free providers.

  • freeCodeCamp
    Trustedcourse

    Data Analysis with Python

    Free certification covering NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and Seaborn through five real projects.

  • Khan Academy
    Trustedinteractive

    Intro to Programming

    Free interactive courses on programming basics through animation and games.

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