Although a data analyst profession has been around for years now, it has become on the headlines recently.
In fact, it is predicted to be one of the most on-demand jobs come 2022. This forecast has been backed by LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and even the US Bureau of Labor.
As businesses continue to be data-driven, more and more people are also encouraged to explore the opportunity to venture as a freelance data analyst.
But what exactly does a freelance data analyst do? How can you become one? More so, where should you start?
What skills do you need to succeed as a freelance data analyst?
Data analysts, generally, are people who utilize volumes of data to generate valuable insights for an organization. Ideally, a data analyst provides businesses with significant information that helps them make informed decisions.
Examples of which are what marketing strategies to implement, products and services to be offered to their customers, and more.
A data analyst’s roles and responsibilities in a company will also depend on their type of industry nature of operation. If you are aspiring to become a freelance data analyst, note that you need to have academic qualifications and skills to be one.
If you are not a graduate from a data analysis program, a degree in mathematics, statistics or economics will suffice.
Aside from academic qualifications, you also have to possess the following essential skills:
- Technical skills – your technical skills should highly consist of programming languages, as well as data management and manipulation. You have to be proficient in at least one programming language. The commonly used programming languages for data analysis are Python, R, Java, PHP, and more.
- Soft skills – you also have to be an excellent communicator as you are also required to provide a detailed report to the company’s decision makers. Part of their job is to work collaboratively with other personnels from the IT department, executives, and other clients.
- Practical skills – high level mathematical skills are required in this type of job. Apart from that, you should also be able to resolve common business problems. Further, you need to have knowledge on how to use charts, tables, and graphs.
How to get started as a freelance data analyst?
If you do not have work experience, first thing you should do is to gain some relevant work experience. Good thing there are a lot of opportunities for data analyst internships out there. There are also online courses you can take for you to gain certifications as a data analyst.
Freelance data analysts salary range
Now let us see what a data analyst’s salary is like. There are different factors that determine their salary is being paid. These may be in terms of their skills, education, location, or experience. Thus, the average salary for this type of job are as follows:
Entry level: $40,585 – $78,832
Mid-level: $45,244 – $91,092
Experienced: $45,280 – $99,542
In terms of finding your clients, there are a lot of freelance platforms you can join to market your skills and profession. Upwork is one of the leading platforms for all types of freelancers. Other freelance platforms are Fiverr, Toptal, Coding Ninjas, and more.
