Data Analysts and Business Analysts are Data Science professionals with different skillset and responsibilities. Both these professions are not completely different. So, if you are confused about how Business Analysts and Data Analysts are different, this article is for you. In this article, I will take you through the difference between a Data Analyst and a Business Analyst.
Difference Between Data Analyst and Business Analyst
Data Analysts are Data Science professionals who analyze data to gather valuable insights that can be used for decision-making and solving various business problems. And Business Analysts are also Data Science professionals who use the data generated by the business to analyze and forecast the performance of a business.
The table below describes the difference between a Data Analyst and a Business Analyst.
| Data Analysts | Business Analysts | |
|---|---|---|
| Role and Responsibilities | Data Collection, Data Cleaning, Data Analysis, and Communicating Results. | Analyzing and forecasting business trends, Understanding and analyzing business strategies, Budgeting and financial analysis, and Creating dashboards to support business decisions. |
| Skills Required | Data Analysis, SQL, Python/R, Tableau/Power BI, Advanced Excel, Data Mining, Data Visualization and Reporting. | Data Analysis, Storytelling, Tableau/Power BI, SAP, Python/R, Project Management, and Business Intelligence. |
| Preferred Educational Background | Computer Science or Statistics | Management, Business, or Statistics |
| Salary as a Fresher | Average Salary in the US: $65,000/yr Average Salary in India: ₹4,25,000/yr | Average Salary in the US: $70,000/yr Average Salary in India: ₹6,00,000/yr |
| Salary as an Experienced Professional | Average Salary in the US: $85,000 /yr Average Salary in India: ₹7,00,000 /yr | Average Salary in the US: $90,000 /yr Average Salary in India: ₹9,60,000 /yr |
Data Analysts and Business analysts are not completely different from each other as both are Data Science professionals, so both these professions share some mutual skills in their skillsets. The primary difference is in the salary and the responsibilities of both these professionals.
Summary
A Data Analyst works with data, and a business analyst has more responsibilities associated with business decisions. Both these professions are not completely different. If you come from a computer science or statistical background, you should choose Data Analyst as a career option. And if you come from a management or business background, you should prefer the role of a Business Analyst.
I hope you liked this article on the difference between Data Analysts and Business Analysts. Feel free to ask valuable questions in the comments section below.
