Data Scientist vs. Data Analyst. Here’s the Difference.

If you're passionate about data and analytics, then possibly two career paths: Data Analyst or Data Scientist, might excite you. With the hype surrounding Data Science, many people are going gaga on how to become a data scientist. It is undoubtedly essential that you know the often-muddled difference between being a data analyst and a data scientist.

While both the roles involve dealing with an abundance of data, one needs to have an analytical mindset to make an informed distinction before determining the “right” career path.

Data Scientist
Data Science is a vast field that involves a mixture of many concepts and subjects, including math, statistics, coding and analytics to work on data. Data Scientist is one of the most famous roles in the field of data science.

A data scientist is a professional responsible for performing statistical data analysis and data mining. It is with a retrieval processes on a substantial amount of data to identify trends, insights, figures and more. They design and construct new data modeling methods and production using prototypes, algorithms, predictive modeling, and custom analysis.

Roles and Responsibilities

•Develop algorithms and predictive models to extract the required information & design data modeling processes
•Build new analytical methods and Machine Learning (ML) models
•Process structured and unstructured data for analysis
•Utilize data visualization tools to present the results
•Propose solutions and strategies to address business challenges

Skills required to become a Data Analyst

•In-depth knowledge of machine learning tools like Tensor Flow, DataRobot, Bayesian, Clustering and more
•Comprehensive understanding of predictive analysis, correlation, data mining and statistics
•Basic knowledge of SQL, Hadoop, Python, Java and other programming languages
•Excellent pattern recognition and predictive modeling skills
•Ability to understand different data structures and other methods used in data transformation

Data Analyst
Data Analyst analyzes large data sets to identify trends, develop charts and create visual presentations to provide insights. They enable businesses with strategic decision making.

Roles and Responsibilities

•Evaluate data and analyze results using statistical techniques
•Develop, implement and maintain databases for primary and secondary data
•Discover, examine and interpret trends or patterns in complex data sets
•Utilize statistics tools to analyze data and generate reports
•Data cleansing and filtering to isolate the problem and troubleshoot

To be effective in their role, Data Analyst must possess the following skills:

•Data models and design expertise for database development
•Data mining familiarity
•Strong knowledge of SQL, coding, visualization tools and advanced excel skills

Data Analyst vs. Data Scientist Salary
Data analysts and data scientists' salaries may vary depending on the industry – finance, operations, market research and others. According to a salary survey report by PayScale, the average wage of Data Analyst is $60,562 and for Data Scientist is $95,973. (https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Data_Analyst/Salary &
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Data_Scientist/Salary)

Key Takeaways
Both jobs are currently in high demand. Organizations are looking for individuals with relevant skillsets. So, decide to choose wisely based on your interests and get started on your path to success.

Are you keen for a hands-on introduction to the field of data? Try out an entire data analytics course to explore potential career opportunities.