Be A Big Data Analyst: Skills, Salary & Job Description
Updated on Mar 07, 2025 | 27 min read | 900.9k views
Share:
For working professionals
For fresh graduates
More
Updated on Mar 07, 2025 | 27 min read | 900.9k views
Share:
Table of Contents
Wondering how to become a big data analyst? In 2025, big data analysis offers strong career options for technical minds. Big data experts work with large datasets and process this data to help businesses grow and succeed. The role pays well as the demand continues to grow.
As a big data analyst, you will work with massive datasets from websites, apps, sensors, and systems. Your findings will help companies make smart choices about products, customers, and operations. Many start in this field without advanced degrees, but what matters most are your skills and problem-solving ability.
Big data analysis offers a path to job security in an uncertain economy. With the right training and practice, you can join this growing profession. This blog maps out your path to how to become a big data analyst with clear steps. It covers everything you need to know to start or advance in the big data field, including salary expectations and future scope.
Data being the new currency in this digital age, a career as a Big Data analyst is one of the most lucrative careers in 2025. Big data professionals work on large datasets to find useful patterns and share insights. They are an important asset to organizations as they excel in both technical skills and business analytics.
The key steps to build a career in big data analysis include core big data analyst skills to practical experience. This requires formal education and up-skilling through certifications. Let us look at the steps on how to become a big data analyst:
The educational requirements to become a big data analyst include a bachelor’s degree. As the first step in your big data career path, pursue a bachelor’s degree in data engineering or computer science. A degree in statistics or mathematics may also help you gain relevant big data analyst skills for this role. As a fresher, gaining a formal bachelor’s degree in this field helps you with:
As a working professional looking to become a big data analyst, you can either pursue higher education or enroll in professional certifications. Let us discuss these educational paths in detail:
You can pursue professional certificates for big data analysis like:
Many educational institutions and digital learning platforms offer specialized training in big data technologies, helping you develop practical implementation skills with tools like Hadoop, Spark, and NoSQL databases. The coursework includes industry-relevant projects that reflect real business scenarios. These credentials help organizations identify your technical proficiency.
A strong portfolio is a useful tool to show your data analysis skills to potential employers. You must create projects that solve real business problems using real datasets. Your portfolio should showcase your skills in handling:
To build a successful portfolio that shows all your big data skills, follow these steps:
Create user-friendly dashboards to present your findings visually. Use tools like Tableau or Power BI to create interactive displays of your analysis. These dashboards should tell a clear story about what the data reveals.
Store all your work on GitHub, a platform where developers share code. Create detailed documentation that explains your thought process and technical decisions. Include clear instructions so others can run your projects.
Networking plays an important role in helping you score a big data analyst job. Building professional connections helps stand ahead of the crowd. You can network with industry professionals by using these popular platforms:
1. LinkedIn:
Start by joining online communities where analysts discuss their work. LinkedIn is one of the most popular channels for professional networking. Create a profile that highlights your skills and projects. Share your analysis work and insights to build visibility.
2. Kaggle:
It provides a platform to practice your skills and meet other analysts. Join competitions to solve real data problems. These competitions let you work with complicated datasets while learning from others in the field. Your Kaggle profile shows potential employers your practical skills.
3. Industry conferences:
Attend these conferences to connect with professionals and companies in the field. Many conferences also offer online attendance options. To interact better, prepare questions about the industry and current practices. Follow up with people you meet on LinkedIn to build lasting connections.
4. Online data science discussion forums:
You can join local data science groups/forums through platforms like Meetup. These groups often host workshops and presentations. Attend these events to learn new skills and meet people working in your target companies. You can also join discussion forums online on platforms like Reddit or GitHub to connect with your data science peers.
For effective job hunting, follow these steps:
Ready to scale your career journey with data science? Explore upGrad’s Online Data Science Course to start your learning journey today!
As ‘big data’ points to large datasets, the day-to-day responsibilities of a big data analyst include performing statistical analysis on these. They develop, maintain, test, analyze, and evaluate huge chunks of a company’s data to present underlying significant information. Companies use these insights to evaluate their performance and deploy better policies. Let us have a detailed look at the job responsibilities of big data analysts:
Data cleaning is the first step to perform effective data analysis. Analysts work with the raw data that contains errors, missing values, and inconsistencies. The process of data cleaning starts with data collection from multiple sources. Companies gather information from websites, customer databases, social media, and sensors. This data comes in different formats:
The analyst must bring all these pieces together into a unified format. A big data analyst performs data preparation with these steps:
When working with terabytes of data, analysts use specialized tools for data mining. These tools help analysts handle datasets too large for standard software. These tools are:
Maintaining the data quality is important as it affects every analysis that follows. Clean data helps us get reliable insights that help businesses make better decisions. Poor quality data can mislead companies and cause costly mistakes. Data preparation may take time, but this investment prevents problems later in the analysis process.
Data analysts build mathematical models that find patterns in data and make predictions about future trends. For model development, analysts first evaluate the business problem and select the right approach to solve it. The process requires both technical knowledge and business understanding. It includes:
Machine learning algorithms form the core of model development. Big data analysts work with classification algorithms to group items into categories. These categories can be identifying which customers might leave a service. They use Regression algorithms to predict numbers such as future sales figures. Clustering algorithms work to find the natural groups in data. It helps in segmenting customers with similar behaviors.
Big data analysts use tools like Python's sci-kit-learn and TensorFlow to build these models. They use these libraries to create and test different algorithms. Analysts adjust model settings to improve accuracy and prevent overfitting (when the model learns the data too closely and fails to generalize).
Stakeholder collaboration bridges the gap between data analysis and business action. Analysts work with teams across their organization to understand needs and share findings. This partnership ensures data projects align with business goals and produce useful results.
Analysts meet with business leaders to define project goals and expected outcomes. These discussions help analysts choose the right data and methods for each project. They maintain regular communication to share progress and adjust direction based on feedback.
When presenting findings, analysts translate technical results into business language. They create reports that focus on key insights and recommendations. Visual elements like charts and dashboards help explain complex patterns. Each presentation includes clear action steps based on the data.
Skills for stakeholder collaboration include:
Successful collaboration requires understanding different viewpoints and adapting communication styles. Analysts must explain their work without technical jargon while maintaining accuracy. This balance helps organizations make data-driven decisions effectively.
Want to start your career as a successful big data analyst? Check out upGrad’s Big Data courses to help you master the cutting-edge tech skills required in this field.
The job market for big data analysts shows strong growth across industries. Companies need professionals who can make sense of increasing data volumes to guide business decisions. The data analyst salary in 2025 depends on your location, industry, and technical expertise. Let's discuss what salary you can expect and job market trends for the big data field in detail:
Entry-level big data analysts earn an average annual salary of around INR 4,85,000. While those with one to three years of experience command an average annual salary of INR 5,84,200. Senior analysts with more than seven years of experience and experts can earn around INR 7,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 per year.
Other than the experience level, your location also plays a major role. The table below demonstrates how big data salaries vary for various global technical hubs.
Data Analysts working in Global Tech Hubs |
Average Annual Salary (in INR) |
New York City, NY, United States |
INR 74,27,052 |
San Francisco, CA, United States |
INR 82,26,660 |
Toronto, ON, Canada |
INR 38,84,197 |
London, United Kingdom |
INR 41,94,680 |
Beijing, China |
INR 29,89,625 |
Tokyo, Japan |
INR 34,83,888 |
Bangalore, India |
INR 8,00,000 |
source: Glassdoor
Location impacts your big data analyst salary in several ways:
Your negotiation skills also affect your final compensation. Research local market rates before interviews to position yourself for better offers.
The top industries that hire the most big data analysts in 2025 are:
Industry |
Roles of Big Data Analysts in these Industries |
Financial Services |
Risk assessment, fraud detection, algorithmic trading |
Healthcare |
Patient outcome analysis, operational efficiency, research |
E-commerce |
Customer behavior analysis, inventory optimization |
AI Startups |
Training data preparation, model performance evaluation |
Manufacturing |
Supply chain optimization, predictive maintenance |
Each industry offers different growth paths and specialization options. Fintech and AI startups generally pay the highest salaries. The table below lists the top hiring industries against the data analyst salary in 2025:
Top Hiring Industries |
Average annual salary (in INR) |
IT Services and Consulting |
INR 7,30,000 |
Financial Services |
INR 9,90,000 |
Software Product |
INR 5,40,000 |
Healthcare / Pharma |
INR 9,30,000 |
Fintech |
INR 17,70,000 |
E-commerce |
INR 8,40,000 |
Banking |
INR 17,60,000 |
source: AmbitionBox
Industry 4.0 depends solely on data and the ever-growing field of AI and ML is creating new avenues of growth for Big Data analysis. Professionals must continue their learnings and keep upskilling to stay relevant to these upward trends.
Here are the in-demand skills in big data analytics that professionals must add to their resume:
1. Real-time analytics
Real-time analytics have made data-crunching processes faster. Businesses now demand insights from data as events happen instead of using historical information. These technologies help companies respond to situations as they develop.
It finds applications in detecting fraud during transactions and adjusting pricing based on demand. You can learn stream processing frameworks like Apache Kafka and Apache Flink to process data instantly.
2. Ethical AI
As algorithms make more decisions, understanding how to build fair models becomes necessary. Ethical AI knowledge protects the organizations you serve. You can learn bias detection methods and fairness metrics to ensure your models treat all groups equitably. Learn about privacy protection techniques like differential privacy that allow analysis while preserving individual information.
3. Cloud Platforms
Most big data workloads are hosted on cloud platforms today. You must build expertise in at least one major cloud provider's data services. The cloud services offer specialized data analysis tools. Certifications in the following platforms enhance your ability to work with current technology.
To maintain your value in the job market:
These skills will help you master analysis and action, making your work more valuable to organizations.
Want to harness the power of big data analysis? Start your learning journey with upGrad’s online SQL courses and scale your career today!
Big data analysts need a combination of technical knowledge and business understanding to succeed in this career. The field demands proficiency in programming, statistics, and data visualization so that analysts can process large volumes of information efficiently. Let us have an in-depth look at the top technical and other advanced skills you need for the big data profession:
Programming forms the foundation of big data analysis work. Below are the in-demand Big Data skills to get ‘Big’ Data jobs:
1. Python Programming
Python works as the primary language for most analysts due to its versatility and extensive libraries. Analysts use Python to clean data, build models, and create visualizations. The language offers packages like:
2. R Programming Language
R provides statistical analysis capabilities that complement Python. Many analysts use both R and Python, selecting the best tool for each specific task. This language excels at statistical modeling and hypothesis testing. R includes packages like:
3. SQL
SQL is most important for working with structured data. This query language helps analysts to extract information from databases. SQL skills help analysts access data stored in traditional database systems and data warehouses. It performs operations like:
Aspiring big data analysts and working professionals must also master the following Big Data tools you need to know to boost your data skills:
5. Hadoop
What is Hadoop? This tool provides a framework for storing and processing large datasets across computer clusters. Hadoop breaks data into blocks and distributes them across multiple machines. Analysts use it when working with datasets too large for standard systems. Hadoop includes:
6. Apache Spark
Apache Spark offers faster processing than traditional Hadoop. This framework processes data in memory rather than writing intermediate results to disk. Analysts use Spark for complex analytics tasks that require speed. You can also learn about this tool from our Apache Spark Tutorial. It includes libraries for:
7. Apache Kafka
Apache Kafka architecture handles real-time data streams. This platform collects, processes, and stores streaming data from multiple sources. Kafka helps analysts work with continuous data flows rather than static datasets. Companies use Kafka for applications like monitoring systems, tracking website activities, and processing sensor data.
8. NoSQL databases
NoSQL databases are designed to store data that doesn't fit neatly into tables. Traditional databases often struggle with this type of unstructured data. Systems like MongoDB, Cassandra, and HBase can work with different types of data. They allow analysts to handle documents, graphs, and simple key-value pairs with ease.
Machine learning models help big data analysts find patterns and make predictions from large datasets. This field uses ML algorithms that learn from data to perform tasks without detailed programming. Analysts use various machine-learning approaches to solve business problems, such as:
1. Predictive modeling
This creates systems that predict future results based on past recorded data. An analyst can build a model to predict:
These models use past patterns to make informed guesses about what will happen next. Businesses use Predictive models to plan resources, target marketing efforts, and prevent problems before they occur.
2. Clustering
What is Cluster Analysis in Data Mining? Clustering involves grouping similar items based on their characteristics. This technique finds natural divisions in data without any defined categories. Analysts use clustering to
These groupings help businesses understand their data and target their strategies more effectively.
3. AI frameworks
Big data analysts use AI frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch to add another layer of efficiency to machine learning models. Their features are:
It provides a framework for building machine learning models. This library, developed by Google, works best for building deep learning applications. The library handles the complex mathematics behind neural networks, allowing analysts to focus on solving business problems. You can refer to our TensorFlow tutorial to understand how it works. Analysts use TensorFlow to create models for:
It offers another framework for machine learning. This Python library provides flexibility for research and production applications. PyTorch makes it easier to debug models and experiment with new approaches. Analysts use PyTorch for:
The table below lists the top certification courses on big data that you must explore to get employable skills:
Course Name |
Course Provider |
Duration |
Course Inclusions |
Big Data, Hadoop, and Spark Basics Course |
edX with IBM |
6 weeks |
|
Big Data Computing Course |
Swayam Portal with IIT Patna |
8 weeks |
|
Analyzing Patterns in Data and Storytelling Free certification course | upGrad | 6 hours |
|
Advanced SQL: Functions and Formulas free certification course |
upGrad |
11 hours |
|
Learn Python Libraries: NumPy, Matplotlib & Pandas free certification course | upGrad | 15 hours |
|
Data visualization turns numbers into pictures that reveal patterns and insights. Effective visualizations make complex information accessible to people who do not come with technical backgrounds. Big data analysts use visualization techniques to explain their findings and help organizations make decisions. They employ the following tools for this purpose:
1. Tableau
Tableau offers a platform for creating interactive visualizations. This tool connects to various data sources and builds dashboards with minimal coding. Analysts drag and drop elements to create:
Tableau helps analysts explore data visually and share findings with colleagues. The tool supports real-time data connections and publishes dashboards to the web.
2. Power BI
Power BI is Microsoft's visualization tool that integrates with other Microsoft products. Analysts use Power BI to build dashboards and reports from multiple data sources. The tool includes features for:
The difference between Tableau and Power BI is the latter connects to databases, files, and cloud services. This enables it to create a complete view of business information.
3. Python Libraries
Python libraries like Matplotlib, Seaborn, and Plotly create visualizations within Python code. Their features are:
These libraries help analysts look at data and create charts for reports.
Data storytelling mixes these charts with simple words to explain what the data shows and why it matters. Analysts use these stories to guide people through complex information step by step. Effective storytelling focuses on:
This approach helps translate technical findings into business actions.
Want to learn the technical tools for data analysis? Explore upGrad’s free certification course on Case Study using Tableau, Python, and SQL to learn in-demand industrial skills today!
With the emergence of new technologies, big data analysis has become faster and more accurate. In 2025, companies employ sophisticated AI/ML models to process large amounts of data in less time. This has increased the demand for big data experts who are well-versed with these latest technologies. Let us upcoming trends that will shape how analysts work. These developments will create new opportunities and require new skills from professionals in the field.
AI-driven automation has changed the way analysts handle large datasets. This technology performs routine tasks with no or minimal human intervention. Analysts now use AI tools to speed up workflows and focus on complex problems that machines cannot solve alone.
1. Automated Machine Learning (AutoML)
These platforms handle many steps in the model-building process. These tools perform important functions, such as automatically:
Google Cloud AutoML, H2O.ai, and DataRobot are the leading AutoML platforms. Analysts use these platforms to get the best solutions. They input their data and define what they want to predict. The system tests multiple approaches to present the best outcomes. This automation reduces the time needed to build effective models from weeks to hours.
2. Feature engineering automation
This automation helps prepare data for analysis. AI systems can now detect useful patterns in raw data and create new variables that improve model performance. It includes tools to generate these new variables automatically, like
This capability helps analysts work with complex datasets where important relationships may not be obvious.
3. Model deployment automation
This automation moves analysis from development to production. These systems package models into services that other applications can use. To manage this process, it uses tools like:
Automated deployment ensures models run the same way in production as they did during testing. This consistency prevents errors when models move from development to business use.
4. Pipeline automation
This automation connects all steps of the analysis process. These systems link data collection, preparation, modeling, and deployment into a single workflow. Automated pipelines ensure each step happens in the right order with the right inputs. This organization makes complex analysis processes more reliable. These pipelines are built using tools like
Privacy-first analytics puts data protection at the center of big data analysis work. This approach ensures companies gain information from data while respecting individual privacy rights. Data analysts now face strict laws that limit how they can use personal information. These are:
1. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The GDPR sets rules for how companies handle data from European Union citizens. It requires companies to explain how they use personal data and get clear permission before collecting it. This law gives people rights over their personal information, including:
2. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
The CCPA law provides similar protections for California residents. This law lets consumers know what data companies collect and request deletion. It requires companies to allow consumers to opt out of having their data sold. These requirements change how analysts can use customer information for business insights.
Data analysts use the following techniques to comply with these laws:
3. Anonymization Techniques
Big Data analysts use anonymization techniques to remove identifying information from datasets. Anonymization techniques include:
4. Differential Privacy
This feature adds mathematical noise to data to protect individuals while preserving overall patterns. It lets analysts run queries on sensitive data without seeing individual records. Companies like Apple and Google use differential privacy to learn from user data without compromising privacy.
Edge computing enables moving data processing closer to where the information originates. This approach analyzes data on local devices rather than sending everything to central data centers. For big data analysts, edge computing creates new opportunities to work with real-time information.
The Internet of Things (IoT) means regular items you use every day can connect to the internet. They use sensors to measure temperature, vibration, or how fast parts are moving. These sensors then send this information through the internet to people. These devices generate constant streams of data about their environment and operations.
IoT devices often create more data than networks can efficiently transmit to central locations. Edge computing solves this problem by processing information locally. This local analysis filters relevant information from raw data. Only important results travel to central systems for further analysis.
Edge analytics requires different approaches than traditional batch processing. Analysts must build models that work with limited computing resources. They create algorithms that make decisions with partial information. This work helps companies respond to changing conditions without delays from central processing.
Wondering how data analytics applies to the e-commerce industry? Explore upGrad’s free certification course on Data Science in e-commerce to understand the requirements of this industry.
upGrad is an upskilling platform that offers practical data science training to professionals who want to master big data analysis. It offers programs that prepare you for big data analyst roles in today's market. Our approach combines education with practical skills that employers seek. Students work on Big Data projects while learning from experts who use these skills daily. Here is how upGrad provides a one-stop solution for your learning:
upGrad works with industry experts to create certification programs that match real job requirements. These programs teach both technical skills and business applications.
The certification shows employers you have job-ready skills, not just theoretical knowledge. Here are the best Big Data Courses For Graduates to help you become a successful big data analyst:
upGrad Course |
Duration |
Course Topics |
12 Months
|
|
|
Executive Diploma in Data Science & AI with IIIT-B |
12 months |
|
8 Months |
|
|
18 Months
|
|
|
Professional Certificate Program in AI and Data Science Bootcamp |
60+ Hours |
|
upGrad's mentorship program connects students with experienced Big Data professionals who guide them through their learning journey. These mentors share insights from their years of data analysis experience. They further help students understand how theoretical knowledge applies in real-world situations.
The mentorship at upGrad is more than technical guidance. Mentors help students understand industry trends, company cultures, and career progression paths. They share strategies for Big data interviews and salary negotiations based on their own experiences and current market conditions. This guidance proves valuable when you go through various job offers or seek promotions.
The alumni network creates opportunities for meaningful professional connections. You can connect with graduates working in diverse sectors, from financial technology to healthcare. These connections often lead to job referrals, project collaborations, and valuable insights into different industry applications of Big Data analysis.
upGrad helps you present your skills to potential employers. Their career services team and placement support work with you to create a resume that highlights your skills and projects. They review your LinkedIn profile and help you build a professional online presence.
Mock interviews prepare you for technical questions and behavioral assessments. Career coaches provide feedback on your answers and presentation style. upGrad partners with companies that hire data analysts. These partnerships include:
With upGrad’s placement support, students get personalized job matching based on their skills and career goals. This targeted approach leads to higher placement rates and better job fits.
Now that you know how to become a big data analyst, the path takes effort and practice but follows clear steps anyone can take. The job market needs data analysts now more than ever. Companies collect vast amounts of data and need people to make sense of it. Your skills will help businesses find insights that will help them scale in a competitive world.
As a beginner, start with basic mathematics and statistics knowledge, then learn key programming languages and tools. Build real projects to show your technical skills to employers in your portfolio. As you gain experience, your value grows and the pay rewards your effort, with starting salaries above many other fields.
The field is progressing fast, so keep learning new methods and tools. Stay current with industry trends like AI integration and automated analysis. Want help in choosing which big data analytics course suits your future goals? Talk to upGrad’s experts and career counselors today for the best guidance for your career requirements!
Explore upGrad’s free certification courses:
Unlock the power of data with our popular Data Science courses, designed to make you proficient in analytics, machine learning, and big data!
Elevate your career by learning essential Data Science skills such as statistical modeling, big data processing, predictive analytics, and SQL!
Stay informed and inspired with our popular Data Science articles, offering expert insights, trends, and practical tips for aspiring data professionals!
References:
https://www.tealhq.com/how-to-become/big-data-analyst
https://www.tealhq.com/career-paths/big-data-analyst
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/big_data_analytics/key_stakeholders.htm
https://onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in/noc20_cs92/preview
https://cloud.google.com/learn/what-is-big-data?hl=en
https://www.tableau.com/analytics/what-is-big-data-analytics
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/jobs-big-data
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372339161_Big_Data_and_its_Applications_in_Various_Industries
https://www.jeffersonfrank.com/insights/most-popular-big-data-career-paths-explained/
https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com/blog/big-data-analyst-job-description/
https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-can-data-analyst-collaborate-stakeholders-develop-qowmc
https://www.datacamp.com/blog/how-to-become-a-data-analyst
https://brainstation.io/career-guides/how-to-become-a-data-analyst
https://www.tensorflow.org/
https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/big-data-analytics
https://scrapingrobot.com/blog/big-data-vs-ai/
https://www.techtarget.com/searchdatamanagement/feature/Big-data-collection-processes-challenges-and-best-practices
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chatgpt-replace-data-analysts-anurodh-kumar-if32f/
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/bangalore-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,9_IM1091_KO10,22.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/tokyo-japan-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,11_IM1071_KO12,24.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/beijing-china-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,13_IM997_KO14,26.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/big-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/san-francisco-ca-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,16_IM759_KO17,29.htm?countryRedirect=true
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/london-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IM1035_KO7,19.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/toronto-on-canada-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,17_IM976_KO18,30.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/singapore-singapore-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,19_IM1123_KO20,32.htm
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/new-york-city-ny-united-states-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0,30_IM615_KO31,43.htm
https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/big-data-analyst-salary/banking-industry
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/big-data-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm
https://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/big-data/what-is-big-data.html
Get Free Consultation
By submitting, I accept the T&C and
Privacy Policy
Are you being paid well enough?
Top Resources