Data Analyst vs. Business Analyst: What's the Difference?

Data analysts and business analysts both help drive data-driven decision-making in their organizations. Data analysts tend to work more closely with the data itself, while business analysts tend to be more involved in addressing business needs and recommending solutions. Both are highly sought-after roles that are typically well-compensated.

Explore what makes each role unique and why you might choose to pursue either as a career.

Business analytics vs. data analytics

Business analysts and data analysts have similar roles, and some companies might use the terms interchangeably. While both types of analysts use data to improve business decisions, they do so in different ways. 

What do data analysts do?

Data analysts gather, clean, analyze, visualize, and present existing data to help inform business decisions. An effective data analyst uses data to answer a question and empower decision-makers to plot the best course of action. Common tasks for a data analyst might include:

• Working with business leaders and stakeholders to define a problem or business need

• Identifying and sourcing data 

• Cleaning and preparing data for analysis

• Analyzing data for patterns and trends

• Visualizing data to make it easier to understand

• Presenting data in such a way that it tells a compelling story

What do business analysts do?

Business analysts help identify problems, opportunities, and solutions for their organizations. They do this by:

• Evaluating a company's current functions and IT structures

• Reviewing processes and interviewing team members to identify areas for improvement

• Presenting findings and recommendations to management and other key stakeholders

• Creating visuals and financial models to support business decisions

• Training and coaching staff in new systems

What is a business intelligence (BI) analyst?

BI analysts are somewhat of a hybrid between business and data analysts. They use analysis, modeling, and visualization of industry trends and the competitive landscape to help businesses cut losses and increase profits.

Educational background

Business and data analysts can come from a wide variety of academic backgrounds, though most companies look for candidates with at least a bachelor's degree. Generally speaking, business analysts might have a degree in a business-related field, while data analysts often have degrees in STEM fields like statistics, math, or computer science.

Earning a graduate degree with a focus on data analytics could help open opportunities for advancement in either field.

No degree is required for some entry-level roles

Earn a Professional Certificate in data analytics from Google or IBM to build the skills necessary for an entry-level data analyst role in less than six months of study.

Skills: Business vs. data analyst

Data analytics and business analytics each involve a slightly different skill set. While both occupations work with data, they do so in different ways. Explore some common skills for each in the chart below.

The two roles share several skills as well. Whichever path you choose, you can set yourself up for success by being a good:

• Oral and written communicator

• Problem solver

• Critical thinker

• Organizer

• Collaborator

Salary

The in-demand skills involved in data and business analysis often draw high salaries. According to Indeed, business analysts in Canada earn an average base pay of $76,268 CAD [1]. Meanwhile, data analysts bring in an average base pay of $71,438 CAD [2]. The salary you can expect to earn in either position will vary based on factors like where you live and work, your highest level of education, and your experience in the field. 

Get started with Coursera

Both a career as a data analyst and a career as a business analyst offer the opportunity to help organizations solve problems using data. If you're considering a career as a data analyst, start building a foundation of job-ready skills with the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate on Coursera. Interested in business analytics? Start building fluency in business data strategies with the Business Analytics Specialization from the University of Pennsylvania.

If you already have experience and want to take your data or business analyst career to the next level, build your skills with the Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate or Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate. These advanced, self-paced courses will prepare you for in-demand roles like business intelligence analyst or junior data scientist.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)