Ryan Swanstrom

Analytics vs Data Science

The lines between analytics and data science can definitely be very blurry. Different companies might call the same position by two different names, but at their core, they do have some differences.
Below is an infographic from the faculty of the Online MS in Analytics at American University. I think the infographic is accurate.

In my opinion, a true data scientist should spend more time creating and programming new algorithms while a business analyst should spend more time applying existing algorithms.

A couple of notes
  1. Years of Education are not much different, but the academic disciplines are very different. Data Scientists tend to have degrees with more rigorous mathematical training. For me, this is the biggest differentiator.
  2. It appears financial institutions prefer business analysts while the government and colleges prefers data scientists
  3. Surprisingly, Business analyst jobs are projected to grow faster than data scientists (27% to 15%), not sure I totally agree with that!

Know Of Other Differences?

Please, Leave a Comment.

Brought to you by American University’s Analytics@American, a masters in business analytics

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Comments

8 responses to “Analytics vs Data Science”

  1. Martin E. Avatar
    Martin E.

    How about the compensation levels? My impression has been that an analyst generally earns much less than a data scientist.

    Reply
    1. Ryan Swanstrom Avatar
      Ryan Swanstrom

      Martin,
      I think I would agree with you, but unfortunately that data is not included in the infographic. Here is a page that provides some data to go along with your impression. https://datajobs.com/big-data-salary

      Ryan

      Reply
    2. Dorothy Sanchez Avatar
      Dorothy Sanchez

      Not necessarily true. In some cases, there are Business Analysts that are compensated just as high as Data Scientists. The same is true for Data Analysts.

      Reply
      1. Ryan Swanstrom Avatar
        Ryan Swanstrom

        In some cases, yes, but I think on average data scientists are compensated higher. See this post from Dezyre, https://www.dezyre.com/article/difference-between-data-analyst-and-data-scientist/332

        “As of 2016, entry level salary for a data analyst ranges from $50,000 to $75,000 and for experienced data analysts it is between $65,000 to %110,000.

        The median salary for data scientists is $113,436. Average Data scientist salary in US or Canada is $122K while data science managers leading the data science team at an organization earn an average of $176K.”

  2. Analytics vs Data Science | EEDSP | Scoop.it

    […] The lines between analytics and data science can definitely be very blurry. Different companies might call the same position by two different names, but at their core, they do have some differences…  […]

    Reply
  3. Quora

    If I like and excel in physics and math, what majors and professions might I enjoy beyond engineering?

    In addition to those already listed in other answers: Game theory is “the study of mathematical models of conflict and cooperation between intelligent rational decision-makers.” Game theory is mainly used in economics, political science, and psycholo…

    Reply
  4. Dhairya Rakheja Avatar
    Dhairya Rakheja

    Great post! Your emphasis on the importance of understanding the business context and problem-solving skills in both analytics and data science is spot-on. As you’ve pointed out, the ultimate goal of both fields is to provide insights and solutions that drive business outcomes and impact. Your analysis of the differences in methodology, tools, and skills required for each field is also very useful, as it provides readers with a clear understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities associated with each.

    I appreciate your emphasis on the importance of collaboration and cross-functional teamwork in both fields. As you’ve noted, both analytics and data science require input and collaboration from a range of stakeholders, including business leaders, data analysts, and IT professionals. Your recommendations for developing strong communication, teamwork, and project management skills are also very helpful, as these are essential skills for success in both fields.

    Reply
    1. Ryan Swanstrom Avatar
      Ryan Swanstrom

      thanks

      Reply

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