Do you need to be good at maths to become a data analyst?
This is one of the first questions people tend to ask when they are thinking about making a move into data. Our honest answer is that you need to be comfortable with numbers, but you don’t need to be advanced in maths. Most of the maths a Junior Analyst uses is the same you would use to check a bill, compare prices or plan a monthly budget.
When looking to employ, employers will look for numeracy. The National Careers Service lists maths knowledge among the skills for Data Analyst roles, and prospects mentions analytical and numerical ability. At entry level, that means everyday maths done carefully, plus the habit of checking your working.
Four examples of maths you will use most:
Averages
A café takes £412, £361, £468, £479 and £587 over five days. Add them together (£2,307) and divide by five, and the average is £461.40 a day. Friday, at £587, was the best day.
Percentages
If 52 of 156 customers bought a cake, divide 52 by 156 and you get 33%. A third of customers bought cake.
Change over time
Sales went from 1,150 in February to 1,380 in March. That is 230 more, and 230 divided by 1,150 is 20%. So sales rose by 20%. A common slip is to divide by the new figure instead of the old one, which gives the wrong answer.
Mean and Median
Five deliveries took 2, 3, 3, 4 and 21 days. The mean (add them up and divide by five) is 6.6 days. The median (the middle value once they are in order) is 3 days. One very slow delivery pulls the mean up, so the median gives a fairer picture of a typical delivery. Knowing which one to use is a big part of reading data well.
What you will not need
- Calculus
- Advanced algebra
- Quick mental arithmetic under pressure
- An A level or degree in maths
- A head full of memorised formulas
Spreadsheets, SQL and tools like Power BI do the calculations. Your job is to set the question up properly and check that the answer makes sense.
Where statistics comes in
As time goes on and you progress, you will need some understanding of statistics .Let’s say sales rose 3% in the week the price was cut, but it was also a sunny week. Do you think it was the price or the weather?
Hypothesis testing is the method analysts use to answer that kind of question. Software does the sums. The skill is in asking the right question and reading the result. On a beginner-friendly programme, statistics is all taught from the basics.
What you can practice for free this week
- Open a spreadsheet you already use, such as a household budget, and try sorting, filtering, a simple formula and one chart.
- Download a free dataset from data.gov.uk or the Office for National Statistics and work out an average, a percentage and a change over time.
- Try our free Spot the Data Errors challenge.
Next step: Would you like to know whether data is right for you? Download our free Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Data Analysis, or book a free 15-minute chat with one of our career advisors.
