Market research data analyst
Career outlook for
Figures and forecasts for roles at the same level, which require similar skills and qualifications.
Average UK salary
£32,760
Currently employed in Scotland
15,500
Five year job forecast
+5.09%
"LMI for All" supplies our salary and employment status information. "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures.
What's it like?
You would analyse the responses to surveys to find out what people think and feel about issues or products.
You’d report the results to businesses and organisations and explain what the information means for their sales and services.
It would be important to be able to work confidently with statistics and written information. You would analyse data from market research surveys for clients from industry, business or government.
You’d use your creativity to make the numbers interesting and understandable for people who are not experts.
You would:
- Speak to clients to understand what they want to know
- Write proposals describing how you will do the research
- Advise researchers about survey methods and design
- Lead teams and projects
- Check the quality of the data collected
- Analyse the data using statistical software programs and techniques, spreadsheets and computer models
- Present the research results through talks, written reports, graphs and tables
- Explain findings to market research executives, who may not have specialist mathematical or statistical knowledge
- Help research executives present the information and ideas in a way that clients can understand and use
You’d need to work well with your clients. You might work on several projects with different clients at the same time.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
61%
Part-time
28%
Self employed
11%
Create a qualification route
We’ve found some examples of the qualifications that could help you get this job.
Discover my routeTop skills
Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.
- Sorting
- Filtering
- Attention to detail
- Understanding
- Analysing
- Working with technology
- Researching
- Observation
- Working with numbers
- Problem solving
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Qualifications
Most market research data analysts have degrees (SCFQ level 9/10) in statistics or related subjects like maths, business or economics.
If you want to specialise in an area like medical or economic research, you may find it particularly useful to have a master’s degree (MSc) or PhD in statistics or applied statistics.
For some data analyst roles in other areas of work, your degree may not need to be in statistics but you’ll still need to use computerised statistical packages.
You could start as a junior statistician or analyst perhaps on a structured graduate training scheme offered by some of the larger companies. Alternatively you could start as a research assistant, and move into statistical work after gaining more experience.
To enter a degree (SCQF level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of three Highers or a relevant HNC/HND.
Useful subjects
- English (required by most courses)
- Maths (required by most courses)
- Business
- Accounts/economics
- ICT subjects
- Social studies subjects such as media
Helpful to have
Knowledge of social media analytics could be useful in some roles.
Related industries
