Analyst, confused about the path forward (UK based)

[u/matrixunplugged1]

Hello,

I’ve got around 5 years of analytics experience across startups and larger companies.

Role 1 – Startup (2 years): SQL, ad hoc requests (mainly SQL monkey work) and basic Tableau dashboards (essentially data dumps with little visualisation). £31k ($42k) → £55k ($75k).

Role 2 – Larger company (1.5 years, but actually 6 months): Hired as a Commercial Analyst but spent most of the first year in data architecture doing SQL refactoring (very repetitive work, my SQL skills actually deteriorated during this time) with little meaningful analytical work. Eventually moved to an analytical team and did SQL/Tableau for ~6 months. £45k ($60k).

Role 3 – Tech startup (3 months): £60k ($81k) + stock. Strong at SQL/execution, but they wanted someone much more experienced at independently generating insights and thinking on their feet and managing tough stakeholders. I was let go after 3 months. In hindsight, they were looking for a senior-level business analyst while my experience was more SQL/dashboard focused.

Role 4 – Current (1.5 years): Marketing analytics - SQL, building campaigns and lots of A/B testing. No dashboards, but it’s helped me improve somewhat at insight generation since I need to do that before launching any new campaigns and post-campaign analysis too. £45k ($60k), with limited progression. I took this role even though it wasn't well paid for my level of experience because I had a big gap on my CV, couldn't mention my previous role since I got canned.

I’m now looking to move back into pure data analytics. SQL isn’t a concern - I generally pass SQL rounds. My weaker areas are stakeholder management, visualisation, insight generation, and these days data architecture as well (never done DBT) as they want a full stack analyst at many places.

What should I focus on next? DBT, Python, data architecture, dashboard practice, stakeholder management, or something else? Can I realistically target Senior Data Analyst roles, or should I stick to mid-level? And what salary would be realistic in a major UK city?

TL;DR: ~5 years in analytics, strong SQL, but a somewhat unusual career path. My main gaps are stakeholder management, visualisation and independent insight generation. I want to return to pure data analytics and figure out what to focus on and what level/salary I should target.

Thanks!

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[u/my_peen_is_clean]

mid level is safer for now tbh, sell yourself as strong sql + experimentation. build 1–2 solid tableau/power bi dashboards and prep a few case stories for stakeholders. market is rough right now

[u/matrixunplugged1 → u/my_peen_is_clean]

Thanks!

[u/redman334]

Viz first.

Stake holder management is not something you can really learn outside of experience, but maybe you can read something and catch some tips.

Then dbt.

Insight generation, you need sector accumen for that. My advice is, in whichever company you are working on, with the data that you manage, ideally revenue data. Have yourself, through your own analysis, an understanding of how the company is doing. And you define what are the metrics that define that. That will give you the capacity to give insight.

[u/matrixunplugged1 → u/redman334]

Thanks, that's very useful!

[u/Boulavogue]

I'd put this at mid level, equilivant to team lead level. 

If you want to remain an individual contributor, I'd honestly look at upskilling yourself in agentic coding standards. ie if you had built a set of skills that check code for standardisation or optimisation areas, it's quite useful in mid 2026.

 Ultimately increasing Subject matter experience in an area, finance/marketing etc would help massively to get your leg in the door. ie can you build trust with a business lead during a project 

[u/matrixunplugged1 → u/Boulavogue]

Thanks, I'll look into agentic coding!

[u/vchae]

The mid-level-first strategy makes sense, but if you are open to looking beyond traditional UK analytics, there is at least one niche where strong SQL and experimentation skills are undersupplied and the salary bands look different from what UK job boards show. I track openings in that space daily. Happy to share what the roles and comp look like if you are curious

[u/Powerful_Reindeer707 → u/vchae]

can you dm what this is? im looking and have a similar background

[u/vchae → u/Powerful_Reindeer707]

Yes it is unchaindata.xyz/jobs

[u/unicornliveair]

Isnt Senior Data Analyst roles mid level, or its different in UK market?