What Does a Data Steward Do?

Data stewards are responsible for maintaining and organizing data in an organization. They commonly work with large sets of information that must be organized into a coherent whole. This may include things like customer records, product catalogs, or other types of data used by the company on a daily basis.

Data stewards typically have a strong understanding of database management systems and related software applications. They use this knowledge to organize and structure data so it can be easily accessed and utilized by others within the organization.

Data Steward Job Duties

A data steward typically has a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Organizing and maintaining data storage systems such as databases, spreadsheets, or other electronic files
• Managing data quality by identifying errors or omissions in existing data sets
• Establishing procedures for updating data sets so that they are always current and accurate
• Developing new methods for storing data in more efficient ways to save space or increase processing speed
• Identifying problems with data sets and proposing solutions to management for approval
• Identifying trends in data to help determine areas where further research is needed
• Organizing data into charts and graphs for easy comprehension by nontechnical users
• Performing routine data analysis to identify patterns or anomalies in large data sets
• Ensuring compliance with privacy laws by protecting personally identifiable information

Data Steward Salary & Outlook

Data stewards are typically paid hourly, and their salaries can vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the company size. They may also earn additional compensation in the form of bonuses.

• Median Annual Salary: $52,500 ($25.24/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $97,000 ($46.63/hour)

The employment of data stewards is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade.

Demand for data stewards will increase as organizations seek to make better use of their data and information. Data stewards will be needed to organize, clean, and standardize data so that it can be analyzed and used by other workers in the organization.

Data Steward Job Requirements

A data steward typically needs to have the following qualifications:

Education: A data steward is typically required to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, statistics or a related field. Some employers may prefer candidates who have a master’s degree in computer science or information technology.

Training & Experience: Data stewards typically receive on-the-job training. They may learn the specific software and systems used by their company while working with a supervisor. They may also receive training in data management and analysis.

Certifications & Licenses: While data steward certifications are not mandatory, they can be useful for data stewards who want to build on their foundational skills and get comfortable with different aspects of the data steward role.

Data Steward Skills

Data stewards need the following skills in order to be successful:

Data management: Data stewards often work with data managers to ensure that data is properly stored, organized and accessible. Data stewards may be responsible for ensuring that data is backed up, stored in the correct location and accessible to the right people. Data stewards may also be responsible for ensuring that data is secure and protected from unauthorized access.

Communication: Data stewards often communicate with other members of the IT team, as well as other departments in the company. They also communicate with other data stewards in the organization. Data stewards must be able to clearly explain technical information to non-technical employees.

Database knowledge: Data stewards often work with large databases of information, so it’s important for them to understand how to navigate and use databases. They may also need to create databases and understand how to store and organize data. Data stewards may need to know how to use data mining software to find specific information.

Problem-solving: Data stewards often use their problem-solving skills to identify and resolve issues with data. They may use this skill to troubleshoot technical problems, find solutions to data security issues or find ways to improve data quality. Data stewards may also use problem-solving skills to identify and implement solutions to data storage issues.

Organization: Data stewards often use organization skills to keep track of data and ensure it’s in the right place. They may also use organization skills to create data inventories, which are lists of all the data the company has. Data stewards may also use organization skills to create data storage solutions and keep track of data backups.

Data Steward Work Environment

A data steward is a professional who oversees the quality of data. They work in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, finance, and retail. The work environment for a data steward can vary depending on the company they work for. Some companies have a data steward work in an office setting, while others have the data steward work on-site with the data they are overseeing. The work of a data steward is often tedious, but it is important that they maintain a high level of accuracy when it comes to the data they are working with.

Data Steward Trends

Here are three trends influencing how data stewards work. Data stewards will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

Data Stewards Need to Be More Technical

As data becomes more and more important, businesses are realizing the need for data stewards who have a technical background. This is because data stewards need to be able to manage and analyze large amounts of data in order to make sense of it all.

By becoming more technical, data stewards can better meet the needs of their employers and help them to get the most out of their data. In addition, they will be better equipped to keep up with the ever-changing world of data analytics.

Data Security Will Become Even More Important

The trend of data security becoming even more important is one that data stewards should pay close attention to. As more and more data is collected and stored, the need for data stewards who can ensure that it is kept safe and secure will become increasingly apparent.

This trend means that data stewards will need to be familiar with the latest data security technologies and practices. They will also need to be able to communicate effectively with other members of the business community about the importance of data security.

More Collaboration Between Business and IT

Businesses are increasingly looking to collaborate with IT professionals in order to get the most out of their data. This is leading to an increased demand for data stewards, who are responsible for managing and organizing data in a way that makes it easy for businesses to use.

As data becomes more and more important to businesses, data stewards will be in high demand as they are the experts in making data accessible and useful.

How to Become a Data Steward

A data steward career path can be a great way to get started in the field of data analytics. As a data steward, you’ll be responsible for managing and maintaining your organization’s data. This includes ensuring that it is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. You’ll also be responsible for making sure that the data is accessible to those who need it.

To become a data steward, you’ll need to have strong organizational skills and be able to work well under pressure. You’ll also need to be able to think critically about data and understand how it can be used to improve business processes.