Alongside the rise of professional players and coaches, the role of the esports analyst has become increasingly significant in the esports industry.
Organizations are investing heavily in building strong teams, and that includes hiring analysts who can interpret their players' performance metrics. In return, they are paid on par with many sports analysts.
As the esports scene is exploding, there’s no better time to start building your path as an analyst.
What Does an Esports Analyst Do?
First and foremost, what does an esports analyst do, and who are they? To put it simply, they are responsible for dissecting the gameplay and recognizing the patterns that will be used to create counter-strategy.
Their job can take different forms. For example, broadcast analysts usually work on live streams and broadcasts. Whereas, team analysts work with professional teams, where they create reports of their respective teams and players.
There are also some independent analysts who do not associate with any team but do share their own research and insights.
If you want to be a great esports analyst, then you should know every aspect of that particular game. And the second important thing is to possess strong communication skills to interpret data.
Master a Specific Esport
If you want to be a top esports analyst, pick a game and master it. It can be Valorant, CS2, League of Legends, or any other popular esports title on the market.
Learn its mechanics and keep up with meta-shifts. Regularly track patch updates and study how players and teams adapt it to their game plan. Understanding tournament formats is just as important since it affects how teams approach different matches.
Also, make a habit of watching pro gamers on a regular basis. From there, break down high-level plays and analyze player decisions at crucial moments of the game.
Develop Analytical Skills
Just having opinions on esports games is not enough to call yourself an analyst. You have to back your claims with data. You need to interpret stats effectively and use platforms like Oracle’s Elixir for League of Legends or VLR.gg (for Valorant esports). These sites contain all the player's recent stats and performance metrics. You can access them for free.
Replay analysis is very important. Get yourself comfortable with reviewing VODs and breaking down games play-by-play. Understand all the key metrics like KDA, ADR (average damage per round), and objective control rates. This is important to back up your insights.
Having a grasp of data science is not a must, but knowing how to work on Excel, Google Sheets, and a little bit of Python coding can add great value to your portfolio. Apart from this, you can do a basic SQL course using tools like Tableau. All of this tutorial, you can easily find on YouTube.
Build Your Brand and Portfolio
In today's world, having an online presence is not just a bonus but a necessity when you know that there is cutthroat competition in every field. So, having an online portfolio can give you an edge and try to be noticed.
For this, build your social handles and put your work there. Launch a YouTube or Twitch channel to break down matches. Discuss and react to pro plays as well. Basically, it is the process of selling yourself.
If writing is your expertise, you can start publishing analytical articles on Medium LinkedIn to showcase your expertise. Hopefully, you can catch a few organizations' eyeballs.
Gain Experience
You don’t need to land a job directly with a top-tier team right away. Many esports analysts start in Tier 2 and Tier 3 scenes, where they work with rising teams that need insights but can’t afford experienced analysts. These grassroots opportunities may not come with monetary benefits, but yes, you will make a lot of great connections.
Join smaller tournaments and offer free breakdowns to teams. Engage with players and coaches and learn from their experience. The more you put yourself out there, the more people will recognize your skills. You can also volunteer for tournament coverage on platforms like Liquipedia or Community Discords. It will slowly build your credibility in the community.
Network and Apply for Jobs
When it comes to finding job opportunities, dedicated esports job boards like Hitmarker, Team Liquid Jobs, and Esports Jobs should be your go-to. If you're looking for freelance gigs, platforms like Upwork and Fiverr can help you gain experience while earning some money.
Many teams also post analyst openings directly on Twitter/X, so keeping an eye on job postings and reaching out when you see an opportunity can give you an edge.
One of the most underrated but effective strategies is cold emailing and direct outreach. Many professional analysts got their first break by reaching out to teams, tournament organizers, or even esports websites.
If you have a portfolio, don’t be afraid to reach out directly to teams. Every connection you make, every analysis you share, and every discussion you engage in brings you one step closer to landing a job in esports analysis.
Is the Esports Analyst Job Worth Pursuing?
To understand this, look at traditional sports. Sports analysts weren’t always the big-name figures they are today. Decades ago, they were just behind-the-scenes experts, crunching numbers and explaining plays. Fast forward to now, and they’re getting paid millions. Stephen A. Smith, one of the most recognized sports analysts, is reportedly in talks for a $120 million, six-year contract with ESPN.
Now, esports isn’t there yet, but it’s following the same path. As of 2025, the average salary for an esports analyst in the U.S. is around $73,261 per year (about $35 per hour), which is already close to what traditional sports analysts make. And this is just the beginning. As esports continues to grow, so will the demand for skilled analysts who can break down games and predict trends.