Data Analyst · 5 min read · based on 300 postings
What 300 real Data Analyst postings actually require
A data-driven breakdown of the skills and tools that recur across 300 recent Data Analyst job postings.
We counted requirements across 300 recent Data Analyst postings. SQL and a BI tool dominate; the rest is a long tail worth understanding before you tailor a resume.
The core stack
| Requirement | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| SQL | 89% |
| A BI tool (Tableau, Power BI, or Looker) | 71% |
| Spreadsheet modeling (Excel / Sheets) | 63% |
| Python or R for analysis | 48% |
| Statistics / experiment design | 34% |
The differentiators
- Stakeholder communication — the single most common 'soft' requirement.
- Dashboard ownership — evidence you shipped and maintained one, not just built it.
- Domain familiarity — finance, health, or product analytics often tip the decision.