Data Analyst: Facts, Skills, and Next Paths
A Data Analyst collects, processes, and interprets data to help organizations make informed decisions. Day-to-day work involves running SQL queries, building dashboards in Tableau or Power BI, and performing statistical analyses in Python or R. You might analyze partner sales performance at AvePoint or support risk reporting for a bank's first line of defense.
Core responsibilities include gathering data from multiple sources, ensuring completeness and integrity, and presenting findings through visual reports and dashboards. The role sits within business operations, product teams, or risk management functions. For example, a Data Analyst at Hearst Communications creates dashboards to analyze user engagement for digital products, while one at the FBI receives and organizes information from multiple sources to support law enforcement missions.
As of current postings, the median salary for Data Analysts is approximately $93,374. The most requested skills in job listings are Data Analysis (70%), SQL (60%), Dashboard Building (50%), Python or R (50%), and Tableau (50%).
$72,162 – $121,979
Avg. Salary
18 paths
Adjacent Paths
64% avg. match
Avg. Match Score
29.1 shared skills
Shared Foundation
The Skill Blueprint for Data Analyst
The core competencies employers ask for. Use them to strengthen your resume, spot gaps, and compare related career options.
SQL
technical 60% of live postingsWriting complex queries to extract and manipulate data
Data Visualization
technicalCreating dashboards and charts using Tableau, Power BI, or Looker
Statistical Analysis
analytical 10% of live postingsApplying statistical methods to interpret data
Excel/Google Sheets
technicalAdvanced formulas, pivot tables, and data manipulation
Python or R
technical 50% of live postingsScripting for data cleaning, analysis, and automation
A/B Testing
analyticalDesigning and analyzing experiments
Dashboard Building
technical 50% of live postingsCreating self-service reporting for stakeholders
Business Acumen
strategic 20% of live postingsUnderstanding business context and translating data to insights
Data Storytelling
softCommunicating findings to non-technical audiences
ETL Processes
technicalExtracting, transforming, and loading data pipelines
Where Else Can Data Analyst Skills Take You?
Build toward this role and you may be building toward several others. Explore the paths that share the same foundation.
Adjacent Paths from Data Analyst
Showing the top 18 of 114 transitions — explore the rest via the Network map.
Why People Explore Data Analyst
High Impact Visibility
Data Analysts sit at a critical intersection in the organization. Your work directly ties to key business metrics — making your impact visible across teams and to leadership.
Resume Signal
The skills behind Data Analyst — SQL, Data Visualization, Statistical Analysis — give you concrete language for resumes, interviews, and adjacent roles.
Option Value
This is a high-demand function where strong performers can advance quickly. With 114+ adjacent paths available, your career options stay open.
Roles With Similar Day-to-Day Work
Ranked by how similar the day-to-day work reads in live job postings — not just shared skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See how Data Analyst skills match with every career path in our network.