Data analysts turn raw data into insights that drive decisions, pulling data, cleaning it, analyzing it, and presenting findings to stakeholders. They work across marketing, finance, operations, and product, answering questions like which customers are churning and why. It is a strong entry point into the broader data field.
Hard skills include SQL (essential), spreadsheet mastery, a visualization tool (Tableau or Power BI), and increasingly Python or R for deeper analysis. Statistics fundamentals help. Soft skills: translating ambiguous business questions into analysis, and communicating findings clearly to people who do not speak data.
Certifications commonly held by data analyst professionals, filtered to those with verified data. See the full Best Data Analytics Certifications → Easiest to start with → Highest-paying options →
| Certification | Level | Exam cost | Related roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate | Foundational | Coursera subscription ~$49/month (US) … | Data Analyst, Junior Data Analyst |
| AI-900Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals | Foundational | $99 USD commonly cited for Fundamental… | AI-aware Business Analyst, Junior Cloud Support |
| AZ-900Microsoft Azure Fundamentals | Foundational | ~$99 USD (price set by country/region) | Cloud Support Associate, Junior Cloud Administrator |
| Tableau Desktop Specialist | Foundational | $75 USD plus applicable taxes | Junior Data Analyst, Tableau Reporting Specialist |
| Databricks Data AnalystDatabricks Certified Data Analyst Associate | Associate | $200 USD registration fee | Data Analyst, BI Analyst |
| AZ-104Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate | Associate | $165 USD (subject to country/region) | Azure Administrator, Cloud Administrator |
| AI-102Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate | Associate | $165 USD commonly shown for Microsoft … | Azure AI Engineer, AI Developer |
| AZ-204Microsoft Azure Developer Associate | Associate | $165 USD commonly shown for U.S. Micro… | Azure Developer, Cloud Developer |
| AZ-500Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate | Associate | $165 USD commonly shown in U.S. | Azure Security Engineer, Cloud Security Engineer |
| DP-600Microsoft Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate | Associate | $165 USD | Fabric Analytics Engineer, BI Engineer |
| SC-300Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator Associate | Associate | $165 USD | Identity and Access Administrator, IAM Analyst |
| SC-400Microsoft Information Protection and Compliance Administrator Associate | Associate | — | Information Protection Administrator, Compliance Administrator |
| PL-300Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Associate | Associate | $165 USD | Power BI Analyst, Data Analyst |
| SC-200Microsoft Security Operations Analyst Associate | Associate | $165 USD commonly shown for Microsoft … | Security Operations Analyst, SOC Analyst |
| SnowPro Core Certification | Foundational | $175 USD per exam attempt | Data Analyst, Data Engineer |
| Tableau Certified Data Analyst | Professional | $200 USD plus applicable taxes | Tableau Data Analyst, BI Analyst |
| AZ-305Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert | Expert | $165 USD (subject to country/region) | Cloud Architect, Azure Solutions Architect |
| AZ-400Microsoft DevOps Engineer Expert | Expert | $165 USD commonly shown for Microsoft … | DevOps Engineer, Site Reliability Engineer |
Sorted by level. Data reflects verified values where available; confirm current details on the official page.
Many data analysts come from adjacent roles (operations, finance, marketing) where they started working with spreadsheets and SQL. A focused certification like the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300), a Tableau credential, or the Google Data Analytics certificate signals job-ready skills. A portfolio of real analysis projects is often the strongest differentiator.
BLS Data Scientists median annual wage: $112,590 (May 2024).
Reflects the role, not any one certification. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Browse employer profiles, career portals, and hiring activity for companies that recruit data analysts.
Browse companies →Show SQL and your visualization tool prominently, since they are the top ATS keywords for the role. Quantify the impact of your analysis ("identified $400K in recoverable revenue"). Link to a portfolio with two or three real projects (dashboards, analyses). List PL-300 or Tableau certifications near your skills section.
Check how your resume reads to ATS software: ATS Resume Checker →
Expect a SQL screen (joins, aggregations, and window functions are common), plus a case question where you reason through how you would analyze a business problem. Be ready to walk through a past analysis end to end: the question, your approach, and what changed as a result.
Search active data analyst openings and track your applications in one place.
Search jobs →Microsoft PL-300 (Power BI Data Analyst) and Tableau certifications are strong, widely recognized options. The Google Data Analytics certificate is a popular beginner entry point.
SQL is essential; Python is increasingly valued but many analyst roles run primarily on SQL and a BI tool. Python becomes more important as you move toward data science.
With focused study, many people build job-ready skills in six to twelve months, especially when transitioning from a data-adjacent role.
Yes. It is a common stepping stone. Analysts who add Python, statistics, and machine learning often move into data science.
See the BLS-sourced salary data below for the associated data role.
Track applications, verify certifications, and research employers — all in one place.