Data Analyst job description template

LiveRec EditorialUpdated

US format for the data analyst job description, federal rules as of 30 Oct 2026. State and local rules vary.

A data analyst turns raw business data into numbers a manager can act on. A good posting names the questions the analyst will answer, the data sources and tools they will use daily, who reads their work, and how much of the job is reporting versus analysis.

At a glance

  • Name the tools you really use (SQL, a BI tool, a spreadsheet) and drop the rest.
  • Say who consumes the analysis: finance, product, operations or leadership.
  • State whether the role builds dashboards, answers ad hoc questions, or both.

Template

Data Analyst
[COMPANY] | [CITY, STATE or Remote] | [Full-time / Part-time / Contract]

PAY: $[MIN] to $[MAX] per [hour / year]. Benefits: [LIST].

SUMMARY
A data analyst turns raw business data into numbers a manager can act on. At [COMPANY] you will [OUTCOME FOR THE FIRST YEAR] and report to [TITLE].

RESPONSIBILITIES
- Write and tune SQL queries to pull data from [DATABASES / WAREHOUSE]
- Clean, validate and document datasets, and flag data-quality problems to their owners
- Build and maintain dashboards and recurring reports in [BI TOOL]
- Analyze trends and test hypotheses for [TEAM], then present findings in plain language
- Define metrics with stakeholders and keep their definitions written down
- Support experiments and forecasts with [METHOD, e.g. A/B test readouts]
- Automate repeated reporting steps to cut manual work

REQUIREMENTS
- [N] years of analysis work, or equivalent coursework and projects
- Strong SQL; comfort with a spreadsheet and one BI or visualization tool
- Working knowledge of descriptive statistics
- Clear written and verbal communication with non-technical readers
- [Degree in a quantitative field, or equivalent experience]

NICE TO HAVE
- Python or R for analysis
- Experience with [INDUSTRY] metrics
- Experience with a data warehouse such as [NAME]

HOW WE HIRE
[Interview rounds, any test, timeline. Say that applicants never pay a fee.]

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
[COMPANY] considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status. To request an adjustment, contact [EMAIL].

Duties and skills follow the O*NET OnLine summary for Business Intelligence Analysts (15-2051.01), the US Department of Labor's occupational database.

How to customize it

  • Junior vs senior: junior roles run defined reports; senior roles choose which questions are worth answering and own metric definitions.
  • Data access: if the person will see customer or employee data, say so and describe your access controls.
  • Exempt status: pay basis depends on duties and salary level under the FLSA, not on the title "analyst". Check DOL guidance.
  • Work sample: a 60 to 90 minute exercise on a small dataset tests the job better than a long tool list.
  • Level: delete the junior or senior wording that does not apply, and cut every requirement you would not screen for.
  • Pay: enter your own approved range. Several states require a range in the posting; see pay transparency laws.

How to post it on LiveRec

  1. Open Jobs and choose Post a job.
  2. Choose Use a template or a previous job, Describe it with AI, or Create a new job from scratch.
  3. Paste the summary, responsibilities and requirements into the Description step, then complete the screening and assessment steps.
  4. Use Preview posting to see what candidates see, then choose Post job.

Steps and limits are in Post a job on LiveRec. When the applicants arrive, use the data analyst interview questions.

FAQ

Data analyst or data scientist? Analysts mainly describe and explain what happened with existing data. Scientists more often build predictive models. If you need modeling, say so and list the methods.

Should I require a degree? Only if you will enforce it. A portfolio or work sample often shows more than a degree line.

Next step

Fill the placeholders, check the finished text against how to write a job description, and post it. Build a scorecard from the requirements list.

Sources

  • O*NET OnLine, 15-2051.01 Business Intelligence Analysts: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-2051.01
  • EEOC, Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices: https://www.eeoc.gov/prohibited-employment-policies-practices
  • US DOL Wage and Hour Division, FLSA: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa

This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.