Head to head
Which skill should you learn next? Score both against real job postings.
Data Science
43
scored postings
Demand index
Posted pay (US)
Data Analysis
346
scored postings
Demand index
Posted pay (US)
Demand index: the larger skill is 100, the other is scaled to it.
The matchup
ShouldApply has scored 6,679 job postings. Data Science appears in 43 of them (0.6%) and Data Analysis in 346 (5.2%). 4 postings list both, which is 1% of everything that lists either one.
Each bar below uses one ruler for both skills. The leader on a metric gets a gold edge and a Leads label. Pay uses US postings that list a salary, ghost risk is the share of postings with a ghost probability of 50% or higher, and depth is the level (L0 to L5) the scoring engine assigned to the skill when it read the posting, not a stated years-of-experience ask.
Head to head
Data Analysis has 705% more postings than Data Science.
Scored postings that list the skill.
Data Science postings pay $88K more at the median (77%).
US postings that list pay (12 and 53).
The scoring engine reads Data Analysis at a deeper level on average, by 1.9 of a level.
Level the scoring engine assigned to the skill, L0 to L5.
Data Analysis postings are less likely to carry high ghost signals, 25% against 34%.
Share of postings with a ghost probability of 50% or higher.
About level. The gap is under 3%.
Share of postings flagged remote.
Based on 6,679 scored job postings, updated . The pool refreshes every 2 hours from 4 job boards.
Strengths
Where it is used
Role mix
Both skills appear together in 1% of the postings that list either one (4 postings).
Not sure which skill your resume already shows? Scan your resume
The verdict
Data Science leads on a higher median posted salary. Data Analysis leads on more job openings, deeper scored skill levels, and lower ghost risk. Your pick depends on the job you want next, and plenty of postings ask for both (1% of those that list either).
Go deeper on each: Data Science demand and depth and Data Analysis demand and depth.
The data does not crown one. Data Analysis appears in 346 scored postings against 43 for Data Science, which is 705% more openings. On pay, Data Science has the higher posted median ($202K against $114K). 1% of postings that list either skill list both, so learning one rarely closes the door on the other.
Data Science has the higher median at $202K from 12 US postings, against $114K for Data Analysis from 53. The gap is $88K. Pay follows the role and seniority more than the single skill, so check the role pages below.
Yes, and employers often expect it. 4 scored postings list both skills, 1% of every posting that lists either one. Postings that want only Data Science lean toward Data Scientist roles; only-Data Analysis postings lean toward Data Analyst.
Data Analysis does, with 346 scored postings (5.2% of everything scored) against 43 (0.6%) for Data Science. There is not enough dated history to call a trend for both.
Data Science shows up most in Data Scientist postings and Data Analysis in Data Analyst postings. The scoring engine reads Data Science at an average depth of L1.9 and Data Analysis at L3.8. Data Science postings carry high ghost signals 34% of the time, Data Analysis 25%.