Most requested AI skills in data and analytics jobs
Key facts
- #1 Machine learning engineering, Building AI systems: 17.2%
- #2 LLM application engineering, Building AI systems: 16.1%
- #3 AI workflow automation, Using AI in your work: 14.6%
- 24 skills ranked across data and analytics jobs
- Data as of November 2026
- 1Machine learning engineering Building AI systems17.2%
- 2LLM application engineering Building AI systems16.1%
- 3AI workflow automation Using AI in your work14.6%
- 4AI tools in daily work Using AI in your work13.0%
- 5Model training and deep learning Building AI systems11.5%
- 6MLOps Building AI systems10.6%
- 7RAG and vector search Building AI systems7.6%
- 8ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) Building AI systems6.9%
- 9AI governance and risk Leading AI6.6%
- 10AI strategy and use cases Leading AI6.4%
What stands out
- The lead is wide: Machine learning engineering (17.2%) is well clear of AI strategy and use cases at #10 (6.4%).
- Machine learning engineering is the largest market in the top ten, with 3,560 openings behind its figure.
- Skills with fewer than 30 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
The top 25
- 1
Machine learning engineering Building AI systems
17.2%
- Openings naming it
- 3,560
- Median posted pay with it
- $215k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +17%
Based on 3,560 openings.
- 2
LLM application engineering Building AI systems
16.1%
- Openings naming it
- 3,331
- Median posted pay with it
- $215k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +17%
Based on 3,331 openings.
- 3
AI workflow automation Using AI in your work
14.6%
- Openings naming it
- 3,010
- Median posted pay with it
- $206k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +12%
Based on 3,010 openings.
- 4
AI tools in daily work Using AI in your work
13.0%
- Openings naming it
- 2,693
- Median posted pay with it
- $190k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +3%
Based on 2,693 openings.
- 5
Model training and deep learning Building AI systems
11.5%
- Openings naming it
- 2,378
- Median posted pay with it
- $225k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +22%
Based on 2,378 openings.
- 6
MLOps Building AI systems
10.6%
- Openings naming it
- 2,194
- Median posted pay with it
- $214k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +16%
Based on 2,194 openings.
- 7
RAG and vector search Building AI systems
7.6%
- Openings naming it
- 1,569
- Median posted pay with it
- $203k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +10%
Based on 1,569 openings.
- 8
ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) Building AI systems
6.9%
- Openings naming it
- 1,430
- Median posted pay with it
- $220k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +20%
Based on 1,430 openings.
- 9
AI governance and risk Leading AI
6.6%
- Openings naming it
- 1,364
- Median posted pay with it
- $207k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +13%
Based on 1,364 openings.
- 10
AI strategy and use cases Leading AI
6.4%
- Openings naming it
- 1,323
- Median posted pay with it
- $214k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +16%
Based on 1,323 openings.
- 11
AI evaluation and guardrails Building AI systems
5.7%
- Openings naming it
- 1,186
- Median posted pay with it
- $222k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +21%
Based on 1,186 openings.
- 12
Responsible AI Leading AI
4.9%
- Openings naming it
- 1,017
- Median posted pay with it
- $200k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +9%
Based on 1,017 openings.
- 13
AI coding assistants Using AI in your work
4.7%
- Openings naming it
- 982
- Median posted pay with it
- $200k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +9%
Based on 982 openings.
- 14
Prompt design Using AI in your work
4.2%
- Openings naming it
- 864
- Median posted pay with it
- $204k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +11%
Based on 864 openings.
- 15
AI adoption and change management Leading AI
3.9%
- Openings naming it
- 816
- Median posted pay with it
- $200k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +9%
Based on 816 openings.
- 16
Gen-AI assistants (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) Using AI in your work
3.1%
- Openings naming it
- 633
- Median posted pay with it
- $190k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +3%
Based on 633 openings.
- 17
Leading AI teams Leading AI
2.7%
- Openings naming it
- 549
- Median posted pay with it
- $241k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +31%
Based on 549 openings.
- 18
GPU and CUDA Building AI systems
2.4%
- Openings naming it
- 503
- Median posted pay with it
- $233k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +26%
Based on 503 openings.
- 19
Model fine-tuning Building AI systems
2.3%
- Openings naming it
- 470
- Median posted pay with it
- $235k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +28%
Based on 470 openings.
- 20
AI-enabled analytics Using AI in your work
1.7%
- Openings naming it
- 354
- Median posted pay with it
- $186k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +1%
Based on 354 openings.
- 21
Automation platforms (Zapier, n8n, Power Automate) Using AI in your work
1.5%
- Openings naming it
- 316
- Median posted pay with it
- $160k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- −13%
Based on 316 openings.
- 22
AI in business apps (Agentforce, Now Assist) Using AI in your work
0.65%
- Openings naming it
- 135
- Median posted pay with it
- $195k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +6%
Based on 135 openings.
- 23
Gen-AI content tools Using AI in your work
0.52%
- Openings naming it
- 107
- Median posted pay with it
- $187k
- Pay against all data and analytics openings
- +2%
Based on 107 openings.
- 24
AI product management Leading AI
0.46%
- Openings naming it
- 95
- Median posted pay with it
- Not enough pay data
- Share of openings
- 0.46%
Based on 95 openings.
Full ranking
All 24 skills that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | Skill | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Machine learning engineering Building AI systems | 17.2% | 3,560 |
| 2 | LLM application engineering Building AI systems | 16.1% | 3,331 |
| 3 | AI workflow automation Using AI in your work | 14.6% | 3,010 |
| 4 | AI tools in daily work Using AI in your work | 13.0% | 2,693 |
| 5 | Model training and deep learning Building AI systems | 11.5% | 2,378 |
| 6 | MLOps Building AI systems | 10.6% | 2,194 |
| 7 | RAG and vector search Building AI systems | 7.6% | 1,569 |
| 8 | ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) Building AI systems | 6.9% | 1,430 |
| 9 | AI governance and risk Leading AI | 6.6% | 1,364 |
| 10 | AI strategy and use cases Leading AI | 6.4% | 1,323 |
| 11 | AI evaluation and guardrails Building AI systems | 5.7% | 1,186 |
| 12 | Responsible AI Leading AI | 4.9% | 1,017 |
| 13 | AI coding assistants Using AI in your work | 4.7% | 982 |
| 14 | Prompt design Using AI in your work | 4.2% | 864 |
| 15 | AI adoption and change management Leading AI | 3.9% | 816 |
| 16 | Gen-AI assistants (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) Using AI in your work | 3.1% | 633 |
| 17 | Leading AI teams Leading AI | 2.7% | 549 |
| 18 | GPU and CUDA Building AI systems | 2.4% | 503 |
| 19 | Model fine-tuning Building AI systems | 2.3% | 470 |
| 20 | AI-enabled analytics Using AI in your work | 1.7% | 354 |
| 21 | Automation platforms (Zapier, n8n, Power Automate) Using AI in your work | 1.5% | 316 |
| 22 | AI in business apps (Agentforce, Now Assist) Using AI in your work | 0.65% | 135 |
| 23 | Gen-AI content tools Using AI in your work | 0.52% | 107 |
| 24 | AI product management Leading AI | 0.46% | 95 |
How this ranking works
A AI skill's score is the share of data and analytics open professional roles whose posting names it, read by our AI-skill tagger from the full posting text across 24 AI skills in three groups: using AI in your work, leading AI, and building AI systems.
Only skills named in at least 30 openings are ranked.
Sample bar: skills with fewer than 30 openings are not ranked.
Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles on employer career sites, verified in the last week. Data as of November 2026.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.
Questions
- Which skill ranks first: most requested ai skills in data and analytics jobs?
- Machine learning engineering is the most requested AI skill in data and analytics jobs: it is named in 17.2% of openings.
- How many skills are ranked?
- 24 skills have at least 30 openings, so the list has 24 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A AI skill's score is the share of data and analytics open professional roles whose posting names it, read by our AI-skill tagger from the full posting text across 24 AI skills in three groups: using AI in your work, leading AI, and building AI systems. Only skills named in at least 30 openings are ranked.
- How often is it updated?
- Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.
More rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Most requested AI skills in data and analytics jobs,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/ai-skills-most-requested-in-data-and-analytics-jobs
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/ai-skills-most-requested-in-data-and-analytics-jobs">Most requested AI skills in data and analytics jobs (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
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