Power BI Developer Resume Keywords (2026): 60+ Analytics Skills for ATS
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TL;DR: The hottest Power BI resume keywords for 2026 are DAX, Power Query, data modeling, star schema, measures, calculated columns, Power BI Service, and row-level security. Include 15-25 keywords matching the job description, emphasizing your analytical and visualization expertise.
🚨 Not getting Power BI developer interviews? Your resume is missing critical analytics keywords.
In 2026, over 97% of companies use ATS to filter resumes. Missing terms like "DAX," "data modeling," or "Power Query" can instantly disqualify you—even with stunning dashboards in your portfolio.
This guide gives you 60+ ATS-approved Power BI resume keywords, organized by category, with real examples and optimization strategies.
Table of Contents
- What Are Power BI Resume Keywords?
- Top 10 Must-Have Power BI Keywords
- DAX Keywords
- Power Query Keywords
- Data Modeling Keywords
- Visualization Keywords
- Power BI Service Keywords
- Data Source Keywords
- Junior vs Senior Power BI Keywords
- Before & After Resume Examples
- FAQ
What Are Power BI Resume Keywords?
Power BI resume keywords are the specific skills, formulas, and tools that ATS systems and hiring managers search for when screening business intelligence developers and data analysts.
The top Power BI keywords for 2026 fall into six categories:
- DAX: CALCULATE, SUMX, measures, time intelligence, filter context
- Power Query: M language, data transformation, ETL, merging
- Modeling: Star schema, relationships, calculated columns, hierarchies
- Visualization: Charts, slicers, bookmarks, drill-through, conditional formatting
- Service: Workspaces, apps, gateways, row-level security, dataflows
- Integration: SQL Server, Azure, Excel, SharePoint, Dataverse
Adding these specific terms to your resume is critical for passing the initial ATS screen.
Top 10 Must-Have Power BI Keywords (2026)
If you only add 10 keywords to your resume, make it these. They appear in 85%+ of Power BI job descriptions.
| Rank | Keyword | Category | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power BI | Platform | Core requirement, must appear multiple times |
| 2 | DAX | Language | Data Analysis Expressions, essential formula language |
| 3 | Power Query | ETL | Data transformation, most searched ETL term |
| 4 | Data Modeling | Architecture | Star schema, relationships, fundamental skill |
| 5 | Measures | DAX | Calculated metrics, shows DAX proficiency |
| 6 | Data Visualization | Reporting | Core BI output, universal requirement |
| 7 | Power BI Service | Deployment | Cloud publishing and governance |
| 8 | SQL | Data Source | Data extraction, heavily searched |
| 9 | Excel | Integration | Often paired with Power BI, common requirement |
| 10 | Dashboards | Visualization | Interactive reporting, business term |
60+ Essential Power BI Resume Keywords (2026)
Our analysis of hundreds of Power BI job postings reveals these must-have keywords.
📚 Part of our Complete Resume Keywords List — browse 50+ role-specific guides.
DAX Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Core DAX | DAX (Data Analysis Expressions), Measures, Calculated Columns, Calculated Tables |
| Aggregations | SUM, SUMX, AVERAGE, AVERAGEX, COUNT, COUNTX, MIN, MAX, DISTINCTCOUNT |
| Filter Functions | CALCULATE, FILTER, ALL, ALLEXCEPT, REMOVEFILTERS, KEEPFILTERS, VALUES |
| Time Intelligence | Time Intelligence, DATEADD, SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR, TOTALYTD, DATESYTD, PARALLELPERIOD |
| Table Functions | SUMMARIZE, ADDCOLUMNS, SELECTCOLUMNS, TOPN, RANKX, EARLIER |
| Context | Row Context, Filter Context, Context Transition, Iterator Functions |
| Advanced | Variables (VAR/RETURN), SWITCH, IF, DIVIDE, RELATED, RELATEDTABLE |
Power Query Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Core | Power Query, M Language, Query Editor, Applied Steps, Advanced Editor |
| Transformations | Data Transformation, Merge Queries, Append Queries, Pivot, Unpivot, Transpose |
| Data Cleaning | Data Cleansing, Remove Duplicates, Replace Values, Split Columns, Data Types |
| Advanced | Custom Functions, Parameters, Query Folding, Incremental Refresh |
| Sources | Get Data, Data Connectors, Web Scraping, API Connections, OData |
Data Modeling Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Schema | Data Modeling, Star Schema, Snowflake Schema, Fact Tables, Dimension Tables |
| Relationships | Relationships, One-to-Many, Many-to-Many, Cross-Filter Direction, Active/Inactive |
| Design | Data Model, Cardinality, Referential Integrity, Bridge Tables, Role-Playing Dimensions |
| Organization | Hierarchies, Display Folders, Sort by Column, Data Categories |
| Optimization | Model Optimization, Composite Models, Aggregations, DirectQuery, Import Mode |
Visualization Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Chart Types | Bar Charts, Line Charts, Pie Charts, Scatter Plots, Waterfall Charts, Treemaps, Maps |
| Advanced Visuals | Custom Visuals, AppSource Visuals, Decomposition Tree, Key Influencers, Q&A Visual |
| Interactivity | Slicers, Filters, Drill-Through, Drill-Down, Bookmarks, Buttons, Page Navigation |
| Formatting | Conditional Formatting, Data Labels, Tooltips, Sparklines, KPI Cards |
| Design | Report Design, Dashboard Design, Mobile Layout, Themes, Templates |
Power BI Service Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Power BI Service, Power BI Cloud, Publish, Workspaces, Apps |
| Security | Row-Level Security (RLS), Object-Level Security (OLS), Workspace Roles, Sensitivity Labels |
| Data Management | Dataflows, Datasets, Gateways, Scheduled Refresh, Incremental Refresh |
| Sharing | Report Sharing, Dashboard Sharing, Embed Reports, Power BI Embedded |
| Administration | Power BI Admin, Tenant Settings, Capacity Management, Usage Metrics |
Power BI Premium & Enterprise Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Premium Features | Power BI Premium, Premium Per User (PPU), Power BI Capacity, Paginated Reports |
| Enterprise | Power BI Report Server, On-Premises Gateway, Enterprise Data Gateway |
| Advanced Analytics | AI Insights, AutoML, Cognitive Services Integration, Python/R Integration |
| Big Data | DirectQuery, Large Dataset Support, Aggregations, Composite Models |
| Governance | Data Lineage, Impact Analysis, Endorsement, Certified Datasets |
Data Source & Integration Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Databases | SQL Server, Azure SQL, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, Databricks |
| Cloud | Azure Synapse, Azure Data Lake, SharePoint, OneDrive, Dynamics 365, Dataverse |
| Files | Excel, CSV, JSON, XML, Parquet, PDF |
| APIs | REST APIs, OData, Web Connectors, Custom Connectors |
| Microsoft 365 | Teams Integration, SharePoint Embedding, Excel Integration, Power Automate |
Related Tools Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Microsoft BI | Power BI Desktop, Power BI Mobile, Power BI Report Builder, Power BI Paginated Reports |
| Power Platform | Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents, Dataverse |
| Azure Analytics | Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Analysis Services, Azure Data Factory |
| Other BI Tools | Tableau, Looker, Qlik, SSRS, SSAS (shows broader BI experience) |
| Programming | Python, R, SQL, DAX Studio, Tabular Editor |
Junior vs Senior Power BI Developer Keywords
| Level | Focus | Experience | Key Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | Reports, basic DAX | 0-2 years | Power BI Desktop, Basic DAX, Visualizations, Power Query, Slicers, Filters |
| Mid-Level | Complex models, Service | 2-5 years | Advanced DAX, Data Modeling, Row-Level Security, Dataflows, Optimization |
| Senior | Architecture, governance | 5+ years | Enterprise BI, Governance, Performance Tuning, Center of Excellence, Strategy |
Senior / Lead Power BI Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Architecture | BI Architecture, Data Strategy, Enterprise Data Model, Semantic Layer |
| Leadership | Center of Excellence (CoE), Best Practices, Training, Mentoring, Standards |
| Governance | Data Governance, Data Quality, Documentation, Change Management, Version Control |
| Strategy | BI Strategy, Self-Service BI, Adoption Strategy, Migration Planning |
Before vs. After: Power BI Resume Examples
❌ Weak Example 1
"Created Power BI reports for the business."
✅ Optimized Example 1
"Developed interactive Power BI dashboards with advanced DAX measures and drill-through navigation, enabling real-time sales analytics for 500+ users and reducing report generation time by 80%."
❌ Weak Example 2
"Worked on data modeling."
✅ Optimized Example 2
"Designed optimized star schema data models with fact and dimension tables, implementing incremental refresh and composite models to handle 10M+ rows with sub-second query performance."
❌ Weak Example 3
"Built data pipelines in Power Query."
✅ Optimized Example 3
"Created Power Query ETL pipelines using M language to transform data from 15+ sources (SQL Server, SharePoint, REST APIs), implementing parameterized queries and error handling with 99.9% refresh success rate."
How to Structure Your Power BI Resume Keywords
1. Summary Section
Include 5-7 high-value keywords.
Example: "Power BI Developer with 5+ years building enterprise analytics solutions. Expert in DAX, Power Query, data modeling, and Power BI Service. Skilled in star schema design, row-level security, and dashboard optimization. Delivered insights to 1,000+ business users across finance, sales, and operations."
2. Skills Section
Organize by category for ATS parsing.
Power BI Skills:
• DAX: Measures, Calculated Columns, Time Intelligence, CALCULATE, SUMX, Filter Context
• Power Query: M Language, Data Transformation, Merge, Append, Custom Functions
• Data Modeling: Star Schema, Relationships, Hierarchies, Composite Models
• Visualization: Dashboards, Drill-Through, Bookmarks, Custom Visuals, Mobile Layout
• Service: Workspaces, Row-Level Security, Gateways, Scheduled Refresh, Apps
• Integration: SQL Server, Azure SQL, Excel, SharePoint, REST APIs
3. Experience Bullets
Weave keywords into accomplishments with metrics.
Examples:
- "Built enterprise Power BI solution with 50+ reports and 10 dashboards, serving 2,000+ monthly active users across 5 departments with 99.5% uptime."
- "Implemented row-level security (RLS) for multi-tenant reporting, securing data for 200+ accounts while maintaining single dataset architecture."
- "Optimized DAX measures using variables and CALCULATE patterns, reducing report load time from 45 seconds to 3 seconds."
- "Migrated legacy SSRS reports to Power BI paginated reports, enabling self-service analytics and reducing IT report backlog by 70%."
Power BI Specialization Keywords
Power BI Report Developer
| Focus | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Development | Report Development, Dashboard Design, DAX, Power Query, Visualizations |
| Design | UX Design, Color Themes, Mobile Layout, Accessibility |
| Delivery | Power BI Service, Apps, Embedding, Sharing |
Power BI Data Modeler
| Focus | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Modeling | Star Schema, Data Architecture, Relationships, Semantic Model |
| Optimization | Performance Tuning, Aggregations, Composite Models, DirectQuery |
| Governance | Data Quality, Documentation, Standards |
Power BI Administrator
| Focus | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Administration | Tenant Administration, Capacity Management, Gateway Management |
| Security | Row-Level Security, Sensitivity Labels, Conditional Access |
| Governance | Usage Metrics, Adoption Tracking, Policy Management |
BI Analyst / Analytics Engineer
| Focus | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Analytics | Business Analytics, KPIs, Metrics, Trend Analysis, Forecasting |
| Data | Data Analysis, SQL, ETL, Data Pipelines |
| Insights | Business Insights, Stakeholder Communication, Requirements Gathering |
👉 Want to instantly check your missing keywords? Try the ResumeAdapter free ATS scan — upload your resume + job description and get your missing keywords in seconds.
FAQ: Power BI Resume Keywords
Should I include specific DAX functions on my resume?
Yes! Include key functions like CALCULATE, SUMX, and time intelligence functions. This shows depth of knowledge beyond basic SUM/AVERAGE.
Is SQL important for Power BI roles?
Very important! Most Power BI data comes from SQL databases. Include T-SQL, stored procedures, and query optimization skills.
Should I mention other BI tools like Tableau?
Yes, if you have experience. It shows versatility and broader BI understanding. But emphasize Power BI as primary if that's the target role.
How do I show dashboard design skills?
Mention specific design elements: drill-through, bookmarks, mobile layouts, conditional formatting. Include metrics like user adoption or report usage.
Should I include Power BI certifications?
Yes! Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate (PL-300) is valuable. Include it prominently in certifications and skills sections.
How do I demonstrate performance optimization experience?
Use metrics: "Reduced load time from X to Y seconds," "Optimized model to handle N million rows," "Achieved sub-second query response."
Related Articles
Internal Guides
- Complete Resume Keywords List Hub — Browse all role-specific keyword guides
- SQL Server Developer Resume Keywords — SQL skills (Power BI + SQL = essential combo)
- Azure Developer Resume Keywords — Azure cloud skills
- Data Analyst Resume Keywords — Analytics and reporting
- Data Engineer Resume Keywords — Data pipeline skills
- Business Analyst Resume Keywords — Business analysis skills
- How to Pass ATS in 2026 — Complete ATS compatibility guide
External Resources
- Microsoft Power BI Documentation — Official Power BI docs
- Power BI Certifications — PL-300 certification
- DAX Guide — Comprehensive DAX reference
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