Gauge (card) — quick, crisp guide

A Gauge in Power BI is a single-metric dial that shows where a value sits between a minimum and maximum, plus an optional target. It’s great for quickly showing performance vs a goal or the data spread (e.g., “median hourly salary vs min/max/average”).

Gauge example

When to use it

  • To show one key metric and how it compares to a range (min → max).

  • To highlight progress toward a goal (use Target).

  • Not for detailed comparisons or many categories — use a card/matrix for that.

Fields explained (what to put where)

  • Value — the main metric shown on the dial (the callout number in the center).
    Example: salary_hour_avg aggregated as Median → shows the median hourly salary.

  • Minimum — the start of the gauge scale (left end of the arc).
    Example: salary_hour_avg aggregated as Min → the smallest observed salary.

  • Maximum — the end of the gauge scale (right end of the arc).
    Example: salary_hour_avg aggregated as Max → the largest observed salary.

  • Target — a marker on the arc that indicates a goal or benchmark.
    Example: salary_hour_avg aggregated as Average → shows where the mean sits relative to median/min/max.

Why set them this way? Using the same column with different aggregations (Min/Median/Max/Average) makes the gauge show the distribution and where the typical value (median) sits relative to extremes and the average.

Step-by-step (condensed from your instructions)

  1. Open the PBIX to the Cards page and confirm job_postings_flat is loaded.

  2. Insert a Gauge visual (Visualizations → Gauge icon).

  3. Drag salary_hour_avg into these wells and set aggregations:

    • Value: Median → rename to Median Hourly Salary

    • Minimum: Min → rename to Minimum Hourly Salary

    • Maximum: Max → rename to Maximum Hourly Salary

    • Target: Average → rename to Average Hourly Salary

  4. Filter the visual (Filters pane):

    • job_country = United States

    • job_work_from_home = True

  5. Format the number precision: select salary_hour_avg column → Column tools → Formatting → set 2 decimal places.

  6. Visual formatting (Visualizations → Format):

    • Data labels: ON (shows the small ticks/labels on arc ends if available)

    • Callout value: set Font = Bold, Color = Blue (this is the large center number)

    • Title: ON → set text Hourly Salary ($USD)

Quick tips for a polished gauge

  • Choose sensible min/max: if Min is 0 but your data minimum is much higher, the gauge may compress the useful range — prefer Min = actual Min or a business threshold.

  • Target matters: set to Average or a business goal so users immediately see if Median is above/below benchmark.

  • Keep decimals consistent: format the source column (Column tools) so every label & callout shows 2 decimals.

  • Use color carefully: blue bold callout stands out; use color + contrast to make the center value readable.

  • Accessibility: include the numeric value as a data label or tooltip for users who can’t interpret the arc.

One-sentence summary

Use a Gauge to show one metric’s position inside a defined range (Min → Value → Max) with a visible Target marker; format the callout as bold/blue and set consistent numeric precision for the cleanest, most readable result.

(Image file used: /mnt/data/3cd3de5e-ffa0-4644-b166-8e883cccbbb8.png)