How to hire a bi consultant

How to hire a bi consultant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step bi consultant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a bi consultant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new bi consultant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a bi consultant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The bi consultant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A bi consultant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, bi consultants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents bi consultant salaries for various positions.

   Type of BI Consultant	Description	Hourly rate
   BI Consultant	Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and procedures and design information systems solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. They bring business and information technology (IT) together by understanding the needs and limitations of both.	$35-60
   SQL BI Developer	A SQI BI developer develops and manages the NET web application known as dynamic VB. They upload data from flat files into databases and validates the data via PL/SQL process... Show more	$34-55
   BI Developer	A BI developer, also known as a business intelligence developer, is primarily responsible for designing and implementing different systems that solve and improve business processes and operations. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with department personnel to gather accurate data, performing research and analysis, evaluating and improving existing business systems, and conducting regular inspections, providing corrective measures should there be any issues... Show more	$34-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Dashboards
   • Power Bi
   • Analytics
   • SQL Server
   • ETL
   • Visualization
   • SSRS
   • Web Intelligence
   • Extract Data
   • Data Analysis
   • Data Warehouse
   • Azure
   • Cognos
   • SSAS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Implement QlikView desktop and publisher, manage user authentication, establish publisher tasks, streamline loading procedures and review log.
   • Update existing mapping documents and ETL metadata repository.
   • Create reports using IDT from more than one data source.
   • Optimize existing OLAP databases by reducing number of dimensions, attribute hierarchies and calculations, develop SSAS actions and security layer.
   • Develop different reporting and visualization solutions by utilizing SSRS and PowerView.
   • Deploy and design cube in SSAS environment incorporating dimensional star schema design.

   More bi consultant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your bi consultant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A bi consultant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a bi consultant in Maine may be lower than in Nevada, and an entry-level bi consultant usually earns less than a senior-level bi consultant. Additionally, a bi consultant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average bi consultant salary

   $96,297yearly

   $46.30 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level bi consultant salary

   $74,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

   Average bi consultant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$115,116	$55
   2	Maryland	$111,047	$53
   3	New Hampshire	$105,340	$51
   4	Washington	$103,675	$50
   5	New York	$101,942	$49
   6	New Jersey	$101,028	$49
   7	Arizona	$98,462	$47
   8	Oklahoma	$98,288	$47
   9	Connecticut	$95,313	$46
   10	Florida	$95,019	$46
   11	Texas	$94,534	$45
   12	Illinois	$92,769	$45
   13	Ohio	$91,486	$44
   14	Georgia	$90,819	$44
   15	Minnesota	$90,667	$44
   16	North Carolina	$90,554	$44
   17	Massachusetts	$89,434	$43
   18	Indiana	$87,514	$42
   19	Michigan	$84,773	$41

   Average bi consultant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Slalom	$114,569	$55.08	51
   2	Eclaro	$109,398	$52.60
   3	The Travelers Companies	$107,623	$51.74	1
   4	Ernst & Young	$104,932	$50.45	2,181
   5	NEC Corporation of America	$104,645	$50.31
   6	Kavaliro	$103,030	$49.53
   7	Epitec	$97,298	$46.78
   8	Akili	$97,231	$46.75
   9	INNOVA	$97,171	$46.72
   10	Zebra Technologies	$96,672	$46.48
   11	CAI	$95,738	$46.03	56
   12	Archetype	$95,383	$45.86
   13	Eagle Creek Software Services	$94,409	$45.39
   14	General Dynamics Mission Systems	$94,158	$45.27
   15	CES	$93,748	$45.07
   16	Cardinal Integrated LLC	$93,748	$45.07	7
   17	The Independent Traveler	$93,741	$45.07
   18	Ernst Concrete	$93,665	$45.03
   19	Bi-Mart	$93,414	$44.91
   20	Pegasus	$93,400	$44.90	3

4. Writing a bi consultant job description

   A job description for a bi consultant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a bi consultant job description:

   Bi consultant job description example

   Rosslyn, VA 22009 (Remote)

   Contract to Hire

   Rate: $70/HR to $80/HR

   
   

   Our client is looking to add a Power BI Consultant to their team in Rosslyn, VA. This is a contract to hire role paying an hourly rate $70/HR to $80/HR and will convert to full time employment after 6 months at an annual salary of $130K plus benefits.

   
   

   This role is on a remote basis, however it is preferred that the selected individual lives within driving distance of Arlington VA so that they are able to come into the office if needed.

   
   

   Due to the required clearance with our government client, only US Citizens, Green Card and Green Card EAD holders may be considered. Clearance requires that the candidates have resided in the US for the past five years. The selected candidate cannot have left the country for longer than 90 consecutive days and no more than 180 cumulative days.

   
   

   Position Description

   Primary focus on business intelligence and reporting technologies/methodologies

   Perform data manipulation and cleansing to prepare datasets for visualization

   Assist in the delivery of quality solutions using Microsoft Business Intelligence tools (Power BI) and related technologies

   Partner with OIG customers and OCIO technical team members to assist with requirements definitions, solution designs, technical architecture, and delivery

   Work collaboratively with team members including project managers, solution architects, and business analysts

   
   

   Position Requirements

   Implement solutions using Microsoft Power BI tool suite and related technologies

   Experienced with features of the Power BI Service and Power BI Premium including establishing gateway refresh schedules and row level security.

   Experienced with other Power Platform tools including Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, etc. and integrating them with Power BI solutions.

   Capable of providing technical expertise in the diagnosis and resolution of issues and service desk tickets.

   Capable of creating datasets and data flows for self-service reporting.

   Capable of maintaining, updating, and performance tuning existing BI reports.

   Proficient in the use of Data Analytics Expressions (DAX) and Power Query

   Leverage database systems including data warehouses, data marts, and models needed for business, financial, and operational analysis and/or reporting

   Develop high performing, reliable, and scalable solutions

   Clearly communicate technical details to business and management staff

   Perform data analysis which supports and enhances OIG information management systems and services

   Experience with one or more data technologies (e.g., Oracle, SQL Data Warehouse, SQL Server, etc.) and a willingness to learn how to leverage these technologies to improve business intelligence

   Author and oversee design documents for approved projects

   Develop reports, dashboards & scorecards, data exploration, and visual analytics using existing and emerging technologies and tools

   Provide meaningful feedback and coaching of other team members in the use of Microsoft Power BI and related technologies

   Provide insight and recommendations on new and emerging technologies and concepts to OCIO team members

   Eager to contribute to a team-oriented environment

   Able to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment

   Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

   
   

   Required Experience

   4-7 years of progressive experience in business intelligence and/or information management

   2+ years of experience with data visualization and implementing high-value solutions; experience performing administrative activities across multi-environment infrastructures

   2+ years of experience working in a client-facing technical role

   Expert knowledge of data management, business intelligence and analytics concepts including:

   o Extract, transform, load (ETL)

   o Data warehousing, data marts, data stores, and cubes

   o Data quality and profiling

   o Data governance, data management, and metadata management

   o Data visualization, dashboard design / implementation, reporting, self-service BI, data KPIs, and scorecards

   o Predictive, prescriptive, and descriptive analytics

   Knowledge of the following to facilitate the development of custom visuals:

   o Dashboards

   o TypeScript development tools

   o D3 JavaScript libraries

   o Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)

   Proficiency in one or more languages like:

   o SQL

   o SAS

   o R

   o Python

   
   

   Degrees / Certifications

   Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business or related field

   
   

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right bi consultant for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your bi consultant job on Zippia to find and recruit bi consultant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit bi consultants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   If your interviews with bi consultant applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new bi consultant

   Once you've selected the best bi consultant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new bi consultant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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