Post Job

What is a business intelligence analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Rebecca Sarver
introduction image

A business intelligence analyst collects and interprets complex data sets to provide insights that support an organization’s decision-making processes. They use software tools to extract data, identify trends, and develop reports. Business intelligence analysts collaborate with various stakeholders to provide solutions that align with the organization's objectives. They also monitor data quality and recommend improvements for data management. Overall, a business intelligence analyst helps organizations make data-driven decisions that drive growth and profitability.

What general advice would you give to a Business Intelligence Analyst?

Rebecca SarverRebecca Sarver LinkedIn Profile

Lecturer in Human Services Studies, Elmira College

Listen more than you talk. There is so much to be learned from clients, seasoned human service workers, and the community that you work within. By listening and observing versus always feeling compelled to speak, you will learn job skills, people skills, and your clients' needs.
ScoreBusiness Intelligence AnalystUS Average
Salary
6.3

Avg. Salary $80,249

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.0

Growth Rate 21%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 34.51%

male 65.49%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
5.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.2

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.3

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Business Intelligence Analyst?

Pros

  • High demand for business intelligence analysts

  • Opportunities for career growth and advancement

  • Exposure to various industries and business functions

  • Opportunities for international travel and working with diverse teams

  • Ability to work remotely or with flexible schedules

Cons

  • Heavy workload and long hours at times

  • High stress environment, particularly during busy periods or when deadlines are approaching

  • Challenging to balance technical skills with business acumen

  • May require frequent communication and collaboration with stakeholders, which can be challenging at times

  • Can be isolating work, as much of the job involves working independently or in small teams

Business Intelligence Analyst career paths

Key steps to become a business intelligence analyst

  1. Explore business intelligence analyst education requirements

    Most common business intelligence analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.8 %

    Master's

    24.4 %

    Associate

    4.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific business intelligence analyst skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Business Intelligence10.98%
    Analytics10.96%
    Power Bi10.01%
    Dashboards8.97%
    Visualization6.86%
  3. Complete relevant business intelligence analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business intelligence analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a business intelligence analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business intelligence analyst resumes.
  4. Research business intelligence analyst duties and responsibilities

    • Manage daily KPI and dashboard reports for upper management and various departments.
    • Utilize T-SQL and advance database skills to develop and manage client's large volume of data.
    • Gather business requirements and deliver business analytics base solutions using structured/unstructure business data to help achieve measurable business outcomes for clients.
    • Envision and construct SalesForce dashboards to return key performance indicators for products.
  5. Prepare your business intelligence analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your business intelligence analyst resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a business intelligence analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Business Intelligence Analyst Resume templates

    Build a professional Business Intelligence Analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Business Intelligence Analyst resume.
    Business Intelligence Analyst Resume
    Business Intelligence Analyst Resume
    Business Intelligence Analyst Resume
    Business Intelligence Analyst Resume
    Business Intelligence Analyst Resume
    Business Intelligence Analyst Resume
    Business Intelligence Analyst Resume
    Business Intelligence Analyst Resume
    Business Intelligence Analyst Resume
  6. Apply for business intelligence analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a business intelligence analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Business Intelligence Analyst Job

Zippi

Are you a Business Intelligence Analyst?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average business intelligence analyst salary

The average Business Intelligence Analyst salary in the United States is $80,249 per year or $39 per hour. Business intelligence analyst salaries range between $59,000 and $107,000 per year.

Average Business Intelligence Analyst Salary
$80,249 Yearly
$38.58 hourly

What Am I Worth?

salary-calculator

How do business intelligence analysts rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Business Intelligence Analyst reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Cons

Managing projects or leading large projects as this makes the BA role difficult to do well

Pros

-interacting with end users or customers - delivering successful products or services


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Challenges, problem-solving,communicating with differnet individuals

Cons

some daily monotonous aspects of job.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

The challenges and opportunities offered by the role where I get to learn & apply new skills.

Cons

Mostly a sitting job with no opportunity to travel and interact with the business.


Working as a Business Intelligence Analyst? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall Rating*
Career Growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Search for business intelligence analyst jobs

Business Intelligence Analyst jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse computer and mathematical jobs