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The differences between business intelligence analysts and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a business intelligence analyst and a software developer. Additionally, a software developer has an average salary of $87,521, which is higher than the $80,249 average annual salary of a business intelligence analyst.
The top three skills for a business intelligence analyst include business intelligence, analytics and power bi. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Business Intelligence Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,249 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $38.58 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 124,916 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The primary job of business intelligence (BI) analysts is to analyze data and identify areas of improvement for an organization. These professionals are responsible for identifying trends that may help managers, executives, and other departments make better decisions to improve company processes and modernization. Other duties include identifying areas of revenue loss and ways to maximize profit, analyzing competitors' use of BI, and implementing new methodologies and data analysis. This role is particularly analytical and needs a balance of communication, information technology, and problem-solving skills.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Business intelligence analysts and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Intelligence Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $80,249 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $107,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Finance |
There are a few differences between a business intelligence analyst and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Business Intelligence Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between business intelligence analysts' and software developers' demographics:
| Business Intelligence Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.5% Female, 34.5% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |