Guide To Becoming a Business Intelligence Analyst

March 27, 2021

By: Indeed Editorial Team

Business intelligence analysts use data to help companies make well-informed decisions that will help them become more efficient and achieve their goals. If you are someone who enjoys analyzing data and finding ways to use that data to improve business processes, then a career as a business intelligence analyst may be a great fit.

In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about becoming a business intelligence analyst including common job duties, salary insights and frequently asked questions about the role.

What does a business intelligence analyst do?

A business intelligence analyst is responsible for reviewing and analyzing data to identify areas in which their business can make changes to improve the company's efficiency and productivity and work toward achieving their overall goals. The job duties of a business intelligence analyst may vary depending on the company they work for and their industry, but typically include:

Analyzing business processes
Reviewing and validating customer data
Reviewing and managing analytics and metrics results
Reviewing competitor data and analyzing how competitors respond
Developing policies and procedures for the collection and analysis of data
Identifying opportunities for improvement with business strategies and processes
Presenting data information and solutions to executive leadership through reports and presentations

Average salary of a business intelligence analyst

Business intelligence analysts usually work full-time, salaried positions. The salary of a business intelligence analyst varies based on their level of education, experience, geographic location and the type of services they provide. The national average salary for a business intelligence analyst is $91,074 per year with a salary range between $31,000 per year and $182,000 per year. The salary of a business intelligence analyst may also be impacted by additional compensation such as bonuses.

How to become a business intelligence analyst

Follow these steps to become a business intelligence analyst:

Earn a degree.
Complete an internship.
Consider professional certifications.
Consider an advanced degree.
Gain more relevant experience, if needed.
Search for business intelligence analyst positions.
Prepare a resume and apply.

1. Earn a degree

The first step toward becoming a business intelligence analyst is to complete a four-year bachelor's degree program. Common majors for business intelligence analysts include computer science, data science, statistics, business administration, economics and related fields. Regardless of the major you choose, coursework in areas related to statistics, technology and data analysis are beneficial to the role of a business intelligence analyst.

2. Complete an internship

Many bachelor's degree programs offer an opportunity to complete an internship program in the field of business or specific industries such as accounting. If you are interested in becoming a business intelligence analyst, completing an internship program can help you gain the relevant work experience you will need to qualify for the position and can help you begin to establish your professional network.

3. Consider professional certifications

There are many professional certifications you may consider obtaining to highlight your skills and knowledge in areas related to the role of a business intelligence analyst. A few certifications you may want to consider include Microsoft's Certified Solutions Expert in business intelligence certification, the Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP) certification, computer programming and language certifications and business administration certifications. Some employers may require specific certifications to qualify for the role of a business intelligence analyst.

4. Consider an advanced degree

Many business intelligence analysts choose to continue their education to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree or another master's level degree program. Having a master's degree can help open more career opportunities for business intelligence analysts and increase their earning potential. Some companies will even accept a master's degree in lieu of additional relevant work experience for business intelligence analyst positions.

5. Gain more relevant experience, if needed

You should review the job requirements for the business intelligence analyst positions you are interested in to determine whether candidates need a certain amount of relevant work experience to qualify for the role.

Many businesses prefer business intelligence analyst candidates who have related work experience in information technology (IT), management or business. You may be able to gain the experience needed for the role of a business intelligence analyst through internship programs and entry-level positions within your industry such as a data analyst or business analyst.

6. Search for business intelligence analyst positions

Once you have obtained the necessary education, experience and certifications needed to qualify for the role of a business intelligence analyst, you are ready to begin looking for available positions to apply to.

Review the job description for each position you are interested in applying to for information about the skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. You can also consider checking with your current employer to see if a position as a business intelligence analyst is available.

7. Prepare a resume and apply

Once you have found the business intelligence analyst positions you are interested in applying to, use the information you gathered from the job descriptions about the skills and qualifications the employer prefers candidates to have to create a resume that is customized to the position. You can use an online resume builder to help you target keywords from the job description when describing your experience and skills.

Once you have finished your resume, you can return to the original job posting and apply for the position you are interested in. If your current employer has a position for a business intelligence analyst available, you can provide your updated resume for consideration for a promotion.

Frequently asked questions

The following are a few frequently asked questions about being a business intelligence analyst:

How long does it take to become a business intelligence analyst?

It will take you a minimum of four years to become a business analyst. During this time you will need to complete at least a bachelor's degree and an internship to gain relevant entry-level experience.

However, it may take you longer to become a business intelligence analyst depending on the requirements of the roles you are interested in. You may need to consider pursuing an advanced degree like a master's, gaining more relevant work experience before transitioning to a business intelligence analyst role and obtaining professional certifications.

What skills do you need to be a business intelligence analyst?

To be successful in the role of a business intelligence analyst, you will need to have a combination of several hard and soft skills. Business intelligence analysts need to have good business acumen, be able to analyze and understand data and have excellent problem-solving and communication skills. They should also be detail-oriented, have good time-management skills and strong presentation skills.

What is the job outlook for a business intelligence analyst?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes business intelligence analysts into the career group of computer and mathematical occupations. The projected job growth rate for this group is 10% between 2018 and 2028, which is faster than the average job growth rate for all occupations. This means business intelligence analysts should experience strong job stability and should have good career opportunities available to them.

What is the difference between a business intelligence analyst and a data analyst?

The role of a business intelligence analyst and a data analyst are very similar when it comes to the tasks they perform, but the primary difference is a business intelligence analyst uses a more business-focused approach while a data analyst uses a more mathematical-focused approach.

Data analysts are usually responsible for compiling data into reports and visualizations and then sharing the data with business intelligence analysts who use the information to decide what a business should do to improve.

What is the work environment of a business intelligence analyst?

Business intelligence analysts typically work full-time, salaried positions, although many work more than 40 hours per week. They can work in a variety of industries such as technology, finance and healthcare.

Most business intelligence analysts work in office settings in which they spend much of their day sitting, working on a computer, analyzing data, attending meetings and communicating with executive-level leadership and managers to present their findings and solutions.

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