Information Technology Careers | Business Intelligence Analyst

Business Intelligence Analyst

Career Area: Information Technology

Occupation Group: Business Intelligence

Salary

Percentile wages tell how much a certain percentage of an overall population in a geographic area or within a given industry or field makes. The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall.

An example would be the 25th percentile, 25 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 75 percent earn more than the estimated wage value. At the 75th percentile, 75 percent of workers employed in that occupation earn less and 25 percent earn more than the estimated wage value.

A typical Business Intelligence Analyst earns the following wages (national and state):

State

The average salary in North Carolina for those pursuing this career is $87,231

*The salaries depicted here are representative of the range of salaries posted in job listings over the past year. Living wage in North Carolina is $30,000.

National

The average salary in the United States for those pursuing this career is $86,159

*The salaries depicted here are representative of the range of salaries posted in job listings over the past year. Living wage in North Carolina is $30,000.

What Does a Professional in this Career Do?

Collects and analyzes data that provides an accurate picture of business operations and performance for a company. Completes statistical analysis of current and historic business data, identifies trends and develops projections. Presents data analysis that informs planning and strategic decision making for a company.

Employment Trends

The job demand and job growth statistics shown here were derived from job posts over the past year. Expected job growth projections are extrapolated from year-over-year job post listing history.

Job demand and job growth is expected at the following rates:

LocationGrowth
North Carolina1738+10.7%
Nationwide48926+10.2%

Skills

A professional in this position typically utilizes the following skills in the course of everyday work in this exciting and challenging field:

Baseline Skills

The following are baseline skills every Business Intelligence Analyst is expected to have in order to experience success in this field:

  • Communication Skills: The ability to convey information to another effectively and efficiently.
  • Microsoft Excel: Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.
  • Teamwork / Collaboration: Experience working in collaborative efforts with a team to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way.
  • Problem Solving: Problem solving consists of using generic or ad hoc methods, in an orderly manner, for finding solutions to problems.
  • Detail-Oriented: A detail oriented person is someone who pays attention to the details and can make a conscious effort to understand causes instead of just the effects, and that does this in a second nature type of way.

Specialized Skills

These skills are specific to working in this career:

  • SQL: SQL ( ESS-kew-EL or SEE-kwl, Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).
  • Business Intelligence: Business Intelligence (BI) comprises the set of strategies, processes, applications, data, technologies and technical architectures which are used by enterprises to support the collection, data analysis, presentation and dissemination of business information.
  • Data Analysis: Data analysis, also known as analysis of data or data analytics, is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, suggesting conclusions, and supporting decision-making.
  • Tableau: Tableau Software ( tab-LOH) is a software company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States which produces interactive data visualization products focused on business intelligence.
  • Project Management: Project management is the discipline of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria.

Distinguishing Skills

Any Business Intelligence Analyst that possesses the following skills will stand out against the competition:

  • Decision Support: Experience working with information systems that help executives make business decisions in rapidly evolving and unpredictable scenarios.
  • SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS): SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a server-based report generating software system from Microsoft.
  • Predictive Models: Predictive modeling uses statistics to predict outcomes.
  • Business Intelligence Reporting: Business Intelligence (BI) comprises the strategies and technologies used by enterprises for the data analysis of business information.
  • SAP BusinessObjects: Working experience with SAP BusinessObjects products and services, which are enterprise software oriented and specializing in business intelligence.

Experience

This position typically requires the following level of experience. The numbers presented in the pie charts below were derived from actual job posts over the past year. Not all job postings list experience requirements.

Experience Required%
0 to 2 years24%
3 to 5 years53%
6 to 8 years13%

Many of the programs offered through NC State are designed for working professionals who need additional credentials to enhance existing work experience.

Students who do not have the expected level of experience may wish to look into internship and employment opportunities.

Common Job Titles

It is possible to find work in this field in positions commonly listed as the following job titles:

  • Business Intelligence Analyst
  • Business Data Analyst
  • Reporting Analyst
  • Business Information Analyst Senior
  • Senior Business Intelligence Analyst

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