Career Spotlights:
Business Intelligence Specialist
Whatever the Microsoft Cloud role, use our guide to benchmark your salary or contact rate, or to uncover what you should be paying employees in your team.
How much do Business Intelligence Specialists make?
| First quartile | Median | Third quartile | Contract rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States ($) | 89,500 | 125,000 | 165,000 | 100-150 (p/h) |
| United Kingdom (£) | 35,000 | 55,000 | 80,000 | 450-600 (p/d) |
United States ($)
| First quartile | 89,500 |
|---|---|
| Median | 125,000 |
| Third quartile | 165,000 |
| Contract rate (p/h) | 110-150 (p/h) |
United Kingdom (£)
| First quartile | 35,000 |
|---|---|
| Median | 55,000 |
| Third quartile | 80,000 |
| Contract rate (p/d) | 450-600 (p/d) |
64%
of Business Intelligence Specialists are satisfied with their job, down from 78% in our previous survey
45%
of Business Intelligence Specialists are satisfied with their salary, down from 58% in our last survey
41 hours
Permanent Business Intelligence Specialists work an average of 41 hours per week
45 hours
Freelance Business Intelligence Specialists work an average of 45 hours per week
What factors impact your earning potential as a Business Intelligence Specialist?
We asked current Microsoft professionals to rank what factors were most important in upping your earning potential in that role.
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of technical experience with Microsoft products | 88% | 12% | 0% |
| Exposure to large projects | 88% | 12% | 0% |
| Years of experience in IT | 76% | 12% | 12% |
| Specific vertical industry experience | 65% | 29% | 6% |
| Microsoft certifications | 59% | 29% | 12% |
| Working with AI | 47% | 35% | 18% |
| College/University degree(s) | 29% | 47% | 24% |
Years of technical experience with Microsoft products
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 88% | 12% | 0% |
Exposure to large projects
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 88% | 12% | 0% |
Years of experience in IT
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 76% | 12% | 12% |
Specific vertical industry experience
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 65% | 29% | 12% |
Microsoft certifications
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 59% | 29% | 12% |
Working with AI
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 47% | 35% | 18% |
College/University degree(s)
| Important | Neutral | Unimportant |
|---|---|---|
| 29% | 47% | 24% |
What steps should you take to become a Business Intelligence Specialist?
Education
Most (82%) Business Intelligence Specialists hold at least a Bachelor’s degree. Over half 56% consider a degree to be important to work with Microsoft Cloud, while 29% believe a degree to be an important factor when it comes to increasing earning potential.
Certification
Over four-fifths (82%, up from 62% in our previous survey) of Business Intelligence Specialists are certified, with half (50%) of those renewing their certification status. This trend of prioritizing the initial certification over renewal is also seen across our wider data (see here for more information). Meanwhile, 93% (up slightly from 91%) believe that certifications help make you a more valuable professional.
For those entering the field or looking to establish foundational knowledge, the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification is an ideal starting point. This certification introduces core cloud concepts and Azure services, offering essential knowledge to support BI solutions.
A strong focus on data visualization and reporting can be achieved through the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300) certification. This certification equips professionals with the ability to create data models, visualizations, and interactive reports using Power BI, making it a core qualification for BI Specialists aiming to enhance their analytical and reporting capabilities.
To progress within the BI domain, the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203) certification offers advanced skills in data integration, transformation, and storage using Azure. This certification is ideal for those managing complex data workflows and building robust data solutions.
For specialists working extensively with SQL databases, the Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300) certification focuses on managing and optimizing SQL databases within the Azure environment, ensuring high performance and availability.
For senior professionals aiming to lead in designing and implementing comprehensive data solutions, the Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305 and AZ-104) certification represents the highest level of expertise, encompassing advanced data and analytics architecture.
Finally, for BI Specialists focusing on predictive analytics and AI-driven insights, the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) certification offers practical skills in designing and implementing AI and machine learning solutions on Azure.
Paths to becoming a Business Intelligence Specialist
As a field rooted in data analysis and strategic decision-making, Business Intelligence often attracts professionals from roles that already involve significant data interaction and reporting. BI Specialists typically transition from positions that emphasize data management, reporting, and analysis, as well as positions that require a strong understanding of business processes and performance metrics.
Many BI Specialists start their careers in roles such as data analysts, financial analysts, or reporting specialists, where they gain hands-on experience working with data visualization tools, reporting frameworks, and statistical analysis. Others transition from IT-focused positions, such as database administrators or data engineers, leveraging their technical expertise to develop more strategic insights and data solutions.
Here are some common roles that can lead to these positions:
Data Analyst: Analysts who specialize in data visualization, reporting, and statistical analysis often transition to BI roles, leveraging skills in Power BI and Excel to generate insights.
Azure Cloud Specialist: Professionals with expertise in Azure data services, including Azure Data Lake and Azure SQL, frequently move into BI roles to manage and analyze cloud-based data.
Database Administrator (DBA): DBAs with experience in managing SQL databases and data warehousing are well-positioned for BI roles, as they understand data storage, optimization, and query performance.
Data Engineer: Engineers who build and maintain data pipelines and ETL processes are natural candidates for BI, as their expertise supports data integration and transformation.
Business Analyst: Business Analysts skilled in gathering requirements and designing solutions often transition to BI to create data-driven insights and support strategic decisions.
IT Systems Administrator: IT professionals responsible for maintaining data systems and infrastructure can move into BI by building on their understanding of data flows and system performance.
Application Developer: Developers who build data-centric applications or integrate analytics into software can leverage their technical skills to develop BI dashboards and solutions.
Data Scientist: Data Scientists with experience in predictive analytics and statistical modeling often shift to BI to deliver insights through visualization and reporting.
ERP/CRM Specialist: Specialists with hands-on experience in ERP and CRM systems, such as Dynamics 365, often transition to BI by analyzing business data and creating performance dashboards.
These roles provide the foundational skills and platform experience that translate well to a Business Intelligence Specialist role, although professionals can follow alternative paths, especially with relevant certifications and targeted experience.
What skills and experience should Business Intelligence specialists have?
- Proficiency in data visualization and reporting tools, especially Power BI and Excel
- Strong understanding of data modeling and data transformation concepts
- Experience with SQL for data extraction, transformation, and database management
- Familiarity with Agile methodologies and experience working within cross-functional teams
- Familiarity with ETL processes and data pipeline management
- Ability to integrate data from multiple sources, including Azure Data Lake, SQL Server, and Excel
- Experience in building and maintaining data warehouses and data marts
- Understanding of Azure Synapse Analytics and Azure Data Factory for advanced data processing
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
- Familiarity with predictive analytics and using Azure Machine Learning for advanced BI solutions
- Knowledge of data governance and data quality assurance practices
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and the capacity to troubleshoot complex data issues
- Experience with Azure DevOps for version control and CI/CD pipeline integration
- Understanding of data security and compliance requirements
