What does a BI Developer do?
BI developers build and maintain business intelligence systems, creating databases, data models, and reporting tools. You work with teams to ensure data is accessible and actionable, helping companies drive performance improvements.
Key duties & responsibilities
BI Developers in the IT & Development field handle essential tasks and contribute significantly to achieving team and organizational goals. Here are some of their primary responsibilities:
- Design, build, and deploy BI solutions (e.g., reporting tools, data models).
- Maintain and support data analytics platforms (e.g., MicroStrategy, Power BI).
- Create tools to store data effectively within the organization.
- Conduct unit testing and troubleshooting of analytical and reporting tools.
- Evaluate and improve existing BI systems.
- Collaborate with teams to integrate systems and create effective data warehouses.
- Develop and execute database queries and conduct analyses.
- Create visualizations and reports for requested projects.
- Develop and update technical documentation for data models and business intelligence systems.
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How to become a BI Developer
Launching a career as a BI Developer requires a specific education. We outline the essential qualifications, skills, and steps to enter this field.
Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or relevant field; master’s degree in data science or related field is a plus.
- Proven experience as a BI Developer or Data Scientist.
- Background in data warehouse design (e.g., dimensional modeling) and SQL databases.
- In-depth understanding of database management systems, online analytical processing (OLAP) and ETL (Extract, transform, load) framework.
- Familiarity with BI technologies (e.g., Microsoft Power BI, Oracle BI).
- Knowledge of SQL queries, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).
Requirements & skills
- Strong analytical skills and ability to handle complex, large scale data sets.
- Expertise in translating business requirements into non-technical, lay terms.
- High-level experience in methodologies and processes for managing large scale databases.
- Demonstrated ability to build concise and performance-optimized SQL queries.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
BI Developer salary guide
Wondering what BI Developers earn? Explore salary ranges by experience, and career tips to maximize your earning potential.
The average salary for a BI Developer in the U.S. is approximately $108,000 per year and can vary from entry-level to senior positions. BI Developers may receive a wide range of benefits.
BI Developer salary career steps
- Entry Level0-2 years $81,000
- Mid Level3-5 years $97,200
- Experienced6-10 years $108,000
- Senior11+ years $118,800
- Veteran20+ years $135,000
Based on public data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale. Career-level figures are estimates derived from the national average; actual pay varies by employer, region and experience.
How much can you earn as a BI Developer?
Explore salary insights and compensation trends across different countries.
How to advance your career
BI Developers can advance to senior roles such as BI Architect, Data Architect, or Analytics Manager. With further experience, they may lead entire data departments or move into strategic roles such as Chief Data Officer. Continued education and specialization can also lead to opportunities in data science and advanced analytics.
Typical work environment
BI Developers usually work in office settings, typically within an organization’s IT department. They may collaborate extensively with other IT professionals and business units to align technology with business strategy. Their role often requires hours beyond the standard workweek, particularly during critical project phases or system upgrades.
About this profile
This profile for a BI Developer is based on public sources such as the BLS and Payscale and was structured with the help of AI. It is intended as a general orientation — duties, requirements and salaries can differ by employer, country and experience.
