Technology

How to become a Business Intelligence Analyst

From data analyst: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

1–2 years

Typical pay

$75k–$105k

Starting from

Data analyst

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from data analyst and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   2–4 months

   Get solid in SQL

   Joins, window functions and query performance. This is the whole floor of the role.

   Course that covers thisMaster SQL - Core Database Skills Practice ExamUdemy · around $19.99 →
2. 2

   2–4 months

   Learn one BI tool properly

   Power BI or Tableau — depth in one beats a passing acquaintance with both.

   Course that covers thisPower BI - The Complete CourseUdemy · around $19.99 →
3. 3

   3–6 months

   Learn dimensional modelling

   Star schemas, grain and slowly changing dimensions. It is what separates BI from reporting.

4. 4

   1–2 years

   Move across from analyst

   Most BI analysts are promoted internally after building something the business relies on.

   Course that covers thisTableau Desktop Specialist Practice TestsUdemy · around $19.99 →
5. ✓

   Destination

   Business Intelligence Analyst

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