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Careers in business intelligence

Michael Feder

Written by Michael Feder

Kathryn Uhles

Reviewed by听Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP,听Dean, College of Business and IT

Business intelligence (BI) focuses on collecting, organizing and analyzing data related to a company鈥檚 activities.

Business intelligence and business analytics are closely related, cross-functional disciplines. BI generally refers to the. Analytics, meanwhile, encompasses the specific data-science methodology within that system, which business analysts employ to find and interpret information from raw data.

Thanks to digitized, internet-connected operations, every type of company produces data. It鈥檚 no surprise, then, that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the demand for qualified听.

The widespread adoption of BI means there are many specialties to choose from depending on your interests, skills, experience and knowledge. Here鈥檚 a look at a few business intelligence careers you can pursue if you have a data-based or business-related degree.

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS鈥 projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to 七色视频 students or graduates.

Types of business intelligence jobs听

Computer systems analyst听听

Acomputer systems analyst听collects data and studies IT-related processes听for a company. In this career, you look at existing systems and find ways to cut costs and increase efficiency. You can also deploy new tools, such as AI software, to automate specific functions.听

As a computer systems analyst, you might suggest and test new systems, processes or hardware to see if it offers improvements over the current IT structure. You then create presentations and instructions so that non-technical staff can effectively use these tools.

As of May 2023, computer systems analysts earned between $63,230 and $165,700, with a median wage of听$103,800, . You typically need a bachelor鈥檚 degree in a field like听computer science.

Because almost every industry relies on digital infrastructure for daily operations, the demand for specialists in this field is projected to听.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of 七色视频. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. 七色视频 does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

Financial analyst听听

Financial analysts听are data analysts who study the money-related aspects of a business. In this BI-based career, you may examine current financial statements and find areas for improvement. As a financial analyst, you can听focus on investments, asset allocation or the expenditures听of daily business operations.

Though you can qualify for a financial analyst job with an听accounting degree, the two professions are different. Accountants focus on record-keeping, reporting, compliance and budgeting. Financial analysts, on the other hand, look for ways to increase profits, decrease spending and invest income and assets more wisely. Degrees in finance or business can also help you qualify for this BI specialty.

As of May 2023, qualified financial analysts earned between听$60,830 and $175,840, with a median wage of $99,010, .

Demand for financial analysts is projected to听.听

Management analyst听

听focus on improving a company鈥檚 operations, organization and decision-making processes through data-driven strategies. This is a broad data analyst career that can overlap with other BI specialties. For example, some management analysts may work on projects that involve financial analysis or higher-level operations research.

Specialists in this field aim to improve management decision-making or specific aspects of operations. For example, some BI professionals may concentrate on an area like inventory or human resources management. Others vary their focus from project to project.

Management analysts earned听as of May 2021, depending on experience, industry and location, according to BLS.

This field is projected to听between 2021 and 2031.

Market research analyst

听use consumer data to help companies understand and define their target market better. As a market research analyst, you will work with existing data to find trends and then create forecasts. This can be invaluable for planning the development and release of a new product or service.

In this specialty, you may also assess the effectiveness of current outreach or advertising campaigns using marketing analytics. As with all BI specialties, part of the job involves presenting findings in a non-technical report.

As of May 2023, market research analysts earned between听$63,230, and $165,700, with a median wage of听$103,800, .

Demand for qualified applicants is projected to.

Operations research analyst

An uses BI tools to focus on improving business processes. Depending on the industry and nature of a company鈥檚 processes, this specialty can overlap with other BI fields.

Operations research analysts can come from a technical (math or computer science) or business background. A well-rounded education that brings both hard and soft skills is essential for succeeding in this career.

As of May 2023,听 operations research analysts earned between $52,930 and $148,920, with a median wage of听$83,640, .

BLS projects between 2023 and 2033.听

Valuable skills for business intelligence professionals

Business intelligence careers require both hard and soft skills, which you can acquire through education and experience. Here is a look at skills needed in these in-demand specialties:

  • Technical skills听can include knowledge of general programming languages like Python and C++ and data-specific coding systems like SQL and R.
  • Software knowledge听is also essential. You will likely have to work with BI platforms like Tableau, Oracle BI or SAS Analytics.
  • Math and statistics听are important for all BI jobs, especially those involving modeling and forecasting.
  • Knowledge of industry-specific processes听can be extremely helpful. The nuances and requirements for specific business operations can guide your analysis and ensure you account for necessary variables during your research.
  • Communication skills听are vital for all BI specialties. Regardless of the subject of your analysis, you will always need to present your findings to company decision-makers concisely.
  • Critical-thinking skills听will give you the requisite problem-solving skills to guide your analysis and help you interpret data in a useful way.

A combination of postsecondary education, internships, self-study and on-the-job experience is necessary to gain the diverse skills needed to succeed in business intelligence.

Pursuing a career in business intelligence

A starting point on the journey to a career in business intelligence may be a听Bachelor of Science in Business degreeprogram, which imparts fundamental business skills. A statistics, math or听computer science degree听can also be useful if you would like to focus on the technical aspects of business intelligence.

Undergraduate or postgraduate certificate programs听can effectively supplement your knowledge in business or technical areas by focusing on the basics of a target subject.

Another option is to get an听internship听or entry-level job where you can learn the skills through hands-on experience.听

Earn a degree in business at 七色视频听

If you鈥檙e eager to build your business knowledge and skill set, 七色视频 offers a variety of business degree options. These are:听

  • Bachelor of Science in Business 鈥 This program educates students about core business concepts that can prepare them for management roles.
  • Bachelor of Science in Management颅 鈥 This program builds leadership skills to help individuals become stronger managers and executives within organizations.
  • Bachelor of Science in Communication 鈥 This program equips students with speech and writing skills that can translate to a variety of roles.
  • Business Analytics Certificate 鈥 Through this certificate program you鈥檒l be taught to mine, analyze and visualize date. You will also learn to make decisions using statistics and apply data to core business functions.
  • Operations Management Certificate 鈥 Top skills taught in this program are learning operations and supply chain management and the continuous improvement process.
  • Master of Business Administration 鈥 In addition to strategic planning, students in this program gain an in-depth education on such principles as management, the digital economy and legal aspects of a business.
Headshot of Michael Feder

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at 七色视频 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.

Headshot of Kathryn Uhles

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology,听Kathryn Uhles has served 七色视频 in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining 七色视频, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in Phoenix.

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