Business Intelligence Engineer: 2026 Career + Salary Guide

Key takeaways

A business intelligence (BI) engineer manages the processes and systems in a company relating to data collection and analysis.

• The median total yearly pay for business intelligence engineers in the US is $142,000 [1].

• A few job responsibilities for a BI engineer are managing the BI tools, developing extract, transform, load (ETL) pipelines for production, and creating proofs of concept.

• You can improve your collaboration skills to become a more effective business intelligence engineer.

Explore the key responsibilities for a business intelligence engineer and how to become one. If you’re ready to begin your career in business intelligence, enroll in the Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate, where in as little as two months, you can learn about Tableau software, structured query language (SQL), data pipelines, business analysis, stakeholder engagement, and more.

What is business intelligence?

Business intelligence, or BI, refers to the technology and strategies used to manage and analyze data in an organization. Often, enterprise-level companies use it to gain actionable insights and guide decision-making. Here are a few key elements of BI:

• Business analytics: Business analytics is the investigative analysis of an organization's past performance and data. The goal is to inform business decisions, improve business processes, and solve problems iteratively. 

• Data mining: This involves analyzing large amounts of raw data to identify patterns and extract meaningful insights. 

• Data visualization: This is the process of representing data through graphics or other visual aids. The goal of data visualization is to make data-driven insights easy to understand and communicate. Examples of data visualization tools include dashboards, graphs, and maps.

What is BI engineering?

BI engineering is the design, maintenance, and management of business intelligence tools and systems. It involves process evaluation, data visualization, cross-departmental collaboration, and effective communication with stakeholders to meet business requirements. The goal is to improve efficiency in all business processes dealing with data. 

What is a business intelligence engineer?

A business intelligence engineer, or BI engineer, manages the processes and systems in a company relating to data collection and analysis. They often train other organization members on effectively using BI tools or data visualization software. 

Business intelligence engineer job description

The following sample job description is comprised of responsibilities and qualifications from business intelligence engineer job postings across Google, Glassdoor, and Indeed:

Job Title: Business Intelligence Engineer

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree or a combination of equivalent experience and qualifications

• Working knowledge of SQL (ability to write SQL queries and reports)

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Demonstrated technical experience in data mining and data analytics

• Experience working with databases, ETL pipelines, and data pipelines 

• Excellent data interpretation and management skills

Read more: What Is Data Mining?

Responsibilities:

• Designing and managing the BI tools and applications environment 

• Developing ETL pipelines for production

• Coding, testing, and documenting data systems and processes

• Create and maintain development documentation and reusable test cases

• Create proofs of concept

• Train other data analytics team members on best practices and protocols

Business intelligence engineer salary

According to Glassdoor, the median total yearly pay for business intelligence engineers in the US is $142,000 as of December 2025 [1]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Your earning potential as a BI engineer depends on several factors, including experience, location, industry, and employer.

How to become a business intelligence engineer

You can use the following step-by-step instructions to create a road map of your journey to becoming a business intelligence engineer. 

1. Meet education and skill requirements.

Sixty-nine percent of business intelligence engineers have a bachelor's degree, 23 percent have a master's, and 5 percent have an associate degree [2], according to Zippia. Common areas of study include computer science, business, and information technology (IT). Employers may also accept candidates with equivalent experience, certifications, or alternative credentials.

In recent years, companies have increasingly used skills-based hiring to prioritize candidates' abilities over their education, experience, or connections [3].

Business intelligence courses to consider

• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate: In this self-paced, beginner-friendly program, you'll learn essential BI skills like data aggregation and analysis, data ethics, and SQL. Upon completion, you'll earn a Professional Certificate from an industry leader in technology for your resume. 

• BI Foundations with SQL, ETL, and Data Warehousing Specialization by IBM: This flexible, beginner-level program covers foundational skills like relational database management, SQL, Apache Kafka, data pipelines, and cloud databases. Upon completion, you'll earn a shareable certificate from IBM for your resume. 

• Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence Specialization from the University of Colorado: This university-led program covers fundamental business intelligence skills like database design, ETL, data integration, and data visualization. Upon completion, you'll earn a shareable certificate from the University of Colorado for your resume.

• Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate: If you already have a strong foundation in data analytics, consider this Professional Certificate to continue progressing in your career. You’ll practice data modeling and ETL processes, explore the role of BI in an organization, and learn the skills to qualify for job roles such as business intelligence engineer.

2. Research the job market.

When preparing for any role, it's important to research the job market to identify in-demand skills and compare employers. You can use the section below to explore some top companies listing business intelligence engineer jobs on Glassdoor, as of December 2025. These companies have over 10,000 employees and span different industries.

*Note: Employee ratings are measured on a scale of one to five stars. It's calculated based on six categories: culture and values, diversity and inclusion, work/life balance, senior management, compensation and benefits, and career opportunities.

Google

• Industry: Internet and web services

• Rating: 4.4

Cisco Systems

• Industry: Enterprise software and network solutions

• Rating: 4.1

Microsoft

• Industry: Computer hardware development

• Rating: 4.0

Apple

• Industry: Computer hardware development

• Rating: 4.1

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

• Industry: Religious institutions

• Rating: 4.5

Adobe

• Industry: Computer hardware development

• Rating: 4.1

Deloitte

• Industry: Business consulting

• Rating: 3.8

JPMorgan Chase & Co

• Industry: Banking and lending

• Rating: 4.0

Indeed

• Industry: Online job recruitment services

• Rating: 3.9

PepsiCo

• Industry: Food and beverage manufacturing

• Rating: 3.8

Roche

• Industry: Biotech and pharmaceuticals

• Rating: 4.2

3. Enhance your resume and start applying.

Building a strong resume is a critical part of the career transition process. Keep in mind that employers often use an applicant tracking system or ATS to screen candidates. These systems use filters to identify keywords and make it easier to process large volumes of applications quickly. If your language matches the keywords used by employers, your resume is more likely to be seen.

Keep up with trends and job opportunities in business intelligence

Join Career Chat on LinkedIn to stay current regarding trends and job opportunities in business intelligence. You can also explore these other free resources:

• Watch on YouTube: Top Business Intelligence Skills in Microsoft’s Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate

• Explore generative AI: Business professionals + GenAI: saving time and increasing performance

• Expand your skill set: Business intelligence analysts explained: duties + skills

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses.