What Does a BI Developer Do?
A business intelligence developer designs, develops, and maintains the data infrastructure and reporting tools that power decision-making across an organization. They transform raw data into accessible, reliable formats through data models, ETL pipelines, and dashboards used by business users and analysts.
BI developers work closely with data architects, analysts, and business stakeholders to ensure data accuracy, performance, and usability. Their work often includes creating custom SQL queries, building data warehouses, and developing automated reporting systems. This role requires a blend of programming, database management, and business acumen to meet the demands of modern data-driven environments.
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Business Intelligence Developer Core Responsibilities
- Design and develop scalable BI solutions and reporting platforms
- Create and manage ETL processes for data extraction, transformation, and loading
- Build data models and semantic layers that support analytical queries
- Collaborate with business stakeholders to define reporting needs
- Maintain and optimize data warehouses and OLAP cubes
- Develop dashboards, scorecards, and visual reports using BI tools
- Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and compliance with governance policies
- Monitor BI system performance and troubleshoot issues
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Expertise in SQL and relational databases (e.g., SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle)
- Experience with BI tools like Power BI, Tableau, SSRS, or Looker
- Proficiency in ETL tools and frameworks (e.g., SSIS, Talend, Informatica)
- Understanding of data modeling techniques (star schema, snowflake schema)
- Experience with data warehousing platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Redshift, BigQuery)
Soft skills
- Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail
- Ability to translate technical processes into business-friendly insights
- Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills
- Communication skills for cross-functional collaboration
Educational requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, data engineering, or a related field
Certifications
- Not always required, but beneficial certifications include:
- Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate
- Tableau Desktop Certified Associate
- AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in data science or information systems
- Experience with scripting languages (Python, R) for automation
- Knowledge of cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for BI solutions
National Average Salary
BI developer salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Business Intelligence (BI) Developer is:
$108,936
Sample Job Description Templates for Business Intelligence Developers
Junior BI Developer
Position Overview
The Junior BI Developer assists in the development and maintenance of data models, dashboards, and reporting tools. This role supports senior team members while gaining exposure to BI systems and practices.
Business Intelligence Developer Responsibilities
- Assist with data extraction and report generation tasks
- Maintain and troubleshoot existing dashboards
- Learn and apply SQL and BI tools to real business problems
- Document BI processes and contribute to user guides
- Support QA efforts for BI testing and deployment
Business Intelligence Developer Requirements
Hard skills
- Basic SQL knowledge and exposure to Power BI or Tableau
- Familiarity with Excel and data visualization concepts
Soft skills
- Eagerness to learn and strong problem-solving abilities
- Attention to detail and task ownership
Educational requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, or related field
Senior BI Developer
Position Overview
The Senior BI Developer designs, implements, and maintains enterprise-wide BI solutions. They lead the development of data models, reporting frameworks, and performance optimization initiatives.
Business Intelligence Developer Responsibilities
- Architect and develop end-to-end BI solutions
- Build and optimize complex ETL processes and data models
- Collaborate with business leaders to translate data needs into solutions
- Oversee dashboard development and BI tool deployment
- Mentor junior developers and review code for quality assurance
Business Intelligence Developer Requirements
Hard skills
- Expert-level SQL and proficiency with BI platforms (Power BI, Tableau, SSRS)
- Deep understanding of ETL frameworks and data warehousing
Soft skills
- Strategic thinking with the ability to guide data-driven decisions
- Team leadership and stakeholder communication
Educational requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field; master’s preferred
Lead BI Developer
Position Overview
The Lead BI Developer heads BI initiatives and sets technical direction for the team. They drive architectural decisions, ensure best practices, and serve as the point of contact for BI strategy.
Business Intelligence Developer Responsibilities
- Define BI architecture and design enterprise data models
- Lead cross-functional BI development projects
- Evaluate and select BI tools and data platforms
- Partner with executives to identify analytics priorities
- Ensure data governance and security best practices
Business Intelligence Developer Requirements
Hard skills
- Advanced BI development skills with experience across data ecosystems
- Strong background in architecture, performance tuning, and systems integration
Soft skills
- Leadership and strategic influence
- Excellent written and verbal communication
Educational requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree or certifications preferred
Cloud BI Developer
Position Overview
The Cloud BI Developer specializes in building and managing BI environments on cloud platforms. They develop scalable, secure analytics solutions using AWS, Azure, or GCP technologies.
Business Intelligence Developer Responsibilities
- Design cloud-based data pipelines and reporting systems
- Use cloud-native services (e.g., Redshift, BigQuery, Azure Synapse)
- Integrate APIs and external data sources into cloud BI solutions
- Optimize storage, query speed, and cost efficiency
- Collaborate on infrastructure-as-code and DevOps practices
Business Intelligence Developer Requirements
Hard skills
- Expertise in cloud platforms and tools (AWS Glue, Lambda, Azure Data Factory)
- Strong understanding of data lakes, warehouses, and containerization
Soft skills
- Innovation and adaptability in evolving cloud environments
- Collaboration across data engineering and DevOps teams
Educational requirements
- Bachelor’s in computer science or data engineering; cloud certifications preferred
Financial BI Developer
Position Overview
The Financial BI Developer focuses on building BI tools and reports for finance departments. They provide insights into budgets, forecasts, compliance, and overall financial performance.
Business Intelligence Developer Responsibilities
- Develop financial dashboards and automated reporting tools
- Translate accounting data into visual insights for executives
- Integrate BI tools with ERP and financial systems (SAP, Oracle)
- Create financial models and scenario analyses
Business Intelligence Developer Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficiency with Excel modeling, SQL, and financial BI tools
- Experience with GAAP-compliant financial reporting
Soft skills
- High attention to accuracy and risk sensitivity
- Clear communication of financial data to non-finance stakeholders
Educational requirements
- Bachelor’s in finance, accounting, or information systems
Healthcare BI Developer
Position Overview
The Healthcare BI Developer delivers insights that improve clinical operations, patient care, and regulatory compliance. They work with EMR/EHR data and healthcare-specific KPIs.
Business Intelligence Developer Responsibilities
- Build dashboards for patient outcomes, readmission rates, and throughput
- Ensure HIPAA compliance and data privacy standards
- Integrate data from EMR platforms like Epic or Cerner
- Collaborate with providers, administrators, and compliance teams
Business Intelligence Developer Requirements
Hard skills
- Experience with healthcare BI tools and data integration (HL7, FHIR)
- Understanding of payer-provider data structures
Soft skills
- Ethical judgment in managing sensitive health data
- Communication across clinical and technical teams
Educational requirements
- Bachelor’s in health informatics, IT, or related field