BI salary expectations
Business intelligence (BI) is the quiet influence shaping everything from corporate strategy to innovative product launches, putting you at the heart of an organisation's decision-making. As a business intelligence professional, you'll analyse data to drive success across industries, working in roles that offer a unique blend of problem-solving, strategic insight, and purpose.
With competitive salaries and opportunities for growth, business intelligence careers provide a diverse and rewarding future. Here’s a look at the different career paths, their potential salaries, and how each role lets you make a real impact.
Looking for a quick overview? Jump to our salary comparison table below.
Business intelligence career landscape
Business intelligence is a fast-growing, high-skill field where data and strategy meet. The Future of Jobs Report 2023 from the World Economic Forum highlights that roles in data, machine learning, and AI opportunities are expanding rapidly, especially in sectors like financial services, retail, and supply chain – where business intelligence expertise is critical for strategic decisions.
If you're passionate about business intelligence, these 3 core roles offer a distinct path and skill set:
Business intelligence analyst
Business intelligence manager
Business intelligence developer
While many BI professionals hold specialised degrees in business analytics or data, it's also possible to enter the field from a computer science or data science background – especially with practical experience in tools, programming and data interpretation.
We’ll explore the analyst, manager, and developer paths in more detail, but for a wider look at BI careers, check out our article: What career path can you take with a BI degree?
Business intelligence analyst: turning data into decisions
Start each day knowing you'll shape key decisions across an organisation. As a BI analyst, you're responsible for turning information into action, solving puzzles, uncovering patterns, and guiding marketing, finance, and product development decisions.
A typical day for a business intelligence analyst
As an analyst, your work days will be varied. Your responsibility involves a combination of activities that inform strategic planning, including:
Data collection and cleaning: gather data from multiple sources, ensuring accuracy and removing inconsistencies to build a reliable foundation.
Data analysis: interpret patterns and trends using tools like Tableau and Structured Query Language (SQL) to make complex information clear and actionable.
Creating reports and dashboards: create visualisations that highlight patterns and insights for decision-makers, creating a roadmap from data to strategy.
Collaboration with stakeholders: share findings with departments from marketing to finance, ensuring all teams have the information they need for data-led decisions.
Trend forecasting: use historical data to predict future trends and provide insights for proactive product development and marketing decision-making.
Customer behaviour analysis: assess customer data to identify behavioural patterns and recommend targeted marketing strategies or product adjustments.
Performance tracking: regularly evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns and business strategies using KPIs, making adjustments based on findings.
Business intelligence analyst salary
The salary for a BI analyst in the UK depends on experience, location, and skill level. According to the Robert Half 2025 UK Salary Guide, pay for a BI analyst typically ranges as follows depending on experience level:
Entry-level positions: £31,750
BI analyst with experience: £41,250
Senior BI analysts: £54,500
London-based BI analysts: £50,907*
*London salary figures from uk.indeed.com are accurate as of November 2024.
Business intelligence manager: guiding strategy with data
As a business intelligence manager, you take on a more strategic role between data and decision-making, helping shape your organisation's future.
Unlike a BI analyst, you'll oversee more detailed business intelligence initiatives, leading teams and aligning projects with decision-makers to drive results that matter across a business. You'll have a high-level view across strategic BI projects and be responsible for supporting teams and ensuring each initiative directly contributes to company goals.
Day-to-day responsibilities of a BI manager
Setting project priorities: define which business intelligence projects take priority, ensuring alignment with company goals and data needs.
Managing teams and resources: oversee other BI analysts and developers, directing team efforts to keep projects on track and fostering a collaborative environment.
Linking different teams: act as the vital link between executives and other organisational teams and deliver insights that guide departmental strategies.
Leading data-driven decisions: monitor business intelligence projects to ensure insights support organisational objectives, making adjustments to keep initiatives effective.
Cross-departmental alignment: work with department heads to ensure that BI projects are tailored to support specific short – and long-term goals.
Resource allocation: manage and allocate resources across business intelligence projects, ensuring each project has the support needed for timely delivery.
Business intelligence manager salary
A BI manager's base salary in the UK reflects experience, technical skills, and industry focus. According to the Robert Half 2025 UK Salary Guide, business intelligence managers typically earn the following depending on experience level:
Entry-level positions: £55,500
Professionals with experience: £66,500
Senior BI managers: £76,750
London-based BI analysts: £62,343*
*London salary figures from uk.indeed.com are accurate as of November 2024.
Business intelligence developer: the backbone of a business data
As a business intelligence developer, you’re the architect behind the systems that make data insights possible. From special pipelines to dashboard tools, your work ensures that raw information is accessible and actionable for every team.
In this role, you’ll focus on building and optimising the infrastructure that powers an organisation’s data strategy, ensuring insights reach decision-makers when needed most. You're responsible for designing, maintaining, and improving the systems that support business intelligence across departments.
Day-to-day responsibilities of a business intelligence developer
Building data pipelines: create and manage the flow of information across the organisation, allowing analysts and managers to access updated information when needed.
Dashboard and tool development: create user-friendly dashboards and BI tools that allow teams to visualise trends.
Collaborating with BI analysts and managers: work closely with BI analysts and managers to understand data needs and translate them into technical solutions.
Data integration and ETL processes: design and manage Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) processes to ensure smooth and accurate data integration from multiple sources.
Data warehouse maintenance: oversee the structure and functionality of data warehouses, which store large datasets and support rapid insight retrieval.
Security and compliance: maintain data protection and regulatory requirements, protecting sensitive information while enabling access for authorised teams
Business intelligence developer salary
In the UK, salaries for BI developers are based on experience level, technical expertise, and, in some cases, specialised certifications. According to the Robert Half's 2025 UK Salary Guide, business intelligence developers can earn:
Entry-level position: £46,500
BI developer with experience: £53,750
Senior BI developer: £67,000
London-based BI developers: £47,400*
*London salary figures from uk.indeed.com are accurate as of November 2024.
Business intelligence salary comparison
Here’s a quick look at the salary ranges for business intelligence roles across different experience levels, according to the latest research from Robert Half's 2025 UK Salary Guide (*London salary figures from uk.indeed.com are accurate as of November 2024).
Job title | Entry-level | Mid-level | Senior | London* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Business intelligence analyst salary | £31,750 | £41,250 | £54,500 | £50,907 |
Business intelligence manager salary | £55,500 | £66,500 | £76,750 | £62,343 |
Business intelligence developer salary | £46,500 | £53,750 | £67,750 | £47,400 |
If you're considering one of our online degrees, enter your details, including a valid phone number, and we’ll call to tell you more about the programme you’re interested in.
3 ways to get started in business intelligence
Here’s how to get started in business intelligence, whether you’re new to the field or aiming to develop expertise. You can also explore our comprehensive business intelligence subject guide for a deeper dive into how to get into the field.
1. Study a relevant degree
A master’s degree in computer science or data science helps you develop foundational skills in data handling, analysis and strategy. Modules may cover business data analytics, database systems, or machine learning – all useful for a future BI role.
Tip: Our MSc Computer Science with Data Science degree won’t focus specifically on business intelligence – but it will help you gain the technical and analytical skills many BI careers are built on. Our programmes also support flexible online study, allowing you to build experience alongside your learning.
2. Build specialised technical skills
Consider industry certifications alongside your studies to boost your expertise. Options like the Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP) or Microsoft’s Power BI Data Analyst add valuable credentials to your resume. Hands-on practice with tools like Tableau, SQL, and Python is essential, as is experimenting with specialised areas like machine learning or automation, which set you up for advanced roles.
3. Gain real-world experience
Practical experience is invaluable in gaining problem-solving, teamwork, and strategy skills. Internships and entry-level roles allow you to apply BI techniques across various departments and gain communication and critical thinking skills – vital for advancing to senior roles. Working with cross-functional teams gives you a strategic outlook and prepares you for leadership positions where you'll be responsible for data-driven decision-making.
Can you work in BI with a computer science or data science degree?
You can – but it depends on how you apply what you’ve learned. While business intelligence roles don’t always require a dedicated BI qualification, they do ask for skills in data analysis, systems thinking, and communication. A background in computer science or data science can give you a solid start, especially if you build practical experience with the tools and techniques BI professionals use.
If your degree includes modules on topics such as data analytics, database systems, programming (like Python or SQL), or machine learning, you’ll likely have a strong foundation for entry-level roles in BI. Pairing these skills with hands-on projects, visualisation tools or certifications can make your profile stand out.
Our MSc Computer Science with Data Science is a great first step to gaining the technical and analytical skills many BI careers are built on.
Explore the MSc Computer Science with Data Science
