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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��can include knowledge of general programming languages like Python and C++ and data-specific coding systems like SQL and R.
• Software knowledge��is also essential. You will likely have to work with BI platforms like Tableau, Oracle BI or SAS Analytics.
• Math and statistics��are important for all BI jobs, especially those involving modeling and forecasting.
• Knowledge of industry-specific processes��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��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��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.

Acomputer systems analyst��collects data and studies IT-related processes��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.��

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��$103,800, . You typically need a bachelor’s degree in a field like��computer science.

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

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of ������ý. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. ������ý 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 analysts��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��focus on investments, asset allocation or the expenditures��of daily business operations.

Though you can qualify for a financial analyst job with an��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��$60,830 and $175,840, with a median wage of $99,010, .

Demand for financial analysts is projected to��.��

��focus on improving a company’s 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��as of May 2021, depending on experience, industry and location, according to BLS.

This field is projected to��between 2021 and 2031.

��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��$63,230, and $165,700, with a median wage of��$103,800, .

Demand for qualified applicants is projected to.

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

Undergraduate or postgraduate certificate programs��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��internship��or entry-level job where you can learn the skills through hands-on experience.��