What Is a Business Intelligence Manager? And How to Become One

Business intelligence (BI) managers lead teams tasked with generating the insights required to make strategic business decisions. If you enjoy data-driven work and the responsibility of being a people manager, then you might want to consider a career as a BI manager. 

In this article, you’ll learn more about what a BI manager is, does, how much they earn, and how to become one. Afterward, if you're interested in advancing your skills in business intelligence, consider enrolling in the Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate, where you'll build on your data analytics skills so you can take your career to the next level.

What is a business intelligence manager?

A business intelligence manager is a professional who uses data to inform business decisions. They typically lead a team of business analysts, data analysts, and programmers, who collect and analyze information to produce critical business insights. Being effective in this role requires a deep understanding of business intelligence and data analysis, along with with well-honed skills in management and communication. 

Depending on where they work, business intelligence managers and their teams may influence everything from marketing campaign strategy to resource management and an organization’s financial investments. Some common industries in which business intelligence professionals are employed include government agencies, financial investment, and management consulting. 

Business intelligence manager responsibilities

A business intelligence manager's responsibilities will vary from one organization to another. Nonetheless, there are some common tasks you’ll likely perform as a business intelligence manager in the work world. Some of the most common responsibilities include: 

• Overseeing a business intelligence team, including analysts and programmers.

• Sourcing and gathering relevant data to achieve business objectives. 

• Analyzing business data, generating reports, and creating data visualizations using business intelligence tools like Power BI or Tableau. 

• Presenting research findings and insights to upper management and leadership. 

• Hiring and training new team members. 

Watch this video to learn more about BI concepts.

Business intelligence manager salary and job outlook 

Business intelligence managers earn a higher-than-average salary and have a positive job outlook in the coming years. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for business intelligence managers in the United States was $141,313 as of October 2024 [1]. This role may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as a bonus or profit-sharing.

Similarly, the profession is projected to see strong demand in the coming years. According to the US BLS, for example, the number of job openings for management analysts – the job category under which business intelligence managers fall – is projected to grow by 11 percent between 2023 and 2033, which is faster than average [2]. 

How to become a business intelligence manager

Business intelligence managers need the right combination of education, work experience, and skills to land their jobs. Here’s what you can expect from the career journey. 

1. Earn a degree.

Most employers require that applicants to business intelligence manager roles possess at least a bachelor’s degree with the more common majors including business, computer science, accounting, and marketing. While you may be able to get started without a degree, you may need one to advance in your career.

Higher education is common among business intelligence managers. According to Zippia, 70.8 percent of business intelligence managers hold a bachelor’s degree, while 23 percent have a master’s. By comparison, only 3.4 percent have an associate degree [3]. 

2. Gain work experience.

Business intelligence manager isn’t an entry-level position, so expect to spend some time doing related entry-level positions first. Generally, employers ask that applicants have anywhere from two to five years of experience in a related job, such as business intelligence analyst or developer. In some cases, employers might also like to see applicants who have prior managerial or supervisory experience. 

Some entry-level business intelligence roles you could consider include:

• Business intelligence analyst

• Junior BI analyst

• Data analyst

• Business analyst

• Business intelligence system analyst

3. Hone your skills.

Business intelligence managers need to possess a strong set of both technical and interpersonal skills. Some of the skills you’ll likely need to possess to land a job in the field include: 

• Knowledge of BI tools, such as Tableau and Microsoft Power BI

• Comfortability in conducting data analysis 

• Ability to build dashboards and generate reports 

• Strong grasp of industry trends

• Problem-solving skills

• Collaboration 

• Leadership skills

• Analytical skills

• Management and supervisory experience

Build your Microsoft Power BI skills with the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate. Over eight courses, you'll learn how to use Power BI to connect to data sources and transform them into meaningful insights.

4. Consider certificates or certifications. 

A certificate or certification may help you stand out from other job applicants, showing the effort you've put in to learn more about this area and develop key skills in it. A certification shows industry-standard knowledge you've gained, often by passing an exam, while a certificate tends to be a series of courses through which you develop key knowledge and skills.

Consider obtaining a certification, such as the Certified Business Intelligence Professional Certification (CBIP), from Transforming Data with Intelligence (TDWI), which requires a minimum of two years of professional experience and a bachelor's degree. One you're eligible, you must pass the Information Systems Core exam and two specialty exams from the following tracks: Business Analytics, Data Analysis and Design, Data Integration, or Leadership and Management.

You can also explore a number of professional certificates to gain foundational knowledge about business intelligence and advance your skill set. Consider advancing with a certificate from Google, such as the Business Intelligence Professional Certificate. 

Build business intelligence skills with Coursera

You can develop or advance your business intelligence knowledge and skill set with Professional Certificates on Coursera. Get started with IBM's Business Intelligence Analyst Professional Certificate or advance with Google's Business Intelligence Professional Certificate.

• Beginner level: Prepare for a business intelligence career with the IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst Professional Certificate. In this ten-course series, you'll learn about data collection, analysis, visualization, and reporting, honing your skills in developing data models and deriving invaluable insights for making informed decisions.

• Advanced level: Strengthen your knowledge of business intelligence with the Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate. Over three courses, you'll build on your data analytics skills and experience so you're prepared to take your career to the next level. Prior experience in foundational analytical principles, skills, and tools is encouraged.