Analytics Engineer vs BI Developer: Which Pays More?
Side-by-side salary comparison by city, experience level, and career growth outlook. Data reflects current market rates.
Analytics Engineer
Build and maintain the data models and pipelines that power business intelligence.
BI Developer
Build dashboards, reports, and data visualisations to support business decisions.
Analytics Engineer earns more on average — the national median is $20,354/year (20%) higher than a BI Developer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Analytics Engineer vs BI Developer — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Analytics Engineer | BI Developer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $171,525 | $149,547 | Analytics +$21,978 |
| New York, NY | $147,203 | $119,905 | Analytics +$27,298 |
| Seattle, WA | $173,765 | $144,935 | Analytics +$28,830 |
| Austin, TX | $131,230 | $109,654 | Analytics +$21,576 |
| Chicago, IL | $125,515 | $103,999 | Analytics +$21,516 |
| Boston, MA | $158,382 | $133,426 | Analytics +$24,956 |
| London, UK | £93,991 | £77,839 | Analytics +$16,152 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$163,067 | CA$132,034 | Analytics +$31,033 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Analytics Engineer or BI Developer earn more?+
A Analytics Engineer earns more on average. The national median salary for a Analytics Engineer is $120,085/year, compared to $99,731/year for a BI Developer — a difference of $20,354 (20%).
Which has better career growth — Analytics Engineer or BI Developer?+
Analytics Engineer roles are growing at 38% YoY while BI Developer demand is growing at 22% YoY. Analytics Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Analytics Engineer to BI Developer?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: SQL.
Which is harder to automate — Analytics Engineer or BI Developer?+
Analytics Engineer has a lower AI automation risk (35% vs 45%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.