Business Intelligence Analyst vs Analytics Engineer: Which Pays More?
Side-by-side salary comparison by city, experience level, and career growth outlook. Data reflects current market rates.
Business Intelligence Analyst
Build dashboards and reports to surface KPIs for business teams.
Analytics Engineer
Build and maintain the data models and pipelines that power business intelligence.
Business Intelligence Analyst earns more on average — the national median is $19,415/year (16%) higher than a Analytics Engineer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Business Intelligence Analyst vs Analytics Engineer — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Business Intelligence Analyst | Analytics Engineer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $207,300 | $171,525 | Business +$35,775 |
| New York, NY | $172,390 | $147,203 | Business +$25,187 |
| Seattle, WA | $196,915 | $173,765 | Business +$23,150 |
| Austin, TX | $159,214 | $131,230 | Business +$27,984 |
| Chicago, IL | $153,086 | $125,515 | Business +$27,571 |
| Boston, MA | $179,806 | $158,382 | Business +$21,424 |
| London, UK | £105,924 | £93,991 | Business +$11,933 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$182,284 | CA$163,067 | Business +$19,217 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Business Intelligence Analyst or Analytics Engineer earn more?+
A Business Intelligence Analyst earns more on average. The national median salary for a Business Intelligence Analyst is $139,500/year, compared to $120,085/year for a Analytics Engineer — a difference of $19,415 (16%).
Which has better career growth — Business Intelligence Analyst or Analytics Engineer?+
Business Intelligence Analyst roles are growing at 20% YoY while Analytics Engineer demand is growing at 38% YoY. Analytics Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Business Intelligence Analyst to Analytics Engineer?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: SQL.
Which is harder to automate — Business Intelligence Analyst or Analytics Engineer?+
Analytics Engineer has a lower AI automation risk (35% vs 62%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.