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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Business Intelligence Analyst expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $116,389, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $81,472 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Business Intelligence Analyst falls within the Technology sector, specifically in Technology. The typical education path involves Bachelor's degree. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hybrid/remote — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$129,000 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Business Intelligence Analyst in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $212,000 — $129,000 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($83,000). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The three-tier salary picture for Business Intelligence Analysts in 2026: $83,800 at entry (P10), $116,389 at midpoint, and $165,272 at the senior end (P90). Zoom out to the career trajectory, and the entry-level picture changes. The $81,472 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $36,022 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $198,000, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $83,667. The $114,333 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Business Intelligence Analyst in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $212,000 — $129,000 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($83,000). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Business Intelligence Analyst is $83,800, while senior-level (P90) earners average $165,272. That $81,472 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Business Intelligence Analysts at $140,475 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $123,500) is $16,975.
At the 90th percentile, Business Intelligence Analysts pull in an average of $165,272. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $83,800 | $116,389 | $165,272 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £50,247 | £69,788 | £99,099 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$65,133 | CA$90,463 | CA$128,457 |
| Australia | 13 | A$75,496 | A$104,856 | A$148,895 |
| Sweden | 24 | 475,552 kr | 660,489 kr | 937,894 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $101,142 | $140,475 | $199,475 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $97,740 | $135,750 | $192,765 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $97,200 | $135,000 | $191,700 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $90,000 | $125,000 | $177,500 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $88,920 | $123,500 | $175,370 |
| Washington | 8 | $87,210 | $121,125 | $171,998 |
| New York | 5 | $82,080 | $114,000 | $161,880 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $82,080 | $114,000 | $161,880 |
| Florida | 22 | $81,458 | $113,136 | $160,654 |
| Colorado | 11 | $80,051 | $111,182 | $157,878 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $79,920 | $111,000 | $157,620 |
| Nevada | 5 | $79,776 | $110,800 | $157,336 |
| Arizona | 12 | $79,380 | $110,250 | $156,555 |
| Oregon | 5 | $79,200 | $110,000 | $156,200 |
| Idaho | 3 | $78,960 | $109,667 | $155,727 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $78,336 | $108,800 | $154,496 |
| Utah | 4 | $78,120 | $108,500 | $154,070 |
| Virginia | 7 | $76,834 | $106,714 | $151,534 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $75,840 | $105,333 | $149,573 |
| Alaska | 1 | $75,600 | $105,000 | $149,100 |
| Illinois | 5 | $74,736 | $103,800 | $147,396 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $72,880 | $101,222 | $143,736 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $72,000 | $100,000 | $142,000 |
| Montana | 1 | $72,000 | $100,000 | $142,000 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $71,760 | $99,667 | $141,527 |
| Texas | 40 | $71,406 | $99,175 | $140,829 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $71,280 | $99,000 | $140,580 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $70,920 | $98,500 | $139,870 |
| Georgia | 6 | $70,680 | $98,167 | $139,397 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $70,560 | $98,000 | $139,160 |
| Kansas | 4 | $70,200 | $97,500 | $138,450 |
| Michigan | 6 | $69,960 | $97,167 | $137,977 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $69,120 | $96,000 | $136,320 |
| Maryland | 1 | $69,120 | $96,000 | $136,320 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $68,400 | $95,000 | $134,900 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $68,400 | $95,000 | $134,900 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $66,600 | $92,500 | $131,350 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $66,240 | $92,000 | $130,640 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $65,340 | $90,750 | $128,865 |
| Missouri | 4 | $65,340 | $90,750 | $128,865 |
| Alabama | 5 | $65,088 | $90,400 | $128,368 |
| Indiana | 3 | $64,080 | $89,000 | $126,380 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $64,080 | $89,000 | $126,380 |
| Iowa | 2 | $63,360 | $88,000 | $124,960 |
| Ohio | 6 | $63,240 | $87,833 | $124,723 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $60,480 | $84,000 | $119,280 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Business Intelligence Analyst median of $140,475 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($135,750) and Hawaii ($135,000). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $84,000 and $88,000. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($212,000 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $100,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $212,000 | 212 | $100,000 | $122,060 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $198,000 | 198 | $100,000 | $115,473 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $184,000 | 184 | $100,000 | $108,250 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $181,000 | 181 | $100,000 | $106,598 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $178,000 | 178 | $100,000 | $104,947 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $177,000 | 177 | $100,000 | $104,396 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $177,000 | 177 | $100,000 | $104,396 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $173,000 | 173 | $100,000 | $102,194 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $173,000 | 173 | $100,000 | $102,194 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $169,000 | 169 | $100,000 | $99,992 |
Career economics for Business Intelligence Analysts: entry level averages $83,800, mid-career hits $116,389, and experienced professionals reach $165,272. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's degree, and the work is hybrid/remote. The outlook: growing. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The weighted national median salary for Business Intelligence Analysts is $116,389 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $83,800, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $165,272.
The highest-paying city for Business Intelligence Analysts is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $212,000. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($212,000), Santa Clara ($198,000), Irvine ($184,000). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Business Intelligence Analyst salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $83,000. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Business Intelligence Analysts (10th percentile) average $83,800 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $152,640. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Business Intelligence Analysts average $165,272 nationally — $81,472 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Business Intelligence Analysts can earn up to $301,040.
The top-paying states for Business Intelligence Analysts are California ($140,475 median), Massachusetts ($135,750 median), Hawaii ($135,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Business Intelligence Analyst involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $116,389 and representation across 288 metro areas, Business Intelligence Analyst offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $81,472 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.