What Does It Take to Become a Power BI Developer?

Business intelligence empowers modern businesses to grow by leveraging the power of data, and a Power BI developer is an essential component of that process a new world.

Companies use a variety of business intelligence tools to complete these tasks, with Power BI being one of the most popular and sought-after solutions. Power BI developers are in high demand because working with this tool requires skill and training.

We cover everything you need to know about the Power BI developer role below, including the job description and outlook, career development opportunities, the skills and training required, helpful advice on how to become a Power BI developer, and resources to get started.

What Exactly Is a Power BI Developer?

Power BI developers are typically part of a company’s analytics team and work in business intelligence (BI). Their primary responsibilities include preprocessing and analysing data, as well as designing visualisations to turn it into actionable insights valuable to business stakeholders. in an a few words,. a few words,. a few. a few. a few. a few. However, different data visualisation tools can be used for business intelligence.

So, why is Power BI used?

After all, you could get similar results using Tableau, R, and even Excel.

Well, not quite.

Microsoft Power BI allows users to work with large databases to create dashboards and derive insights to improve business performance. Excel might fail you when the amount of data increases.

Furthermore, Power BI comes with a slew of useful built-in features for data transformation and modelling. It distinguishes itself from other BI tools due to its extensive connectivity options. from the past. There is a lot of pressure to get the best results in awed a lot of power.

More importantly, those who understand how to use Power BI can create visually appealing, interactive, and informative dashboards as well as stream data to update them in real time.

An example of how Power BI works. On the left, we see icons representing the various data sources that power the tool, and on the right, we see a Power BI dashboard.

You may be wondering how this differs from Tableau at this point. In terms of capabilities, the two tools are comparable, and becoming a Tableau developer will be just as rewarding and lucrative as becoming a Power BI developer.

The main distinction is that Tableau is preferred by more experienced users because it is more complex. While Tableau can handle larger amounts of data, Power BI has equally powerful capabilities and is much easier to learn and use.

Even though Power BI does not require coding, there is a steep learning curve, so if you choose that route, you will need extensive training. But it will be well worth the effort.

This brings us to the next reason you should become a Power BI developer: pay.

What Does a Power BI Developer Get Paid?

The road to becoming a Power BI developer may be long and difficult, but your efforts will be rewarded. According to Glassdoor, the average entry-level salary for a Power BI developer in the United States is $92,998 per year (base pay and bonuses included).

As you gain experience, your pay will grow, too. A Senior Power BI developer with 15+ years of experience earns $112,457 per year in the United States (additional pay included). Even better, your career path does not have to end there.

As a Power BI developer, you’ll have frequent contact with senior management, which can help you advance in the company.

So, once you’ve climbed the Power BI developer mountain, you can advance to analytics manager. That means you’ll be in charge of supervising the work of Power BI developers, data analysts, and other analytics team members, as well as communicating with senior management and other stakeholders.

Is The Risk Worthwhile?

In the beginning, there will be little difference in terms of finances. The starting salary for an analytics manager is around $109,000 per year. However, there are numerous opportunities for advancement, and with significant experience, your salary could reach $169,109 per year.

But that’s not all there is to it.

Assume a Power BI developer learns advanced statistics and programming and is capable of applying that knowledge to relevant case studies. In that case, they open up a new career path for themselves: data science. Now, that’s a bigger leap, and it’ll take a lot of work and dedication.

Nonetheless, you will not be starting from scratch. Because the Power BI developer roles and responsibilities are diverse, you’ll already have the majority of the necessary skills and knowledge. You only need to learn to code and apply advanced statistical methods to make the transition into data science. With the Data Scientist Career Track, you can learn the skills needed for the job on your own time. The effort will be well rewarded. Starting at $108,235 per year, you can work your way up to $157,784 per year.

But enough with the daydreaming. Returning to the Power BI developer role.

What Is The Role Of A Power BI Developer?

The Power BI developer collaborates closely with senior management to create reporting dashboards that meet the strategic needs of the company.

This is how the process works.

Power BI developers must have extensive business knowledge as well as excellent communication skills to navigate such situations effectively. Before they even look at the data, they work with stakeholders to define the business’s goals and needs. They can then decide what should be included in the data analysis and visualisation.

Only then will they be able to begin creating Power BI reports. To create the reporting requested by senior management, the Power BI developer will need to communicate with several internal stakeholders, including sales, marketing, database administration, and so on. They will also collaborate closely with other business analysts and consult with subject matter experts (SMEs) to build a better dashboard.

Finally, they must provide insights based on accurate, on-demand, and up-to-date data, transforming it into a useful tool for senior management. Let’s look at what skills you’ll need to get there.

What Does It Take to Become a Power BI Developer?

The position of Power BI developer is not exactly entry level. On the one hand, this is because of the extensive skill set required. On the other hand, it’s because senior management trusts and prefers to communicate with experienced analysts.

But don’t let that deter you.

You can start with other data-related jobs, preferably ones involving Power BI. You will also benefit from hands-on experience with data preparation, data gateway, and data warehousing projects. Getting your foot in the door with a data-related position will make landing a Power BI developer job much easier. A bachelor’s degree in computer science would be advantageous, but a Power BI certification is required regardless.

Our introductory Power BI course is a great place to begin. It is appropriate for beginners because it begins with the fundamentals and gradually builds your data visualisation skills. It also includes several exercises that allow you to put what you’ve learned into practise.

Following that, we provide a comprehensive overview of the technical and soft skills required to become a successful Power BI developer.

What Are The Tools That Power BI Developers Use?

Power BI does not necessitate coding. It instead makes use of formula languages like Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) and M. While they do not provide access to the full range of coding language possibilities, their scope of functions is sufficient for data transformation, modelling, and visualisation with Power BI. You don’t need any prior coding experience to learn them; even if you’re starting from scratch, you’ll be up and running in no time.

You will also need to be proficient in Excel and SQL. After all, you’ll need a way to store and manage the data that populates your dashboard. SQL queries, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) are frequently mentioned in job descriptions.

The abilities needed to become a Power BI developer. Data analysis, DAX, M, SQL, Excel, and data visualisation are examples of technical skills. Communication, organisational and presentation skills, business knowledge, and teamwork are examples of soft skills.

These are the primary tools required by a Power BI developer for data analytics and visualisation. A compelling report and informative dashboard, on the other hand, are aligned with the business’s goals and needs. To do so, a combination of soft skills and business knowledge is required.

Your conversation with senior executives will be facilitated by excellent communication skills and in-depth business knowledge, allowing you to understand their needs. And your analytical and reasoning abilities will help you gain insights from other company stakeholders.

You must be well-organized and willing to collaborate with your analytics team colleagues when creating the reports. This will assist you in gathering the information required to create comprehensive dashboards and maintain existing reports.

However, none of this matters if you can’t effectively communicate the results. Finally, but certainly not least in importance, are presentation skills. Translating your findings into business language will assist stakeholders in understanding the significance of the obtained insights, which is critical in building a data-driven business.

Remember that you must obtain a Power BI developer certification. Without relevant work experience, this is the only way to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills and knowledge. And isn’t that what employers want to see?

Let’s take a quick look at some of the companies you could work for as a Power BI developer.

Where Do Power BI Developers Work?

In most organisations, data analysts serve as Power BI developers. They usually have limited Power BI skills because they do not specialise in that area. Why don’t businesses hire specialised personnel?

We looked at the numbers—not every company can afford or needs a dedicated Power BI developer. As a result, you’ll most likely come across larger companies (500+ employees) during your job search.

Firms in all industries could benefit from a Power BI reporting system, regardless of their industry. Nonetheless, you’ll most likely come across job postings in the technology, healthcare, FMCG, and telecom sectors during your search.

A plethora of opportunities await you. Roll up your sleeves and embark on your new career path.