Data Engineer vs Business Analyst: Roles, Skills, and Career Paths

Bosscoder Academy
Date: 18th January, 2025

Contents
Contents
Choosing the right career path can be a difficult decision for graduates and working professionals. With the rapid growth of the analytics and data science industry, opportunities in this field are expanding like never before. In India alone, the sector is projected to grow from $2 billion in 2016 to a staggering $16 billion by 2025, driven by innovations in cloud-based analytics and predictive solutions across industries such as finance, retail, telecom, and healthcare (NASSCOM).
Among the promising roles in this domain, two stand out: Data Engineer and Business Analyst. Both offer lucrative careers, but they require distinct skill sets and cater to different interests. This blog dives deep into these two professions to help you make an informed decision and choose the path that aligns with your aspirations.
Let’s explore these roles in detail to find the one that’s perfect for you!
Who is a Data Engineer?
A Data Engineer deals with the process of gathering, storing and providing structured data for analysis. They guarantee that the flows of data are effective, and maintainable to meet the requirements of organizations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Designing Data Pipelines: Designing for data extraction, transformation and moving data to a target system for analysis, commonly called ETL design.
- Data Storage: Implementation of databases and data warehouses.
- Data Quality Assurance: To make sure that the data collected is accurate, it is consistent, and most importantly reliable.
- Collaborating with Data Scientists: Offering well-prepared data for predicting and analyzing the proper outcome for a given problem.
Skills Required:
- Programming: Familiarity with Python, Java/Scala as base languages.
- Database Management: Database proficiency with regard to SQL and NoSQL.
- Big Data Technologies: Knowledge of technologies such as Apache Spark, Hadoop, and Kafka, and others.
- Cloud Platforms: Knowledge of AWS, Azure or Google Cloud.
Career Opportunities:
- Data Engineer
- Data Architect
- Big Data Engineer
- Cloud Data Engineer

Average Salary:
Different companies and industries compensate Data Engineers well because the job requires technical skill and knowledge.
- In the United States (2025): The pay scale, depending on experience and location, is between packages.
- In India (2025): The Data Engineers can get a package that varies from up to ₹6 LPA to ₹20 LPA, while top MNCs may offer handsome packages for experienced Data Engineers.
Who is a Business Analyst?
A Business Analyst is a person who is responsible for aligning business requirements and resolving technical issues. They are concerned with identifying business issues and solving those problems utilizing data.
Key Responsibilities:
- Gathering Requirements: Working closely with stakeholders in order to identify their requirements.
- Data Analysis: Employing analytical techniques in order to find out trends or patterns of events.
- Creating Reports: Sharing and explaining findings using the help of dashboards and diagrams.
- Recommending Solutions: Identifying ways of enhancing the performance of a business.
Skills Required:
- Analytical Thinking: Capacity to analyze complex issues.
- Data Visualization Tools: Experience with Tableau, P BI, or excel.
- Communication Skills: Communicating complex business insights in a language that is easy to understand.
- Basic Programming: SQL or Python knowledge would be preferred.
Career Opportunities:
- Business Analyst
- Data Analyst
- Product Analyst
- Business Intelligence Analyst
Average Salary:
• In the United States: According to the industry, Business Analysts are well paid and earn an average of $70,000 -$110,000 depending on their experience and place of work.
• India: Business Analyst salary in India varies between 6 lakhs per annum to 15 lakhs per annum depending on experience and organization they are working for.
Key Differences Between Data Engineer and Business Analyst

Which Role Should You Choose?
Your decision will be based on your passion, strengths and what you want to achieve professionally. Here are a few pointers to help you decide:
Choose Data Engineering If:
- You like computer programming and dealing with big data processing systems.
- Technology and cloud computing can be identified as your areas of interest.
- You like technical positions, particularly those that do not involve direct interface with the business.
Choose Business Analysis If:
- You are excellent at communication, and you display great skills in solving problems.
- You like figures as they help you to solve business issues through analysis of data.
- You enjoy a position that involves both analytical skills and planning.
Future Scope of Data Engineers and Business Analysts
Data Engineers:
With the explosion of big data and advancements in AI, the demand for skilled Data Engineers is skyrocketing. Organizations need experts to handle and process massive datasets, ensuring reliable systems for decision-making.
Business Analysts:
As companies strive to stay competitive, Business Analysts play a crucial role in identifying opportunities and optimizing operations. Their ability to align business goals with data-driven insights ensures consistent demand across industries.
Final Thoughts
The choice between Data Engineer or Business Analyst depends on skills, preferences, and career plan. It is important both in today’s data-focused environment to provide a great opportunity for growth and has relatively high earning potential. Data Engineers are engineers involved in constructing the infrastructure of data processes, while Business Analysts apply the data processes to the specific business processes. That means, with proper training and direction or mentorship, one can do well in either and position his or her career on course.
How Bosscoder Academy Can Help You Grow?
At Bosscoder Academy we provide practical training with projects, life experience and skills to ensure success. Whether your interest in is in constructing data pipelines or in the assessment of business plans, we have got you covered with our intensive programs run by industry specialists.
FAQs
1. What is the main difference between a Data Engineer and a Business Analyst?
Data Engineer is mainly concerned with the creation and implementation of ETL and ELT processes and infrastructure, while Business Analyst employs this data to look for patterns, analyze and resolve business issues and provide insights.
2. Which role is more technical: Data Engineer or Business Analyst?
- Data Engineer is more technical as compared to Data Analyst Skills: Programming languages knowledge: (Python, SQL), Big data tools knowledge (Spark, Hadoop), Cloud computing knowledge.
- Business Analysts must be good at thinking analytically, and it is expected they can work with data visualization tools like Tableau and Microsoft Power BI, besides having excellent communicating skills.
3. What are the salary expected for both roles?
- Data Engineers are paid an average of $90,000-$150,000 in the U.S.; Business Analysts, in the same location, are paid around $70,000-110,000.
- Data Engineers in India for freshers get paid from ₹6 LPA to ₹20 LPA, whereas Business Analyst freshers get paid from ₹6 LPA to ₹15 LPA.
4. Which career is better for a non-technical background?
Business Analysis creates a more suitable profile for non-technical individuals because its work focuses on data interpretation, report generation, and recommendation making instead of having to code or maintain a business’ structure.
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