How to Become a Business Analyst

5 Steps to Becoming a Business Analyst

FAQ on Earning Your Business Analyst Degree

Business Analyst Salary & Job Growth

If you're considering a career as a business analyst, you're probably curious about how much money you can expect to earn along the way. According to salary data site Glassdoor, the average business analyst earns $70,170 a year, with the average entry-level employee earning $65,000 and a senior business analyst pulling in an average annual salary of $88,000. Business analysts can also expect to have their checks padded with average non-salary annual compensation of $5,496. That, however, is the average. Salary data site PayScale lists the median annual salary as $58,805 and informs prospective candidates that most data analysts receive raises during their first decade before moving on to other positions after roughly 20 years.

Definitive job outlook predictions and statistics for business analysts are difficult to come by. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks trends and numbers for management analysts, who perform similar duties and whose job title is often used interchangeably with that of business analyst. Employment for management analysts is expected to grow by 14 percent in the decade between 2016-2026, which is faster than projected growth in the general job market. A recent report issued by the University of California, Irvine predicts varied growth for six different business analyst specialties between 2012-2022. The spectrum starts at 6.1 percent projected growth for budget analysts and goes all the way up to 31.6 percent projected growth for market research analysts and marketing specialists.

Finding a Business Analyst Program

When researching potential academic programs that could lead to a career as a business analyst, you already know to focus on business or a related field with supplementary study in communications and computer science — but subject matter isn't the only consideration. Cost is obviously a deciding factor, but so is the method of delivery. Online education, for example, provides distance learners with incredible flexibility in scheduling without sacrificing quality in learning. Accelerated courses will speed up the process, but the individual courses are likely to be heavier and more challenging. You might be able to spend significantly less money by starting your academic journey at a community college or another two-year school, but it's critical in that case to make sure your credits will transfer when you move to a four-year college or university.

Professional Business Analyst Associations & Groups

Business analysts connect IT departments with the larger business divisions — and it's important for them to stay connected to each other, as well. From trade associations and networking groups to industry-specific job boards and ongoing education centers, these groups and communities exist solely to unite and empower both current and future business analysts.

• Business Analyst Learnings

  Visit BAL for career development resources, contacts and networking opportunities, informative articles and blogs and social media groups.

• Digital Analytics Association

  DAA is a professional organization dedicated to serving business analysts and other professionals whose work involves the use of data and digital platforms.

• International Engineering Requirements Board

  Professionals in the business analysis field can benefit from the three-level certification concept developed and administered by the IERB.

• International Institute of Business Analysts

  IIBA is the most prominent and widely recognized association for business analysts around the world.

• Modern Analyst

  Modern Analyst provides extensive networking opportunities through Facebook, LinkedIn and other social platforms exclusively for business and systems analysts.

Resources for Business Analysts

Business analysis is a complicated field. The following resources can help you chart your career, pursue your education, learn more about the industry and help you develop a better understanding of what to expect when you start working.

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