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Business Analyst Schools, Salaries, and Job Data

Business Analysts Job Overview

Business analysts primarily conduct an analysis of the business needs of their clients. They use this analysis to identify problems and suggest possible solutions to help the organization achieve its goals. As defined by the International Institute of Business Analysis, business analysts act as a liaison between stakeholders in order to gather, analyze, and validate the requirements necessary for bringing about changes in the business process, policies, and systems.

Business Analysts Schools and Degrees

Formal programs in management and business consulting are available at quite a few colleges and universities. These generally lead to an associates, bachelors, masters, or doctorate degree in the subject. In order to take up the profession of a business analyst, one needs choose from basic courses in business, management, economics, marketing, statistics, accounting, engineering, or computer and information science. One can also opt for the Certified Management Consultant certification that is offered by the Institute of Management Consultants USA, Inc. However, to apply for this certification, one has to have the basic academic qualifications and experience, submit client reviews, and clear an examination on the IMC USA Code of Ethics. To maintain this certification, a business analyst has to take the exam once every 3 years. It is also necessary to regularly attend conferences in order to be able to keep abreast of the latest developments in the field of business analysis.

Job Requirements

Entry level positions for business analysts generally require a bachelors degree and relevant industry experience. However, requirements for educational qualifications vary greatly between jobs in the government and the private industry. For certain higher positions, employers prefer individuals with at least a masters degree in business administration or a similar discipline.

Individuals with additional years of experience can gain a significant edge in the job market. Having experience in the field that one wishes to consult in often translates into an added advantage. Apart from this, the Certified Management Consultant certification can also give a candidate a competitive advantage.

In addition to educational qualifications and work experience, a business analyst should be good at analyzing user, business, and technical requirements, and document the results from these analyses. Knowledge of business evaluation methodologies and System Development Life Cycle is necessary as well. Having basic problem solving and negotiation skills, an analytical approach, and the ability to meet deadlines is of great importance. It is also vital to develop qualities such as strategic thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to conceptualize.

Nature of Work

Business analysts can be self-employed or work for large international organizations. One can specialize in specific industries such as telecommunications or health care, or in a specific business function such as marketing, information systems, logistics, or human resources. Those working for the government can specialize in particular agencies. Business consultants basically deal with collecting, scrutinizing, and analyzing information and then making their recommendations to the managers. However, they may be required to work in teams.

Business analysts generally work at both their offices and at the clients sites. The offices are well-lit, spacious, and clean. Frequent travel and extended work hours are not uncommon in this profession. Also, tight schedules are almost a fixture, and this may result in physical and mental stress.

Business Analysts Jobs and Outlook

As per the statistics of 2006, business consultants held around 678,000 jobs in the US. The job market is expected to grow by 22% in the next ten years. The following industries are offering the highest levels of employment:

  • Computer Systems Design and Related Services
  • Federal Executive Branch
  • Management of Companies and Enterprises
  • Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
  • State Government

The average annual earnings of business analysts in the US are around $68,050. However, one can earn as much as $128,330 per year in this profession.

Job Numbers and Growth

About 678,000 business analysts are employed nationally. Workers can expect a very low level of unemployment, if history can be used as a guide. In 2008, 2% of employees could not find jobs.

Area Job Conditions

Popular locations for business analysts include Tallahassee (Florida), Washington (District of Columbia), and Carson City (Nevada). Fewer are found in Wheeling (West Virginia), Lake Charles (Louisiana), and Elkhart (Indiana).

Workers looking for high salaries should look at Odessa (Texas), Naples (Florida), and Portsmouth (New Hampshire), and should avoid Monroe (Louisiana), Abilene (Texas), and Midland (Texas).

Training and Education

Employees often obtain a bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience before starting. The percentage of business analysts with college degrees is 78%. Workers with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 16% of the total. Some employees, about 7%, had a high-school education. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

Part-time business analysts are 13% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 27%, work for themselves.


Career Video for Business Analysts

Business Analysts by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anniston$82,000100-46%
Auburn$90,00060-66%
Birmingham$81,0001,720-26%
Huntsville$91,0001,560+72%
Mobile$78,000230-71%
Montgomery$58,000420-43%
Tuscaloosa$106,000190-49%

Alaska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anchorage$68,000360-48%
Fairbanks$77,00060-51%

Arizona

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Flagstaff$54,000190-13%
Kingman$55,00090-55%
Phoenix$72,00010,280+22%
Prescott$50,000180-28%
Tucson$60,0001,100-33%
Yuma$70,000120-50%

Arkansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Fayetteville$60,000420-51%
Fort Smith$59,000160-68%
Jonesboro$48,00060-69%
Little Rock$61,0001,030-32%
Pine Bluff$51,00090-28%

California

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bakersfield$74,000670-43%
Chico$55,000160-43%
El Centro$63,00090-55%
Fresno$71,000750-49%
Hanford$67,00030-72%
Madera$78,00060-57%
Merced$74,00070-69%
Modesto$62,000200-72%
Napa$99,000130-50%
Oakland$89,0004,800+3%
Oxnard$97,0001,760+34%
Redding$61,000200-25%
Riverside$67,0002,860-50%
Sacramento$88,0005,010+25%
Salinas$96,000430-35%
San Diego$95,0006,570+9%
San Francisco$107,0009,610+113%
San Jose$105,0006,350+53%
San Luis Obispo$77,000310-25%
Santa Ana$81,0008,850+28%
Santa Barbara$85,000760+5%
Santa Cruz$82,000430+19%
Santa Rosa$90,000420-47%
Stockton$64,000510-45%
Vallejo$81,000290-44%
Visalia$57,000190-67%
Yuba City$57,00090-39%

Colorado

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boulder$100,000840+21%
Colorado Springs$97,0001,090-1%
Denver$88,0006,260+11%
Greeley$69,00080-74%
Pueblo$69,00050-76%

Connecticut

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bridgeport$115,0002,600+33%
Danbury$80,000280-3%
Hartford$75,0003,960+52%
New Haven$83,000600-51%
Norwich$80,000160-70%
Waterbury$78,00070-75%

Delaware

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Dover$59,000170-22%
Wilmington$83,0001,810+24%

District of Columbia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Washington$91,00044,550+325%

Florida

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cape Coral$86,000730-20%
Deltona$74,000230-65%
Fort Lauderdale$89,0003,100-6%
Fort Walton Beach$73,000470+52%
Gainesville$88,000350-28%
Jacksonville$73,0003,440+27%
Lakeland$62,000310-63%
Miami$83,0004,700+5%
Naples$137,000380-25%
Ocala$77,000120-69%
Orlando$74,0004,130-13%
Palm Bay$79,0001,150+35%
Panama City$66,000210-25%
Pensacola$71,000950+49%
Port St Lucie$79,000450-16%
Punta Gorda$113,000160+6%
Sarasota$59,0001,300+13%
Sebastian$82,000150-20%
Tallahassee$53,0004,890+598%
Tampa$76,0004,920-10%
West Palm Beach$92,0003,260+35%

Georgia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$80,000180-26%
Athens$73,000170-44%
Atlanta$92,00024,230+126%
Augusta$81,000380-57%
Brunswick$59,000130-20%
Columbus$68,000680+48%
Dalton$81,000150-52%
Gainesville$65,000140-51%
Hinesville$74,00090+104%
Macon$73,000160-61%
Rome$85,00060-57%
Savannah$101,000250-61%

Hawaii

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Honolulu$68,0001,210-38%

Idaho

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boise$76,0001,420+20%
Coeur Dalene$59,00060-72%
Idaho Falls$108,000180-3%
Pocatello$78,000100-11%

Illinois

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bloomington$76,000790+177%
Champaign$53,000150-61%
Chicago$91,00019,060+10%
Danville$70,00060-36%
Decatur$81,00050-73%
Peoria$74,000280-62%
Rockford$88,000140-79%
Springfield$75,000320-26%

Indiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$55,00030-80%
Bloomington$133,000120-57%
Columbus$54,00050-69%
Elkhart$99,00060-89%
Evansville$60,000470-37%
Fort Wayne$60,000350-62%
Gary$76,000270-78%
Indianapolis$72,0004,810+19%
Kokomo$68,00040-70%
Lafayette$90,00040-87%
Michigan City$47,00030-82%
Muncie$63,00030-83%
South Bend$81,000200-65%
Terre Haute$65,00040-86%

Iowa

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ames$58,000110-24%
Cedar Rapids$71,000330-42%
Davenport$75,000510-36%
Des Moines$64,0002,840+96%
Iowa City$76,000140-52%
Sioux City$82,000210-27%
Waterloo$67,00090-74%

Kansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawrence$108,00070-60%
Topeka$57,000480+4%
Wichita$72,000730-46%

Kentucky

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bowling Green$81,00090-61%
Elizabethtown$64,000100-40%
Lexington$56,000360-66%
Louisville$74,0001,450-48%

Louisiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Alexandria$58,00050-79%
Baton Rouge$66,000570-65%
Houma$65,00090-77%
Lafayette$68,000190-69%
Lake Charles$83,00040-89%
Monroe$40,000130-59%
New Orleans$73,000780-66%
Shreveport$65,000110-86%

Maine

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Portland$74,000530-40%

Maryland

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Baltimore$81,0007,710+31%
Bethesda$86,0005,670+121%
Hagerstown$74,000200-52%
Salisbury$63,00040-81%

Massachusetts

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Barnstable Town$79,000150-64%
Boston$100,00014,700+89%
Brockton$78,000140-62%
Framingham$98,0001,600+129%
Haverhill$107,000170-46%
Lawrence$90,00070-69%
Leominster$82,00060-69%
Lowell$90,000580+13%
New Bedford$61,00050-81%
Pittsfield$75,00080-35%
Springfield$76,0001,150-13%
Worcester$85,000700-36%

Michigan

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ann Arbor$76,000550-23%
Battle Creek$71,000260+37%
Detroit$88,0002,160-32%
Flint$71,000270-54%
Grand Rapids$74,000760-55%
Holland$65,000150-65%
Jackson$91,00080-61%
Kalamazoo$59,000350-40%
Lansing$61,0001,520+82%
Niles$115,00050-80%
Saginaw$69,000120-61%
Warren$95,0004,410-16%

Minnesota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Duluth$75,000100-81%
Minneapolis$88,0008,970+11%
Rochester$70,000220-43%
St Cloud$83,00090-79%

Mississippi

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Gulfport$75,000150-67%
Hattiesburg$48,00040-82%
Jackson$55,000360-68%
Pascagoula$78,00040-78%

Missouri

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Columbia$62,000170-49%
Jefferson City$56,000230-17%
Joplin$67,00040-88%
Kansas City$77,0003,990-14%
Springfield$72,000300-65%
St Louis$76,0003,800-38%

Montana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Billings$78,00050-85%

Nebraska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lincoln$61,000570-19%
Omaha$66,0001,910-8%

Nevada

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Carson City$61,000360+262%
Las Vegas$80,0001,970-53%
Reno$108,000570-37%

New Hampshire

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Manchester$79,000280-36%
Nashua$78,000300-49%
Portsmouth$143,000250+12%
Rochester$78,000140-38%

New Jersey

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Atlantic City$86,000100-84%
Camden$108,0001,020-57%
Edison$85,0003,380-27%
Newark$91,0004,620+1%
Trenton$86,0002,540+171%

New Mexico

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albuquerque$80,0001,400-19%
Las Cruces$66,00080-67%
Santa Fe$61,000650+156%

New York

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$64,0002,450+25%
Binghamton$69,000450+1%
Buffalo$70,000970-60%
Elmira$66,00030-77%
Glens Falls$66,000110-47%
Ithaca$75,00050-69%
Kingston$83,00050-79%
Nassau$97,0002,930-48%
New York$99,00026,220+13%
Poughkeepsie$80,000420-60%
Rochester$79,0001,380-38%
Syracuse$66,000690-50%
Utica$57,000370-32%

North Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Asheville$66,000130-83%
Charlotte$80,0003,140-21%
Durham$84,0001,290+7%
Fayetteville$64,000280-46%
Greensboro$69,000660-60%
Greenville$57,00080-72%
Hickory90-87%
Jacksonville$75,00060-61%
Raleigh$71,0001,410-38%
Rocky Mount$74,00060-74%
Wilmington410-34%
Winston Salem$84,000410-56%

North Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bismarck$73,00090-60%

Ohio

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Akron$79,0001,080-28%
Canton$71,000180-76%
Cincinnati$79,0004,350-7%
Cleveland$85,0004,770-1%
Columbus$68,0005,230+24%
Dayton$75,0001,670-4%
Lima60-71%
Mansfield$79,00040-80%
Sandusky$63,00090-32%
Springfield$55,00070-62%
Toledo$81,000520-62%
Youngstown$59,000260-75%

Oklahoma

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawton$59,00080-43%
Oklahoma City$64,0001,910-25%
Tulsa$56,0001,360-30%

Oregon

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bend$57,00050-82%
Eugene$61,000290-55%
Medford$91,00070-80%
Portland$74,0002,530-46%
Salem$57,0001,360+111%

Pennsylvania

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Allentown$81,000770-49%
Altoona$83,00030-87%
Erie$58,000280-47%
Harrisburg$69,0001,850+32%
Johnstown$70,00090-60%
Lancaster$62,000370-64%
Lebanon$64,000110-39%
Philadelphia$93,00011,180+31%
Pittsburgh$78,0003,740-27%
Reading$98,000350-51%
Scranton$79,000590-48%
State College$101,000180-19%
Williamsport$68,00030-85%
York$64,000230-70%

Rhode Island

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Providence$71,0002,140-16%

South Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$54,00050-79%
Charleston$63,0001,260-2%
Columbia$63,0002,180+40%
Florence$57,000190-45%
Greenville$91,000810-40%
Myrtle Beach$73,000120-76%
Spartanburg$76,000150-71%
Sumter$67,00050-62%

South Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Rapid City$58,000170-32%
Sioux Falls$65,000770+31%

Tennessee

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Chattanooga$71,000340-67%
Clarksville$60,00080-74%
Jackson50-78%
Johnson City$50,000140-54%
Kingsport$66,000190-60%
Knoxville$80,000850-43%
Memphis$70,0001,070-62%
Nashville$69,0002,230-35%

Texas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Abilene$42,000120-52%
Amarillo$52,000140-66%
Austin$63,0008,430+146%
Beaumont$57,000140-79%
Brownsville$53,000150-71%
College Station$47,00080-75%
Corpus Christi$62,000360-53%
Dallas$86,00010,300+8%
El Paso$57,000400-65%
Fort Worth$65,0002,110-46%
Houston$79,0009,860-16%
Killeen$54,000320-36%
Lubbock$53,000250-51%
Mcallen$53,000210-78%
Midland$39,000120-55%
Odessa$106,000110-51%
San Angelo$49,000120-23%
San Antonio$62,0002,600-31%
Texarkana$53,00060-72%
Tyler$56,000130-65%
Victoria$65,00040-78%
Waco$76,000100-75%
Wichita Falls$50,00090-61%

Utah

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ogden$71,000850-2%
Provo$59,000170-76%
Salt Lake City$64,0001,520-46%

Vermont

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Burlington$71,000210-54%

Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Blacksburg$88,000170-30%
Charlottesville$68,000580+50%
Danville$54,00050-62%
Harrisonburg$82,000100-53%
Lynchburg$59,000170-59%
Richmond$74,0004,460+66%
Roanoke$60,000520-23%
Virginia Beach$80,0005,080+49%
Winchester$78,000160-22%

Washington

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bellingham$66,00080-75%
Bremerton$73,000440+29%
Kennewick$90,000120-67%
Olympia$66,000360-7%
Seattle$86,0009,110+40%
Spokane$66,000220-76%
Tacoma$67,000510-57%
Yakima$58,00040-88%

West Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Charleston$68,000150-76%
Huntington$61,000130-73%
Morgantown$69,00030-83%
Parkersburg$77,000160-43%
Wheeling$61,00030-88%

Wisconsin

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Appleton$65,000130-73%
Eau Claire$68,000130-58%
Fond$57,00060-64%
Green Bay$56,000420-42%
Janesville$96,00040-85%
La Crosse$73,000120-57%
Madison$65,0002,070+40%
Milwaukee$67,0002,180-43%
Oshkosh$81,000240-31%
Racine$83,00090-71%
Sheboygan$60,000110-51%
Wausau$65,000180-33%

Wyoming

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cheyenne$58,000180+8%

Salary and employment data obtained from the United States Department of Labor. Individual salaries depend on location, education and career background. Thanks to CityTownInfo.com for this business analyst schools and jobs info.

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