What is the salary and career path for a business analyst?
Business analyst is reported within Management Analysts (SOC 13-1111), the close-matching BLS code that houses requirements and process-improvement work; the OEWS May 2025 median is $101,860 a year ($48.97 an hour), running from $60,640 at the 10th percentile to $171,640 at the 90th for senior and lead analysts. BLS projects the code to grow 8.8% over 2024–2034, faster than average, with roughly 98,100 openings a year. Entry usually needs a bachelor's degree, and the IIBA's CBAP or the PMI-PBA credential validates the requirements discipline.
- Business Analysts earn a national median $101,860/yr ($48.97/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1111); the top 10% clear $171,640.
- Business analyst is reported within Management Analysts (SOC 13-1111), with a $101,860 median and a bachelor's degree the usual entry.
- BLS projects the code to grow 8.8% through 2034, faster than average, with roughly 98,100 openings a year.
- Pay runs from a junior analyst near $60,640 to a lead or product role at the $171,640 top decile, with a CBAP or PMI-PBA the main credential levers.
Career Path
How do you become a business analyst?
Junior business analyst
Gathering requirements and documenting processes, a junior analyst starts near the $60,640 10th percentile.
Business Analyst
Owning requirements, process mapping and stakeholder analysis earns around the $101,860 median.
Senior business analyst
Leading complex initiatives and cross-team requirements pushes pay toward the $133,370 75th percentile.
Lead BA / product or program manager
Owning a product or program's analysis reaches the $171,640 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays business analysts the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1111. National median: $101,860. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does business analyst pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles business analysts most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: business analysts rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +8.8% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly business analysts clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1111 (business analysts) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do business analysts need?
The typical entry credential, often in business, information systems or finance. See all state licences →
The IIBA's senior credential validating deep requirements and analysis expertise.
PMI's credential for business analysis within a project and program context.
A CSM or SAFe credential valued where analysts work on agile delivery teams.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do business analysts use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-1111
Salary Levers
How do business analysts earn above the $101,860 BLS median?
Earn a CBAP or PMI-PBA
A recognized BA credential moves pay off the $60,640 entry band toward the median.
Lead complex initiatives
Owning cross-team requirements and larger programs lifts pay toward the $133,370 upper band.
Move into product or program roles
Advancing to lead BA, product or program work reaches the $171,640 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a business analyst worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1111. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Business Analyst Career, Frequently Asked Questions
Business Analyst career research journey
Do your homework, then let the network do the rest.Get the job, then keep rising
FreeSet your intent, matching jobs come to you. No applying.
A roadmap to your next licence tier and higher pay band.
Once placed, we cover all certification, licence & career-guide fees.
Hiring business analysts?
Get a verified shortlist of 3–5 qualified candidates in 48 hours
GlobalCybers verifies active state licenses, trade certifications, Intent and right-to-work status before any candidate reaches your portal. Flat $2,999/mo RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing), up to 3 concurrent roles, or a free trial (pay on hire). 90-day written guarantee.
Related · Business Analyst
Everything for business analysts in one place
Salary data, licensing, interview prep, and hiring, all cross-linked so you (and search engines) can move through the full business analyst cluster.