Business Systems Analyst: Duties, Salary, Jobs, and More

Business systems analysts help businesses make sense of all the data they collect, understand patterns and trends, and develop strategies for using new technologies to improve their operations and bottom line.

The rise of cloud-based solutions, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) has led to an increased demand for business systems analysts capable of understanding and managing complex information systems. As a business systems analyst, consequently, you'll understand business needs and design systems that solve problems and improve efficiency.

If you're looking for a challenging, rewarding job focused on business and technology, then a career as a business systems analyst might be right for you. Learn more about business systems analysts, what they do, how much they earn, their skills, and more.

What is a business systems analyst?

A business systems analyst performs "systems analysis," or the process of defining the requirements and specifications for implementing computer system solutions. A business systems analyst may work with users, project team members, or senior managers in order to describe new or change existing software systems and hardware configurations that an organization needs. 

Read more: What Is a Business Analyst? Career Guide

What does a business systems analyst do? 

As a business systems analyst, a large part of your duties will revolve around helping your organization decide how best to use its existing technology or integrate new ones into existing systems. Some of the duties you can expect to perform include:

• Analyzing customer needs and other data

• Developing functional requirements

• Designing solutions and writing up technical requirements

• Testing and implementing technology solutions

• Conducting research

• Gathering requirements from stakeholders

• Analyzing current business processes and systems

• Identifying areas for improvement

• Creating procedures to improve the existing systems

• Assessing hardware and software needs and providing recommendations for improvements

• Recommending best IT practices

• Providing training and support to users

Why are business systems analysts important? 

With the increase of cloud computing, big data, AI, and machine learning, businesses need new systems and processes to manage data in new ways. Business systems analysts must help design and implement more robust modern systems. Their expertise can help companies across different industries improve service, cut costs, and grow profits.

Job outlook

Business systems analysts can be found in almost every industry. As a result, their job outlook is positive for the foreseeable future.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of computer systems analysts is expected to grow by 11 percent between 2023 to 2033 [1]. Another aligned career, management analyst, also has a projected growth rate of 11 percent from 2023 to 2033 [2]. Both growth rates are higher than the average for all jobs in the United States during the same period, which the BLS puts at just 4 percent.

As more companies invest in new technologies, they’ll need business systems analysts to help them implement technology transformation projects.

Business systems analyst salary

According to Glassdoor, the median systems analyst salary in the US is $107,465 [3]. The job satisfaction for business systems analysts is also solid according to Glassdoor, with people rating this job as a strong 3.8 out of 5 stars for work-life balance and 3.7 for career opportunity [4].

Similar roles

"Business systems analyst" means different things to different companies. In some organizations, a business systems analyst may be responsible for evaluating and improving existing business processes. In others, the title may refer to someone specializing in designing and implementing new business systems.

Some job titles similar to business systems analyst, along with their average annual base salary in the US as of November 2024, include:

• Management analyst: $93,978 [5]

• IT business analyst: $97,266 [6]

• Computer systems analyst: $86,126 [7]

• Information systems manager: $130,991 [8]

Education 

To build a career in this field, you’ll typically need a degree relevant to business systems analysis. This is usually a bachelor's degree in a field related to computer science, information technology, business administration, management information systems, economics, or finance. Some business systems analysts also have a master's degree in one of these fields.

Certifications 

Employers value candidates with certifications on their resumes. Consider these two certifications if you want to become a business systems analyst:

• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP): This business systems analyst certification from the International Institute of Business Analysis requires at least 7500 hours of experience in the field and 35 hours of professional development. 

• Agile Analysis Certification (AAC): If you want to improve your ability to deliver successful Agile projects, then the IIBA Agile Analysis (IIBA-AAC) Certification might be what you’re looking for. This certification helps you gain the skills and knowledge you need to collaborate with Agile teams effectively. Learn Agile principles and show employers that you can deliver successful projects.

Should you get a Master of Business Administration (MBA)? 

You may wonder if an MBA is right for you. Consider your career goals, your industry, and your experience level. An MBA can give you the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed as a business systems analyst. It can also help you get promotions in your career and earn a higher salary. However, before earning an MBA, investigate your situation's pros and cons.

Skills

The skills and qualifications you’ll need as a business systems analyst depend on the project and the employer's preferences. Gain these skills if you hope to become a business systems analyst or IT analyst:

• Analytical skills: The ability to collect and analyze data is essential for a business systems analyst. In this role, you must understand the data and identify trends to make recommendations to improve the system.

• Interpersonal skills: Business systems analysts must be able to work with people in different departments. You’ll communicate and collaborate effectively to solve problems to succeed.

• Mathematical skills: Business systems analysts need strong mathematical skills to understand complex data sets and perform calculations. You must be able to identify patterns and relationships to make recommendations for improvements.

• Critical thinking skills: As a business systems analyst, you must think critically to identify problems and potential solutions. You must be able to assess a situation from all angles and make decisions that will improve the system.

• Problem-solving: Business systems analysts must be good at problem-solving to find solutions that meet the company's needs. You need to identify the root causes of problems and develop creative solutions that are efficient and effective.

• Proficiency in office software: As a business systems analyst, you need to be proficient in office software, such as MS Office or Google Docs, to create documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. You might also be able to use project management software, such as Wrike, Trello, or Asana to track progress on projects.

Specializations

Your job responsibilities and projects can depend on your work, sector, and domain expertise. The work tends to be project-focused, so you may find yourself doing different types of systems analysis throughout your career. You may: 

• Specialize in a particular industry, such as health care, manufacturing, or retail, or in a specific business function, such as finance or human resources information systems.

• Specialize in a specific type of software application, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) or customer relationship management (CRM).

• Work for a government agency or a non-profit organization.

• Get a job with a consulting firm delivering information technology (IT) projects.

Where could you work as a business systems analyst?  

Business systems analysts work in areas of business impacted by technology. A company may employ you to analyze its existing systems, where you could be part of a major transformation project working in the project team. Most business systems analysts work in an office environment, although you may also travel to conferences or meet with clients.

Build skills for a business system analyst career on Coursera 

As a business system analyst, you’ll use critical-thinking strategies to help your organization thrive. If you're ready to learn more about a business systems analyst career, you might consider the Information Systems Specialization offered by the University of Minnesota on Coursera. When you take this program, you'll have the opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge that can help you launch a successful career as a business systems analyst.