IT Business Analyst: Duties, Salary, and How to Become One

Key takeaways

Information technology (IT) business analysts are strategic problem-solvers who contribute to the success of a company's IT department.

• IT business analysts receive good compensation for their skill set. Per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), management analysts earned a median salary of $101,190 as of May 2024 [1]. 

• IT business analysts focus on understanding, analyzing, and recommending IT systems, including suggesting new software and planning implementations.

• You can obtain a business analyst certificate or certification to establish your credibility in the field or advance your existing career.

Discover more about IT business analysts, including their duties, pay, and how to become one. Afterward, if you’re ready to build essential business analyst skills, consider enrolling in the IBM Business Analyst Professional Certificate. In as little as 12 weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to learn strategies and methods for process modeling, requirements gathering, systems analysis, and data visualization. Upon completion, you’ll have not only earned a career certificate for your resume, but also had the chance to prepare for the Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) credential.

What is an IT business analyst?

An IT business analyst is a professional who analyzes IT systems and solves problems related to a company's technology needs. In this role, you'll evaluate the company's current technology and talk to stakeholders to understand how well the IT system works and what could be improved. 

You'll also recommend solutions, including upgrades and installations, that can help increase productivity and align with the organization's goals and strategies. This requires keeping up with the latest trends in IT.

What does an IT business analyst do?

IT business analysts mostly focus on understanding, analyzing, and recommending information technology systems, such as suggesting new software or planning an implementation.

As an analyst, you'll be tasked with performing cost-benefit analyses on different technology solutions for an organization. As an IT professional, meanwhile, you'll have to find the right technology solutions to address the company's needs. Ultimately, then, you'll apply your understanding of business processes and technology systems to identify areas where systems fall short and ways to improve them.

Although specific job duties can vary between organizations, the following list outlines some of the more common responsibilities of an IT business analyst. You may be asked to do any or all of these:

• Collecting and analyzing data regarding the organization and IT users

• Overseeing the implementation of IT solutions

• Analyzing business operations based on IT data

• Coordinating communication between IT and other departments

• Creating forecasts and budgets 

• Identifying risks in current and proposed IT systems

• Recommending software and hardware solutions for IT systems

• Researching industry trends and IT solutions

• Creating reports

IT business analyst salary and job outlook

The job outlook and career prospects for management analysts are strong, in part because of the way these roles extend across multiple industries. According to the BLS, jobs in this field are growing as fast or faster than average. It expects increased demand specifically for IT consultants. The BLS projects management analyst jobs to grow by 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the 3 percent average for all occupations [2]. 

The median salary for management analysts is $101,190, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $59,720 per year and the highest earning more than $174,140 [1]. Computer systems analysts earn a median wage of $103,790 [3].

How to become an IT business analyst: Step-by-step guide

Becoming an IT business analyst requires training and relevant job experience. You may start with a foundation in information technology and add business components. Alternatively, you may begin studying the business side of the role and enhance it with technology training. Some IT business analysts are former consultants or interns with project management experience.

1. Consider a job-relevant degree.

To become an IT business analyst, you may need a bachelor's degree in information technology, business, computer systems, or a related field. Some employers may also prefer candidates with a master's degree, like a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in technology. However, a bachelor's degree can get you in the door with an entry-level position within a company and work your way up. 

Read more: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science: A Guide

2. Gain relevant work experience.

IT business analysts are tasked with the important responsibility of analyzing existing IT systems, identifying their gaps and needs, and developing solutions to ensure organizations can run as efficiently as possible. In effect, many employers may prefer candidates with relevant prior work experience in a related position, such as in a junior IT, business, or data analyst role. Some IT business analysts may even be former consultants or interns with project management experience.

3. Build IT business analyst skills.

You'll need a combination of technical and human skills to succeed as an IT business analyst. While some days you may be tasked with reading industry materials, reviewing products, and analyzing computer systems, other days you'll need to communicate your findings and recommendations to key organizational stakeholders.

At a glance, some of the skills you'll likely need as an IT business analyst include:

• Attention to detail

• Communication

• Critical thinking

• Data analysis

• Negotiation

• Organization

• Problem-solving

• Project management

• Teamwork

• Knowledge of IT systems

4. Consider certification.

You may not need a certification to land an IT business analyst job, but earning one may boost your job prospects. Earning a certificate or certification sets you apart from other candidates and helps balance your education. For example, IT certifications can demonstrate your skills in information technology, while business certificates highlight your knowledge of the business side of things.

Here are some certifications to consider:

• Microsoft Business Analyst Professional Certificate

• Agile Analysis Certification (AAC)

• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

• Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE)

• Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA)

• Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect

• PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)

5. Apply for IT business analyst jobs and explore your career path.

Your career path as an IT business analyst can include promotions and lateral moves depending on the organization's needs and your interests. You may begin your career as a project coordinator, which allows you to learn how to organize resources, maintain budgets, and meet deadlines. From there, you may seek positions as a project manager, senior business analyst, or technology architect.

You also may be interested in seeing how IT roles related to a business analyst career compare. Many of these positions share similar skills and management styles. Some of the related jobs (and their salaries) that you may pursue on your career journey include [4, 5, 6]:

Support your career progression with our free learning resources

Explore career paths, assess your skills, and tap into resume guidance while browsing our Career Resources Hub. Or if you want to learn more about IT and analyst careers, check out these free resources:

• Get insights: Data Analyst Career Spotlight: What It Is and How to Get Started

• Learn key terms: Information Technology (IT) Terms: A to Z Glossary

• Watch on YouTube: Data Analyst vs. Business Analyst: Which Career Path Is Right for You?

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