Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between applications analysts and analyst leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an applications analyst and an analyst lead. Additionally, an analyst lead has an average salary of $95,264, which is higher than the $80,144 average annual salary of an applications analyst.
The top three skills for an applications analyst include healthcare, customer service and patients. The most important skills for an analyst lead are analytics, data analysis, and project management.
| Applications Analyst | Analyst Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $80,144 | $95,264 |
| Hourly rate | $38.53 | $45.80 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 110,833 | 122,353 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An applications analyst is an individual hired by a company to administer, monitor, and maintain all its software infrastructure and applications. Applications analysts must ensure the integrity and safety of all data and applications so that the company business can run smoothly and succeed. They are required to collaborate with applications developers and software engineers to provide a diagnosis of application errors and create long- and short-term resolutions. Applications analysts should also provide training and support of staff in using applications.
The duties of an analyst lead depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather leads and data, reviewing findings, and producing reports and presentations for the stakeholders and other higher-ranking officials. Through the results, an analyst lead can provide advice, devise strategies for business optimization, spearhead the development of processes, identify strengths and weaknesses, and offer recommendations on areas in need of improvement. All of this is done while in adherence to the company's vision and mission.
Applications analysts and analyst leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Applications Analyst | Analyst Lead | |
| Average salary | $80,144 | $95,264 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $109,000 | Between $74,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Ceridian | |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between an applications analyst and an analyst lead in terms of educational background:
| Applications Analyst | Analyst Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between applications analysts' and analyst leads' demographics:
| Applications Analyst | Analyst Lead | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.4% Female, 44.6% | Male, 62.4% Female, 37.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.6% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |