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The differences between business analyst associates and lead business analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a business analyst associate and a lead business analyst. Additionally, a lead business analyst has an average salary of $107,171, which is higher than the $68,806 average annual salary of a business analyst associate.
The top three skills for a business analyst associate include healthcare, project management and business processes. The most important skills for a lead business analyst are project management, scrum, and business analysis.
| Business Analyst Associate | Lead Business Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $68,806 | $107,171 |
| Hourly rate | $33.08 | $51.52 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 129,806 | 126,509 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A business analyst associate job supports collaborating with financial reporting and developing strategies and initiatives that optimize costs and improve internal and external reporting. They work closely with business analysts to help make improvements in streamlining reports and review the process requirements by constantly communicating with the clients or end-users. The role should also call for a solid understanding of regulatory and requirements in reporting as well as experience in forecasting, budgeting, and financial analysis shared with a comprehensive understanding of key performance indicators.
A lead business analyst utilizes data and analytical skills to plan, develop, and implement business systems and operations to help a company attain its short and long-term goals. Their duties focus on conducting market research and assessments, gathering and analyzing data, studying consumers and competitors in the industry, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses in existing systems. They also conduct risk assessments, create business models and forecasts, and identify solutions against potential or existing issues. Additionally, through their research findings, they develop recommendations in adherence to company standards and regulations.
Business analyst associates and lead business analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Analyst Associate | Lead Business Analyst | |
| Average salary | $68,806 | $107,171 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $89,000 | Between $82,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Edelman Financial Engines | Citi |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a business analyst associate and a lead business analyst in terms of educational background:
| Business Analyst Associate | Lead Business Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between business analyst associates' and lead business analysts' demographics:
| Business Analyst Associate | Lead Business Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.2% Female, 51.8% | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.3% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.2% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |