Research Summary. Here are some key points about hiring business analysts in the United States:

  • There are a total of 272,851 business analysts in the US, and there are currently 170,514 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a business analyst is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per business analyst on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for business analysts, with 349 job openings.

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How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Business Analyst

Hiring a business analyst comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting business analysts involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of business analyst recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Business analysts earn a median yearly salary is $74,431 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find business analysts for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $25 and $49.

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How to hire a Business Analyst, step by step

To hire a business analyst, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a business analyst:

  • Step 1: Identify your needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Writing a business analyst job description
  • Step 5: Post the job
  • Step 6: Interview process
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new business analyst
  • Step 8: Go through the checklist for the hiring process

1
Identify Your Needs

Before you post your business analyst job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business need. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a business analyst for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

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Before you hire a business analyst, you should also consider the ideal background you'd like them to have. For example, what industry or field they have experience in, what level of seniority or education the job requires, and how much it'll cost to hire a candidate that fits the bill.

This list provides information on the salaries of different business analyst roles.

Type Of Business AnalystDescriptionHourly Rate
Business AnalystA business analyst is someone who analyzes an organization or business domain (real or hypothetical) and documents its business or processes or systems, assessing the business model or its integration with technology.$25-49
Technical AnalystA technical analyst is responsible for analyzing technical information and aligning it to the business strategies and procedures in meeting project goals. Technical analysts monitor technical system errors and provide immediate resolutions to ensure an efficient and smooth flow of operations... Show More$28-44
Developer AnalystA developer analyst is a professional who is responsible for building application requirements and develops database solutions that allow operational efficiency and user-friendly tools. Developer analysts are required to develop a detailed definition of business solutions that can include database design, data flow, and transaction processing requirements... Show More$30-54

2
Create An Ideal Candidate Profile

Before you draft a business analyst job description, imagine the ideal employee for the role and begin creating a profile. What are they proficient in and what sort of background do they have?

Business analysts typically have the following skills:

Common Skills:
  • Project Management
  • Data Analysis
  • Business Analysis
  • User Stories
  • User Acceptance
  • Test Cases
  • Scrum
  • Strong Analytical
  • SDLC
  • Jira
  • QA
  • SQL Server
  • UAT
  • Power Bi
Check All Skills

Here is a list of common responsibilities that business analysts may be expected to fulfill:

Responsibilities:
  • Lead the implementation of a web-base application in an UNIX environment for an organization that manages pharmacy claims data.
  • Lead CRP sessions during implementation, design and testing.
  • Manage the resolution of forty plus software issues with PeopleSoft's design and development teams.
  • Used ALM as the requirements management tool to capture, prioritize, and manage requirements.
  • Complete updated version of website and provide CMS system to internal staff to manage website content.
  • Manage PeopleSoft security audits, end-user support for security issues, and security changes to role and permission lists.
Check all Duties

Beyond the nuts and bolts, cultural fit is an important factor. It might help to ask yourself how your ideal business analyst will live by the company's mission statement and contribute to the team dynamic you already have in place. Clearly communicating this vision in your business analyst job description will help attract candidates who are better suited for the role.

Most Common States For Business Analysts In The US

Rank #State# Of Jobs% of PopulationAvg. Salary
1Ohio2,11218%$71,786
2Virginia1,99724%$72,957
3Minnesota1,58428%$72,454
4Massachusetts1,57823%$72,540
5Missouri1,23320%$66,979

Professional Project Manager CV example

3
Make A Budget

Including a salary range in your job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A business analyst salary can vary based on several factors:

  • Location. For example, business analysts' average salary in hawaii is 35% less than in washington.
  • Seniority. Entry-level business analysts earn 49% less than senior-level business analysts.
  • Certifications. A business analyst with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
  • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a business analyst's salary.

Updated March 16, 2023

Business Analyst Salary Estimate

$74,431

$35.78 hourly

Entry level Salary
$53,000 yearly

Business Analyst Average Salary By Location

RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly RateJob Count
1California$91,966$4411
2Washington$88,529$4345
3New Jersey$81,060$39
4New York$77,893$37151
5District of Columbia$76,558$37114

Business Analyst Average Salary By Company

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
1The Citadel$146,891$70.622
2Bunge$129,370$62.2012
3ICE Mortgage Technology$128,671$61.86
4Meta$128,267$61.6710
5Apple$127,963$61.52870
6Safeway$127,372$61.24
7Fundbox$127,186$61.15
8Pacific Investment Management Company LLC$126,082$60.62
9Google$126,080$60.62103
10NVIDIA$125,618$60.399
11Putnam Investments$125,141$60.161
12Relationship Science$125,035$60.11
13AEA Investors$124,914$60.051
14NerdWallet$124,591$59.90
15Cambridge Associates$124,498$59.852
16Twitter$124,383$59.80
17Western Digital$124,287$59.752
18Centerbridge Partners$124,118$59.67
19ORIX USA$123,209$59.241
20PayPal$123,086$59.1833

4
Writing a Business Analyst Job Description

A good business analyst job description should include a few things:

  • Summary of the role
  • List of responsibilities
  • Required skills and experience
Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a business analyst job description:

Example of Full Job Description

KPMG New Zealand is part of the international KPMG network, one of the world's leading professional services organisations. We provide audit, tax, and advisory services to individuals, SMEs, not-for-profit organisations, multi-nationals and government agencies.

KPMG Digital Lighthouse is comprised of several specialist chapters who combine to design, deliver and operate cutting edge digital solutions on a variety of architectures, supporting our cross-sector clients to digitally transform their organisations and thrive on a global scale. We are a passionate, inclusive and supportive team who care about our clients, our people and the work we do. Join us today and accelerate your digital career with KPMG.

The opportunity:As a Business Analyst you will work with business users to improve processes and systems, helping our clients deliver more efficient, cost effective, agile and competitive outcomes. This includes helping to develop business cases, working with stakeholders eliciting business requirements, functional specifications, managing business processes and acting as a liaison between business users and Digital Lighthouse technical teams

Day to day you will:Leveraging the latest technologies, gather, validate and document requirements, functional specifications, develop wireframes and support guides Model business processes and identifying opportunities for systems and process improvements Support in the development of business cases and design of solutions; identifying issues, risks and benefits of existing and proposed solutions, and outlining the business impacts Facilitate requirements workshops and document outcomes effectively Participate in activities that take place during solution ideation, solution design, and solution implementation

What you'll bring to the team:Strong technical skills and experience in business analyst methodologies, frameworks and guiding principles Business acumen and commercial awareness with experience in facilitating trade-offs between competing business needs Excellent business process analysis and documentation skills Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills Strong communication skills. The ability to use active listening techniques to ensure stakeholders feel heard; sets clear expectations and delivers as a mechanism to build trust; follows through on commitments
Life at KPMG

We offer rewarding careers to talented individuals and a range of benefits to help provide holistic support for your work life, whatever your circumstance. As a KPMG employee, we will offer you:
- An array of health and wellness benefits such as free flu jabs, subsidised sporting events, access to EAP, additional leave to support you if you are diagnosed with COVID-19, access to e-bikes and other facilities. You will also have access to our Wellbeing@KPMG portal which has an extensive array of health and wellness advice.
- Hybrid Working - a mix of working in the office and at home to enhance your work/life balance as well as access to technology to get your 'home hub' set up.
- Work from Overseas policy - extend time connecting with friends and family outside New Zealand
- Flexible leave options, including the ability to purchase additional annual leave.
- Access to ‘Whanau@KPMG' - 18 weeks' paid flexible leave for all new parents - primary and secondary carers
- Unlimited access to digital accreditations through our partnership with Microsoft, LinkedIn Learning, with bespoke learning pathways for all employees.
- Corporate discounts on a range of lifestyle goods and services.
- Opportunity to join any of our Inclusion, Diversity and Equity networks as a participant and ally.
- Opportunity to join our Social club and enjoy activities such as cooking classes, painting, quiz nights and more.
- Time off for volunteering.
- Eligibility to our annual discretionary bonus scheme.
- Opportunities for local and international secondments.

We believe that diversity of background and experience strengthens relationships and delivers meaningful benefits to our people, clients and communities. Our goal is to be recognised as an employer of choice for all, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, generation, flexible work status, family circumstances, sexual orientation or disability. Further info can be found on our website

We are a 2022 Circle Back Initiative Employer - we commit to respond to every applicant.

5
Post A Job

To find the right business analyst for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

  • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
  • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with business analysts they would recommend.
  • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit business analysts who meet your education requirements.
  • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

Post your job online:

  • Post your business analyst job on Zippia to find and recruit business analyst candidates who meet your exact specifications.
  • Use field-specific websites.
  • Post a job on free websites.

6
Interview Process

Your first interview with business analyst candidates should focus on their interest in the role and their specific background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

It's also a good idea to ask about candidates' special skills and talents. If you think that a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

While interviews are great, you won't always learn enough from a conversation with a business analyst applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to design it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

  • TestDome
  • CodeSignal
  • Testlify
  • BarRaiser
  • Coderbyte

The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7
Send A Job Offer And Onboard Your New Business Analyst

Once you have selected a candidate for the position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. It is important to make sure that your offer is competitive, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8
Go Through The Checklist For The Hiring Process

  • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
  • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
  • Define job responsibilities and requirements
  • Establish budget and timeline
  • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
  • Write job description
  • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
  • Promote the job internally
  • Process applications through applicant tracking system
  • Review resumes and cover letters
  • Shortlist candidates for screening
  • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
  • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
  • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
  • Conduct background checks on top candidates
  • Check references of top candidates
  • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
  • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
  • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
  • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
  • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
  • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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Hiring Business Analysts FAQs

How Much Does A Good Business Analyst Cost?

A good business analyst costs $35.78 an hour in the US. However, it can vary based on factors such as the business analyst experience, abilities, industry, and the specific requirements of your business.

What Are The Duties Of A Business Analyst?

The duties of a business analyst are:
  • Lead the implementation of a web-base application in an UNIX environment for an organization that manages pharmacy claims data.
  • Lead CRP sessions during implementation, design and testing.
  • Manage the resolution of forty plus software issues with PeopleSoft's design and development teams.

Should I Hire A Business Analyst With No Experience?

Yes, you should hire a business analyst with no experience. Hiring an entry-level business analyst with no experience offers versatility for your team. They may lack some qualifications, but are adaptable and have not yet formed problematic habits. However, more training may be required compared to experienced.

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