How to hire a business analyst/programmer

How to hire a business analyst/programmer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step business analyst/programmer hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a business analyst/programmer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a business analyst/programmer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a business analyst/programmer that fits the bill.

   This list presents business analyst/programmer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Business Analyst/Programmer	Description	Hourly rate
   Business Analyst/Programmer	Computer systems analysts study an organization’s current computer systems and procedures and design information systems solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. They bring business and information technology (IT) together by understanding the needs and limitations of both.	$27-48
   Analyst Lead	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... Show more	$35-58
   Programmer Analyst	A programmer analyst is responsible for monitoring database performance and software applications, performing basic troubleshooting, and improving program operations as needed. Programmer analysts' duties also include making adjustments on the system based on client's specifications, creating reports for any updates and new system procedures, designing specific technology solutions to improve the business operations, and performing necessary code adjustments... Show more	$26-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Microsoft SQL Server
   • Access Database
   • Java
   • VBA
   • DB2
   • Business Analysis
   • HTML
   • ERP
   • Application Development
   • Unix
   • XML
   • Business Processes
   • C++
   • C #

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the UNIX server and run scripts for maintenance and support.
   • Manage and mentore QA upon overall projects including dial-up emulations with testing.
   • Create and refine ETL processes to bring system from Microsoft DTS packages to SSIS packages.
   • Enhance system and business application-level web services using HTML, ASPX, JavaScript XML, and AJAX.
   • Issue STR's/SIR's for modifying of production code and flat files on both mainframe and UNIX production systems.
   • Work with XML to design UI for excel reports.

   More business analyst/programmer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the business analyst/programmer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A business analyst/programmer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a business analyst/programmer in Kansas may be lower than in Maryland, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level business analyst/programmer. Additionally, a business analyst/programmer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average business analyst/programmer salary

   $77,277yearly

   $37.15 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level business analyst/programmer salary

   $58,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average business analyst/programmer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$95,585	$46
   2	District of Columbia	$95,550	$46
   3	California	$92,495	$44
   4	Pennsylvania	$89,782	$43
   5	New York	$89,270	$43
   6	Rhode Island	$88,517	$43
   7	Massachusetts	$86,497	$42
   8	New Jersey	$81,918	$39
   9	North Carolina	$81,120	$39
   10	Virginia	$76,199	$37
   11	Georgia	$74,663	$36
   12	Arizona	$73,747	$35
   13	Illinois	$72,726	$35
   14	Michigan	$72,415	$35
   15	Texas	$72,209	$35
   16	Oregon	$68,926	$33
   17	Colorado	$65,062	$31
   18	Kansas	$64,855	$31
   19	Florida	$60,021	$29

   Average business analyst/programmer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Novartis	$107,751	$51.80	6
   2	The Coca-Cola Company	$102,085	$49.08	15
   3	Spirit AeroSystems	$89,675	$43.11
   4	Assurant	$87,283	$41.96	1
   5	Unitedheath Group	$86,289	$41.49
   6	MSA	$84,588	$40.67	1
   7	Hrd	$81,400	$39.13
   8	AthenaDoyens	$81,103	$38.99
   9	McKinsol Consulting	$81,079	$38.98
   10	HNI	$80,618	$38.76	4
   11	S4 Inc.	$80,498	$38.70
   12	Invexer Technology	$80,452	$38.68
   13	Libsys	$80,289	$38.60
   14	OnDemand Agility Solutions	$80,279	$38.60
   15	Stellium	$79,897	$38.41
   16	Value Consulting	$79,789	$38.36
   17	Microexcel	$79,502	$38.22
   18	Multivision	$79,174	$38.06
   19	Toshiba America Business Solutions	$79,120	$38.04
   20	Sunera Technologies	$79,062	$38.01

4. Writing a business analyst/programmer job description

   A business analyst/programmer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a business analyst/programmer job description:

   Business analyst/programmer job description example

   Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. With headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France and Malaysia. The company's core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components for the world's premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable, innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions to support customers around the globe.
   Responsibilities
   
   Key Accountabilities:
   
   · Builds and codes applications and/or modules using languages and concepts such as Tableau, Visual Basic, and Microsoft Programs
   
   · Using knowledge of computing technology, programming languages, and software life cycles to develop, program, maintain, and integrate computing applications including company-developed and commercial off-the-shelf software.
   
   · Prepares operating instructions, compiles documentation of program development, and analyzes system capabilities to resolve questions of program intent, output requirements, input data acquisition, programming techniques, and controls.
   
   · Interfaces with application users, other programmers and analysts, application architects, systems analysts, and other technical and support personnel in functional areas requiring knowledge and proficiency in business processes.
   
   Qualifications
   
   Requirements:
   
   · Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Aerospace Engineering or other related field of study
   
   · 3-5 years' related experience with a Bachelor's, 1-3 years' related experience with a Masters.
   
   · Required 9 years' related experience minimum with no degree
   
   · Require knowledge of Tableau, SQL, Visual Basic, and Microsoft Programs.
   
   · Analyst will develop, test, and maintain a variety of applications
   
   · Proficient understanding of: Application development lifecycles
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   · Proficient in use of Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word.
   
   · Preferred knowledge in C++, JAVA, XTML, OpenJDK, HTML5, and/or .NET.
   
   · Data analytics and reporting best practices is preferred
   
   · Advanced thinking and problem-solving ability
   
   · Strong analytical and organizational skills
   
   Spirit AeroSystems is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.
   
   Job LocationsUS-KS-Wichita
   
   
   Posted Date 4 hours ago (10/14/2022 4:32 PM)
   
   Category Information Technology

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right business analyst/programmer 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 analyst/programmers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit business analyst/programmers 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.

   To find business analyst/programmer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with business analyst/programmer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   If your interviews with business analyst/programmer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create 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/programmer

   Once you've found the business analyst/programmer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new business analyst/programmer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • 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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