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The differences between business analysts, support 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, support and a lead business analyst. Additionally, a lead business analyst has an average salary of $107,171, which is higher than the $68,419 average annual salary of a business analyst, support.
The top three skills for a business analyst, support include project management, data analysis and business processes. The most important skills for a lead business analyst are project management, scrum, and business analysis.
| Business Analyst, Support | Lead Business Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $68,419 | $107,171 |
| Hourly rate | $32.89 | $51.52 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 212,850 | 126,509 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A business analyst/support is responsible for assisting with the company's project management procedures, ensuring that the processes meet the project deliverables timely and accurately. Business analysts/supports coordinate with the clients to update them with the project's progress and inform them of necessary adjustments as needed. They analyze the clients' specifications and requirements, plan technical solutions, and maintain materials and resources within the budget goals. A business analyst/support must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as quickly adapting to market changes and immediately resolve project inconsistencies together with the project team.
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 analysts, support and lead business analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Analyst, Support | Lead Business Analyst | |
| Average salary | $68,419 | $107,171 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $103,000 | Between $82,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Framingham, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Washington |
| Best paying company | City National Bank | Citi |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a business analyst, support and a lead business analyst in terms of educational background:
| Business Analyst, Support | Lead Business Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between business analysts, support' and lead business analysts' demographics:
| Business Analyst, Support | Lead Business Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.8% Female, 53.2% | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |