How To Become A Business Analyst/Tester: What It Is and Career Path

What is a business analyst/tester and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Rebecca Sarver

A business analyst is responsible for business using data analytics to access processes and bridge the gap between IT. You are to analyze the structure of a business, the goals, and how its technology is used. You also need to identify and analyze problems with their possible solutions, find opportunities, and develop strategies to improve, design, or modify business operations and processes. You are to gather relevant requirements and documents and cultivate a relationship with the business subject matter experts and stakeholders to understand their needs and problems to provide adequate solutions to them.

You are also expected to train and provide workmanship sessions to both existing staff and new staff. In addition, you are to monitor, test the system, and create users' manual and system documentation for maintenance and accountability. As a business analyst, you need to possess some essential skills. These skills include leadership skills, analytical skills, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate. The average salary of a business analyst is $68,000 yearly. A bachelor's degree in Business Administrative or other related fields will get you the job.

What general advice would you give to a business analyst/tester?

Rebecca Sarver

Lecturer in Human Services Studies, Elmira College

Listen more than you talk. There is so much to be learned from clients, seasoned human service workers, and the community that you work within. By listening and observing versus always feeling compelled to speak, you will learn job skills, people skills, and your clients' needs.

ScoreBusiness Analyst/TesterUS Average

Salary

6.4

Avg. Salary $81,705

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.3

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.19%

Asian 20.61%

Black or African American 10.01%

Hispanic or Latino 10.82%

Unknown 4.99%

White 53.38%

Gender

female 56.23%

male 43.77%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a business analyst/tester

Explore business analyst/tester education requirements

Most common business analyst/tester degrees

Bachelor's

65.8 %

Master's

18.7 %

Associate

10.0 %

Start to develop specific business analyst/tester skills

Skills	Percentages
Test Cases	9.01%
Test Scripts	5.37%
Test Results	4.51%
Regression	4.12%
UAT	4.02%

Complete relevant business analyst/tester training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business analyst/testers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a business analyst/tester based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business analyst/tester resumes.

Research business analyst/tester duties and responsibilities

Manage daily scrum with team members.
Report and manage defects in JIRA to ensure that all issues are resolve according to guidelines and expectations.
Manage several data consolidation efforts to combine multiple CRM systems into one corporate system.
Work with customers and SME's to identify and define business rules, requirement change relate to specific project functions.

Prepare your business analyst/tester resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your business analyst/tester resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a business analyst/tester resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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