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The differences between business functional analysts and business analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a business functional analyst, becoming a business analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a business functional analyst has an average salary of $89,264, which is higher than the $74,431 average annual salary of a business analyst.
The top three skills for a business functional analyst include java, business process and ERP. The most important skills for a business analyst are project management, data analysis, and business analysis.
| Business Functional Analyst | Business Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $89,264 | $74,431 |
| Hourly rate | $42.92 | $35.78 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 116,341 | 170,514 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A business functional analyst's role focuses on helping companies utilize and implement software and systems in various operations. They conduct initial assessments, gather and analyze data from different departments, perform risk assessments, and create plans for system implementation and integration. They also conduct extensive research and analyses to determine the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, developing solutions to optimize operations. Moreover, besides performing analytical tasks, a business functional analyst may also provide technical support to staff by troubleshooting complex issues and performing corrective measures when necessary.
Business analysts are employees who are responsible for interpreting business data and coming up with business solutions. They are well-versed in whatever business the company is in, and they have strong business acumen. They collect data related to the business and then interpret and analyze the data. Business analysts should be able to conduct different levels of analyses and must also be able to create a sound study. Once the analysis is done, they provide recommendations or strategic direction to decision-makers that will help the business become sustainable and grow.
Business functional analysts and business analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Functional Analyst | Business Analyst | |
| Average salary | $89,264 | $74,431 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $122,000 | Between $53,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Children's Place | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a business functional analyst and a business analyst in terms of educational background:
| Business Functional Analyst | Business Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between business functional analysts' and business analysts' demographics:
| Business Functional Analyst | Business Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% | Male, 53.9% Female, 46.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 23.8% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |