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The differences between business functional analysts and business process 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 process analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a business functional analyst has an average salary of $89,264, which is higher than the $78,215 average annual salary of a business process analyst.
The top three skills for a business functional analyst include java, business process and ERP. The most important skills for a business process analyst are process improvement, project management, and subject matter experts.
| Business Functional Analyst | Business Process Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $89,264 | $78,215 |
| Hourly rate | $42.92 | $37.60 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 116,341 | 160,260 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
The business process analysts are responsible for producing, managing, and enhancing business processes to improve business performance using data. They gather, analyze, and transcribe information about internal processes to obtain a comprehensive picture of the company's internal workings. Their responsibilities include developing strategies, identifying the needs of the user, and communicating compound data in a comprehensible way. Also, they identify, implement, and assess business metrics that are essential to the end-users. Additionally, they may act as consultants to project teams providing them with recommendations for product or service improvement.
Business functional analysts and business process analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Functional Analyst | Business Process Analyst | |
| Average salary | $89,264 | $78,215 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $122,000 | Between $57,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | The Children's Place | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a business functional analyst and a business process analyst in terms of educational background:
| Business Functional Analyst | Business Process Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between business functional analysts' and business process analysts' demographics:
| Business Functional Analyst | Business Process Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% |
| 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 14.6% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 12% |