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The differences between business functional analysts and senior 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 senior business analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior business analyst has an average salary of $96,844, which is higher than the $89,264 average annual salary of a business functional analyst.
The top three skills for a business functional analyst include java, business process and ERP. The most important skills for a senior business analyst are project management, business analysis, and data analysis.
| Business Functional Analyst | Senior Business Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $89,264 | $96,844 |
| Hourly rate | $42.92 | $46.56 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 116,341 | 129,426 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| 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.
A Senior Business Analyst's responsibilities may vary upon the organization or company. However, most of the time, the duties will focus on overseeing a company's business operation to analyze risks and come up with strategies that would boost financial gains and company efficiency. A Senior Business Analyst will work closely with various teams while monitoring and evaluating their performance and progress, coordinate with departments, lead fellow skilled professionals, gather and analyze data, and identify opportunities. All while prioritizing customer satisfaction and adhering to the company policies and standards.
Business functional analysts and senior business analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Functional Analyst | Senior Business Analyst | |
| Average salary | $89,264 | $96,844 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $122,000 | Between $72,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Children's Place | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a business functional analyst and a senior business analyst in terms of educational background:
| Business Functional Analyst | Senior Business Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between business functional analysts' and senior business analysts' demographics:
| Business Functional Analyst | Senior Business Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% | Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0% |
| 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% |