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Job outlook for business operations analysts in the United States
Business operations analyst job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected business operations analyst job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
About 108,400 new jobs for business operations analysts are projected over the next decade.
Business operations analyst salaries have increased 8% for business operations analysts in the last 5 years.
There are over 86,794 business operations analysts currently employed in the United States.
There are 208,754 active business operations analyst job openings in the US.
The average business operations analyst salary is $63,423.
Are business operations analyst jobs in demand?
Business operations analyst job and salary trends over time
Business operations analyst jobs over time
Business operations analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86,794 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 83,092 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 80,993 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 80,416 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 78,140 | 0.02% |
Average business operations analyst salary over time
Business operations analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $63,423 | $30.49 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $61,686 | $29.66 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $60,493 | $29.08 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $59,653 | $28.68 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $58,843 | $28.29 | +0.0% |
Business operations analyst jobs by state
Most common states for business operations analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 993 | 143% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,468 | 44% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 817 | 43% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 352 | 40% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 304 | 40% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 298 | 40% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 399 | 38% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 351 | 36% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,887 | 34% |
| 10 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 996 | 34% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 452 | 34% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,036 | 33% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 186 | 32% |
| 14 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 2,000 | 30% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,864 | 30% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,753 | 30% |
| 17 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 888 | 30% |
| 18 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 3,369 | 29% |
| 19 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,178 | 29% |
| 20 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,886 | 28% |
Most common cities for business operations analysts
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Englewood | 13 | 38% | $65,736 |
| 2 | Frankfort | 3 | 11% | $61,298 |
| 3 | Juneau | 3 | 9% | $71,108 |
| 4 | Annapolis | 3 | 8% | $70,564 |
| 5 | Boca Raton | 5 | 5% | $52,010 |
| 6 | Santa Clara | 4 | 3% | $75,377 |
| 7 | Lansing | 3 | 3% | $64,243 |
| 8 | Springfield | 3 | 3% | $66,119 |
| 9 | Tallahassee | 4 | 2% | $52,538 |
| 10 | Stamford | 3 | 2% | $71,327 |
| 11 | Boston | 6 | 1% | $70,391 |
| 12 | Atlanta | 5 | 1% | $60,787 |
| 13 | Denver | 4 | 1% | $65,728 |
| 14 | Orlando | 4 | 1% | $52,270 |
| 15 | Baton Rouge | 3 | 1% | $62,071 |
| 16 | Phoenix | 5 | 0% | $57,569 |
| 17 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $67,136 |
| 18 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $53,500 |
| 19 | Philadelphia | 3 | 0% | $63,085 |
Business Operations Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of business operations analyst experts
UMass Lowell
Merrimack College
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Masters of Science in EntrepreneurshipUMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Remember that your first job does not define your career. You may build a career around that first job or you may use it as a valuable learning experience to change careers at some point. Eventually, what we call our careers are only really seen in hindsight. They are part of a narrative we construct about ourselves. So, don't worry to much about whether you are on the 'right path'. The right path is the one you chose at the time given the constraints and alternatives before you. But make the most of every opportunity you can to learn more about yourself - what you like, what you don't like, and what you find fulfilling about your work.
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Obviously we are seeing a tremendous increase in AI and other digital technologies. These will become a more crucial skill set for many careers going forward. But I wouldn't downplay the role of what are traditionally seen as soft skills like empathy, communications, and judgment. Not only can these distinguish you from robots but from your human competitors as well.
What will help Business Operations Analysts increase their earning potential?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: If all you want is the highest potential starting salary, then you should aim for careers that offer them. But that is a shortsighted way to view things. For example, many careers that have tournament-like pay structures (think entertainment) often have very low starting salaries but the so-called winners enjoy outsized financial gains. If you are thinking about a more traditional career, I think it's important to make sure you are more valuable to your employer than they are to you. This means you have to market yourself, both to your current employer as well as to potential ones. Of course, this approach may not be for everyone and maximizing your salary potential is only one thing you should be considering when assessing job and career opportunities.
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Joseph Spivey: I’d start by becoming as knowledgeable as possible about the salaries of people in jobs you are interested in. Compare salaries for open positions; you may be able to use your knowledge as leverage to ask for more money. When you interview, ask not just about starting salary but about how raises and promotions are handled. I wish that I had learned some basic negotiation principles when I started my career. I’d recommend the book Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In.
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Reshad Osmani PhD: As a new graduate starting your career, I recommend staying curious, being open to learning from others, seeking feedback, building networks, and being proactive in tackling challenges. Keep developing your analytical skills, stay adaptable, and remember that mistakes are opportunities for growth. Learning by doing should be your number one priority.
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Reshad Osmani PhD: To maximize your salary potential when starting your career, consider the following strategies: negotiate your starting salary based on market research, demonstrate your value through accomplishments, seek out opportunities for advancement and growth, continuously improve your skills, consider additional certifications or degrees, and be willing to explore job opportunities that offer competitive compensation packages.
What will help Business Operations Analysts increase their earning potential?
Reshad Osmani PhD: In the next 3-5 years, skills like data analysis, digital literacy, adaptability, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are likely to become even more important across various fields due to the increasing influence of technology, automation, and remote work trends. Additionally, skills related to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and sustainability may also gain prominence.
Renee Robinson Ph.D.
Professor of CommunicationWhat general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Renee Robinson Ph.D.: How can you maximize your salary potential when starting your career in your field?
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Renee Robinson Ph.D.: What skills do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
What will help Business Operations Analysts increase their earning potential?
Renee Robinson Ph.D.: That would be awesome! We were hoping you could answer the following questions: 1. What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career in the field?
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Rebecca MacGowan: My general advice is to work backwards and start your career by thinking about what you want to achieve long term. When you think about your career in ten or twenty years, what position are you in? Once you have an idea of the type of position you would like to be in during the middle and/or late stage of your career, go on LinkedIn and look up individuals who currently hold that position and see what their career trajectory was. What positions provided them the stepping stones to achieve the career you currently aspire to? By working backwards, you can ensure that your initial position is setting you up for your long-term goals. Additionally, what you are likely to find when you look at the career paths of different folks is that there are often many paths leading to your ideal future position. Hopefully, this broadens your perspective regarding what position you need right now and how different positions can help set you up for your desired future career. Often, unless we are exceptionally fortunate, our first career after undergraduate isn’t going to be our ideal position, but with proper planning, it can be the first step towards our ideal position.
What will help Business Operations Analysts increase their earning potential?
Rebecca MacGowan: Maximizing salary potential at any stage of your career is related to how you as a candidate can create value (tangible and intangible) in the organization as well as establishing to the organization the idea of scarcity as it pertains to your profile as a job candidate. Start by assessing what your value add as a candidate is to the company. What hard and soft skills do you have related to your specific field, or the position you are interested in, that you should be compensated for? Establishing this helps you to secure your baseline compensation. Then, in order to further maximize your pay and benefits, it is important to communicate with recruiters and hiring managers how your particular mix of skills is unique and would be difficult to find in another candidate. This creates the scarcity regarding your candidate profile and incentivizes the company to compensate you at a higher level in order to recruit you into the organization. Not only do you have valuable skills, but finding a similar candidate would take significant time and effort, ultimately costing the organization more, so they would be better off allocating that money to giving you a better offer.
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): Skills that will become more important in the future are understanding quality measures. Six Sigma Lean principles are very applicable to what we do and help to keep a balanced workflow. A second thing is to understand that you and your coworkers are human. Find resilience tools that help you to keep a calm focus and practice good communication. Stay connected to national organizations for articles and training to stay connected to the future.
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): To maximize your salary potential, obtain some experience while you are in school. If there is a clinic to volunteer at or a student job in a lab, take it. Higher pay is almost always offered to the evening and night shift technicians. If your new workplace is on 8-hour nights or evenings, create a schedule where evenings and nights do 10s or 12s and suggest it to the leadership. This makes a much better work-life balance.
What will help Business Operations Analysts increase their earning potential?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): As a new graduate, remember why you decided on this career. Was it because you liked to help people? Then remember your results are improving the quality of life for another person. Is it because you like detective work? Then view each sample as a puzzle to work through. Is it because you want to further your education? Then never stop learning.
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ning Ye Ph.D.: Firstly, you need to research your salary benchmarks. Look up salary benchmarks for the role or industry you are entering into before joining the job market. Websites such as Payscale, Glassdoor and LinkedIn Salary can give valuable input concerning what others in equivalent positions earn. Such knowledge will help set realistic expectations and negotiate well. Select employers who invest in their employees' growth and development. Companies that have good mentoring programs, a way for advancement, and a positive culture tend to have better long-term salary prospects. Make a commitment to life-long learning and professional development. Keep abreast with new trends in your industry and keep upgrading your skills all along. Employers are more likely to invest in employees who demonstrate a commitment to their own growth and development. It is important to obtain certifications relevant to your field that can make you a more attractive candidate and justify higher salary demands. For instance, certifications in project management (PMP), data analysis (Google Data Analytics), or digital marketing (Google Analytics) can set you apart.
Prof. Mohammad Elahee Ph.D.
Perlroth Professor of Int’l. BusinessWhat Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Prof. Mohammad Elahee Ph.D.: A combination of both hard and soft skills will be needed to survive in this ‘dog eat dog world’. Hard skills that will be in high demand are familiarity with new AI- and machine-driven technologies and quantitative reasoning. Soft skills that employers will be looking for include emotional intelligence, communication and interpersonal skills and a “can do attitude”. Paradoxical though it may sound, AI would actually create more demand for people with emotional and social intelligence.
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Marilyn Krogh: Statistical and communication skills are always in demand, and familiarity with a little AI would be a bonus.
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Marilyn Krogh: Know yourself—take time to identify and name your own strengths, interests and priorities in your work life. Take advantage of the services from your university career development center.
What will help Business Operations Analysts increase their earning potential?
Marilyn Krogh: Have a strong undergraduate portfolio, do an internship before graduation, and be willing to 'go an extra mile' for your employer.
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Dr. Laura Gonzalez Ph.D.: Technology, and in particular Artificial Intelligence, are becoming ubiquitous in all professions. New positions are being created and those who know how to use Artificial Intelligence will not be replaced by AI. This requires minimum programming knowledge, and it is useful to have some data analytics knowledge as well.
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Jennifer Barr PhD: All of the skills noted in my response to Q1. However, as business professionals advance in their respective careers, they must have a keen understanding about the impact of technology on every aspect of an organization. It is also essential to stay abreast of emerging technologies and understand their implications for business practice.
Professional development should be an ongoing priority. Attend conferences and seminars, complete certificate programs, etc. Build your personal brand and value at every level.
Hone leadership skills for middle management positions including collaboration, thinking and acting systemically, resiliency and learning agility. Never forget the importance of humanity when interacting with subordinates. Lead by example always.
Recognizing the role of data capture, analytics and technology in advancing organizations, creating competitive advantage and delivering exceptional user experiences is paramount.
Hire well. Employees are considered the most valuable asset of every organization. Abilities, knowledge and experience matter but the soft skills in terms of how someone works and interacts with others should be top priorities.
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Dr. David Powell Ph.D.: Job security is one of the primary advantages of being a public administrator. Public administrators also enjoy a great variety in job functions and duties. While average salaries may be a bit lower when compared to the private sector, benefits are usually superior to what private firms offer.
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. David Powell Ph.D.: Public administration is always a good field to enter as government touches the lives of everyone on a daily basis. Public administration careers are also very stable as most public administrators are civil servants. As such, they are hired, and keep their positions, based upon their qualifications and performance.
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
David Hart: Most businesses may hire you on like a consultant. The employees rarely welcome consultants in their business so that early friction is something that most new Business Analysts find distasteful, however if taken in that context, it is also the most challenging part of the field. When you discover processes that will enhance the productivity of the company and help the employees see more profit sharing you can end up being the hero. Most employees spend most of their work career never feeling fulfilled. This profession will definitely give you that rewarding feeling.
Dany Doueiri
ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Dany Doueiri: Don't try to start your own business right after you graduate. Keep your dreams, passions, and aspirations alive but get experience from the field through companies, organizations, and institutions. Gain wisdom from those who have more experience than you and those who make mistakes, including your own shortcomings. Then, you can consider branching out. Finally, learning never stops at the end of your college journey. Be humble and keep on learning for life.
Angel Armenta
What will help Business Operations Analysts increase their earning potential?
Angel Armenta: Thank you! By when would you need the response ? Can I submit my responses in written format or is this an oral interview ?
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Adam Roth: I recommend that students start by identifying a specific skill in demand within your field, such as data analysis or social media marketing, and focus on developing expertise in that area. Research salary ranges and living costs in particular areas where you’re interested in working to ensure your compensation aligns with the local market. Always negotiate a salary and consider other aspects of the offer, such as funds for continuing education, technology and more. Continuing to network and establish demand for your services is essential; attend industry events, join professional associations, and engage with professionals in your field. Never miss an opportunity to reach out to and check in with your professional contacts. Pursue additional learning opportunities and education, such as certifications or advanced degrees, to provide a competitive advantage and increase your earning potential over time.
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Bradley Andrew Ph.D.: I’m going to change the question based on the evidence gathered by labor economists. Overall, income rises most in a person’s 20s and 30s, stagnates in one’s 40s and actually falls from age 50 on. Moreover, people who are willing to change jobs more frequently have greater salary growth. If this is your goal, then spending your twenties and thirties working hard on your skills and credentials, being willing to move from one position to another and being geographically flexible will increase your lifetime income.
Kristi Yowell
Coordinator & Senior Adjunct Lecturer, Graduate Human Resources Management ProgramWhat Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kristi Yowell: Data Analysis, Adaptability, Technical Skills.
What general advice would you give to a Business Operations Analyst?
Melissa Zimdars: To remember that you're going to learn a lot on the job and that failure is part of the learning process. It's okay to ask questions and to not know things, but you must be willing to take feedback, adjust, and grow.
What Business Operations Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Melissa Zimdars: - The ability to communicate effectively is an evergreen skill that only seems to be getting more important as the number of ways we communicate with each other, our supervisors, and with clients or outside stakeholders keeps expanding. - The ability to adapt to and learn how to navigate new technologies and platforms.
What will help Business Operations Analysts increase their earning potential?
Melissa Zimdars: Recognize that your first career opportunity won't be your last. If the job you land after college does not have opportunities for growth or advancement, it's imperative that you keep an eye out for them elsewhere as you continue to gain experience in your field.