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Job outlook for commercial analysts in the United States
Are commercial analyst jobs in demand?
Commercial analyst job and salary trends over time
Commercial analyst jobs over time
Commercial analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,285 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,347 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,382 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,398 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,399 | 0.00% |
Average commercial analyst salary over time
Commercial analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,036 | $39.92 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $81,574 | $39.22 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $79,215 | $38.08 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | $78,960 | $37.96 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $77,454 | $37.24 | +0.4% |
Commercial analyst jobs by state
Most common states for commercial analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 809 | 117% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,028 | 24% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 220 | 23% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,302 | 19% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,097 | 18% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 866 | 15% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 112 | 15% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 447 | 14% |
| 9 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,712 | 13% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 751 | 13% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 519 | 13% |
| 12 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 473 | 13% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 173 | 13% |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 140 | 13% |
| 15 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,230 | 12% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,195 | 12% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,063 | 12% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 568 | 12% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 103 | 12% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 75 | 12% |
Most common cities for commercial analysts
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waltham | 4 | 6% | $90,516 |
| 2 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $64,120 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $82,707 |
| 4 | Dalton | 1 | 3% | $72,450 |
| 5 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $90,543 |
| 6 | Duluth | 1 | 3% | $72,609 |
| 7 | DeKalb | 1 | 2% | $63,368 |
| 8 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $90,700 |
| 9 | Johns Creek | 1 | 1% | $72,598 |
| 10 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $90,602 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $72,483 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $55,803 |
| 13 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $63,998 |
| 14 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $67,317 |
| 15 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $73,736 |
| 16 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $49,101 |
Commercial Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of commercial analyst experts
UMass Lowell
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
College of New Jersey, The
University of Washington
University of Southern Maine
Western Kentucky University
John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Manhattan College
Coastal Carolina University
Drexel University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
University of Wyoming
Fairfield University
Wake Forest University
University of Nebraska - Omaha
University of Akron
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Masters of Science in EntrepreneurshipUMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What Commercial 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 Commercial 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.
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L
Capstone CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Commercial Analyst?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: By saying "Yes". Most companies have standard salaries or small scale for adjusting salary. Per Diem jobs, research interventionist, additional weekend on call, adjunct jobs, and other opportunities gives you the ability to increase salary and opportunities.
Fawen Zhang PhD
Professor of AudiologyUniversity of Cincinnati Clermont College
Communication Disorders Sciences And Services
What will help Commercial Analysts increase their earning potential?
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Piper Williams PhD: I would advise a graduate to reflect on what they've learned about the contributions, experiences, history and present reality of people of African descent in the New World. In addition, thinking about the skills they developed related to the major in African American Studies, including but not limited to: Research and Analysis, Writing, Public Speaking, Project Development and Completion, Ethical Reasoning, Listening, Teamwork and Collaboration, Perspective-Taking, Awareness of Context and what they call 'Cultural Competence. Use this education, to make the case that in addition to all the skills you can bring, the education offered by AAS will allow you to distinguish yourself as a candidate who can meet the needs the current moment demands. Black Americans encounter implicit racism in all walks of life: medicine and healthcare, law, politics and gov't, business and industry, performing arts and entertainment, sports, education, news media and social, community and humanitarian services. With this degree, you can enter almost any field and be more equitable to everyone you meet. (And by the way, in the list above, there are a number of people with a degree in African American Studies.)
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Analyst?
Victor Menaldo: Learn, learn and learn some more. Adopt a growth mindset where you never stop learning. Gain economic literacy and financial literacy and historical literacy and statistical literacy. This will allow you to complement AI: ask it good questions, contextualize and evaluate its answers, and ask good follow up questions.
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Victor Menaldo: Interacting with AI and knowing how to best exploit it to get the most out of it: increase productivity and value added in whatever field one is in.
Tove Rasmussen
LecturerUniversity of Southern Maine
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Analyst?
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen advises graduates beginning their career in the field to...
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen believes that the skills that will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years are...
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Rich PhD: Think about the types of jobs that interest you and the skills necessary for those jobs early. So many students start thinking about post-graduation life spring their senior year, when it should be an incremental process much earlier. Another pieces of advice would be to talk to faculty and alum about your interests, find internship or research opportunities when possible, and try to figure out early your strengths and weaknesses. It's easy for students, especially high performing ones, to not fully consider what their weaknesses are. I encourage students to jot down what they see as their skills too and to share them with others. It helps them to identify what's a common skill versus something that might make them stick out.
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.
ProfessorJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Analyst?
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: Being able to negotiate a salary is also a skill that students need to learn and one that is rarely taught in college. Students need to be able to ask for more than they are offered, but also take jobs at entry levels, prove themselves and then ask for an increase in pay six months into the job after they have shown that they are doing the work and achieving their goals.
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Stephanie Lain Ph.D.: I would advise graduates to be open to considering jobs in lots of different fields. The skills acquired through their major- such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and writing- are ones that transfer well to a variety of situations.
What will help Commercial Analysts increase their earning potential?
Stephanie Lain Ph.D.: The most important skills in my view are flexibility in thinking- the ability to apply knowledge to new situations- and the so-called "soft skills", being able to work with people face-to-face. This is a skill that has somewhat been lost with the advent of Zoom and rise of AI technologies but it is very important in building human connection.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Analyst?
Dr. Paige Novak P.E. (Minnesota), BCEE: Ask questions, stay curious and open minded, take opportunities to learn and develop new skills.
What will help Commercial Analysts increase their earning potential?
Dr. Paige Novak P.E. (Minnesota), BCEE: Get experience on a lot of different projects, say 'yes' to learning and development opportunities, and take the PE when you are able.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Analyst?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: First, learn everything about the company you just started working for - its historical path, management, the way it's dealt with crises, etc. Second, learn everything about the specific industry the company belongs to and see how the company has developed relative to the development of the industry domestically and internationally. Third, always be extremely alert to notice new opportunities and be prepared to take calculated risks. That is, actively look for opportunities to complete as many and diverse tasks as possible, and volunteer to complete any type of work regardless of whether it seems relevant to your assigned job or not. Opportunities to learn, grow, and improve and thus to maximize your income, will only come up if you are exposed to diverse situations.
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: Be open minded. Finance is the broad definition of an industry which provides opportunities for careers in financial consultancy, financial analysis, stock brokerage, foreign investment, modeling, exchange rate forecasts, and many more. While most of those careers are attributed to the banking industry, you can find those and others in other sectors of the economy, such as insurance, technology, health care/medical, government, and so on. So, be open and look beyond the banking sector, examine the current and predicted trends in the economy to hunt for exciting career options.
Mark Chandler
Director of Government Relations and Professor of PracticeCoastal Carolina University
Intelligence, Command Control And Information Operations
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Chandler: First, focus on being good at your job. Focus on learning your specific assigned area. Get the basics down – analytic skills, communication skills. Build a strong work ethic and professional foundation. If you can find a good mentor, link up with them. Be willing to go the “extra mile” in being a team player and doing things to help others on the team, and put in the hours. In intelligence, you will not always like what policy makers do or say. It’s not our job to agree or disagree with the policy, our job is to study the situation, present the facts and then present a fact-based analytic assessment. Keep opinion, bias, and politics out of our work. This will be a challenge, but it’s one you have to recognize in order to not succumb to it.
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Stehr PhD: At the start of your career, it's very important to land a role where you learn a lot and find good mentors. The additional skills will pay dividends as your career progresses.
What will help Commercial Analysts increase their earning potential?
Mary Rodena-Krasan Ph.D.: A degree in German Studies is extraordinarily flexible, giving you a skill set that makes you suitable to a variety of fields. Be open to every opportunity and never underestimate the skill sets learning a new language has afforded you - cross-cultural competence, interlinguistic technological adeptness, problem solving, information analysis, and critical thinking. Employers want someone they don't have to hand-hold. Studying a foreign language requires a lot of self-initiative - apply that to every assignment at the job and don't be afraid to suggest approaches! Your ability to undertake something new and be successful has already been proven by your German studies degree!
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Analyst?
Michael Smullen: Make yourself uncomfortable. Early graduates find success later on by seeking out numerous challenges: how to respectfully ask questions in a business setting, how to cultivate personal and professional confidence, how to create or expand their professional network, how to chart a course for their career and personal aspirations, and how to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Each of these demands stepping beyond one's comfort zone and engaging in unfamiliar actions. It's not merely about setting intentions; it entails embracing novel experiences solely for the sake of growth. Whether it's attending a seminar on home-buying or participating in a networking event, reaching out to a manager for guidance on enhancing value, or reflecting deeply on personal fulfillment, pushing oneself through discomfort will foster mental agility and resilience. Recent graduates should pay close attention to the danger complacency may signify overlooking crucial opportunities that could lead to future regret.
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lars Kotthoff: Anything and everything related to AI, but in particular being able to cut through the hype and being able to assess new technologies realistically.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Analyst?
John McDermott Ph.D.: To maximize your salary potential, keep learning, investing in your human capital, and expanding your capabilities. Learn as much as you can about your new position and industry, work with a variety of people at your firm, and seek opportunities outside your comfort zone. Your salary potential will increase as you are recognized as a capable and hard working colleague.
What Commercial Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mark Evans: Don't stop learning. Treat your first job like more graduate school. Learn everything you can.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Analyst?
John Lyden: Research skills (ability to find and interpret information), oral and written communication skills (ability to present information clearly), data analysis and interpretation, language interpretation and translation. Computer facility will be highly valued. Employers will include those in higher education, government, non-profits, research institutes, and museums.
What will help Commercial Analysts increase their earning potential?
Eric Brisker Ph.D.: Focusing on developing skills in communication, networking, social skills, analytical skills, financial knowledge, and obtaining professional certifications can help maximize salary potential in the finance industry. Developing these skills and following the advice provided can lead to opportunities for higher salaries.