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What is an information systems analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Ranganathan Chandrasekaran,
Dr. Pauline Mosley
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Information Systems Analysts are meant to examine and develop the company's IT networks and systems' efficiency and security and advise on how one might improve upon it. This includes working with software and hardware.

More specifically, they are tasked with the planning, designing, and implementation of new solutions and systems and the testing of them once they are fully integrated.

Also, they report to management and work with them and other employees to test and modify the existing system, figure out the problem areas, and stick to a certain timeline and budget. Due to the nature of the job itself, an Analyst must continue to stay up to date with the industry's latest development and research.

A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Information Systems is necessary to begin working in this position. A candidate will also need to have some experience in a similar position and have good analytical, communication, and innovative skills.

What general advice would you give to an information systems analyst?

Ranganathan ChandrasekaranRanganathan Chandrasekaran LinkedIn profile

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Illinois

As we roll into another month of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduating students are facing one of the worst moments of their lives. They face several uncertainties; due to financial challenges, uncertainty about completing their degrees on time, adjusting to online and hybrid modes of learning, and worst of all, facing the worst job market. As a result, I see the stress and anxiety levels among the graduating students to be significantly higher, at levels I have not experienced in my academic career.

Several businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and they have rolled back their offers made to students for internships and jobs. Businesses have also resorted to downsizing and layoffs, and we are likely to see that continue, at least in the near term. However, two sectors that are showing promises of a quick turnaround are technology and healthcare.

It might take many months for the economy to get back on track, but the demand for information systems graduates is likely to grow, as a large number of businesses have turned to increased use of technology in this pandemic period. As more companies go digital, we need more professionals to manage the remote-work, technological infrastructure and meet the other demands of the business. Students pursuing education in information systems, computer science, and healthcare are going to be in greater demand.

On the positive side, the uncertainties induced by the pandemic have also helped students to prepare themselves better for a tougher job market. I found many students rise up and use the lockdown period to have a serious introspection and invest their time and effort in upgrading their knowledge and skills. The internship drought and rescinding of job/internship offers brought their dreams crashing down, but I found several students to quickly get over their disappointments, and engage in improving their skillsets utilizing the pandemic lockdown as an opportunity. I am aware of many students, especially in the information systems disciple, who spent time doing online courses, completing certification programs, and take up DIY projects on data analysis, developing analytical and forecasting models, and visualization of various aspects of the pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in massive amounts of data, released by several organizations worldwide, that have provided a stimulant for students to indulge in DIY-projects. I had several students approach me over summer to do some projects, and we have done some interesting projects using public datasets related to COVID-19.
ScoreInformation Systems AnalystUS Average
Salary
6.5

Avg. Salary $83,747

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.3

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.19%

Asian 14.49%

Black or African American 10.46%

Hispanic or Latino 11.19%

Unknown 5.02%

White 58.64%

Gender

female 34.74%

male 65.26%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Information systems analyst career paths

Key steps to become an information systems analyst

  1. Explore information systems analyst education requirements

    Most common information systems analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    65.2 %

    Associate

    16.9 %

    Master's

    11.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific information systems analyst skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management8.12%
    Customer Service7.27%
    Linux4.21%
    Management System3.84%
    Technical Issues3.45%
  3. Complete relevant information systems analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information systems analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information systems analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information systems analyst resumes.
  4. Gain additional information systems analyst certifications

    Information systems analyst certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific information systems analyst certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for information systems analysts include Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) and IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research information systems analyst duties and responsibilities

    • Lead cross- functional team to update HTML links and conform to web page design standards.
    • Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate processing or to improve existing ERP system and reporting.
    • Implement and manage all organizational security measures, cryptographic equipment and DoD communications security (COMSEC) keying material.
    • Lead disaster recovery exercises, infrastructure hardware/software decommissioning initiatives and redeployment of legacy application retirements/migrations for Fannie Mae (client).
  6. Prepare your information systems analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information systems analyst resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information systems analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable information systems analyst resume templates

    Build a professional information systems analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your information systems analyst resume.
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    Information Systems Analyst Resume
  7. Apply for information systems analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an information systems analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first information systems analyst job

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Average information systems analyst salary

The average information systems analyst salary in the United States is $83,747 per year or $40 per hour. Information systems analyst salaries range between $58,000 and $119,000 per year.

Average information systems analyst salary
$83,747 Yearly
$40.26 hourly

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Information systems analyst reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Cons

Too much detail oriented


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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