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The differences between lead business systems analysts and business analyst/project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a lead business systems analyst, becoming a business analyst/project manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a lead business systems analyst has an average salary of $106,313, which is higher than the $99,882 average annual salary of a business analyst/project manager.
The top three skills for a lead business systems analyst include project management, business process and user stories. The most important skills for a business analyst/project manager are project management, business stakeholders, and business process.
| Lead Business Systems Analyst | Business Analyst/Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $106,313 | $99,882 |
| Hourly rate | $51.11 | $48.02 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 176,106 | 173,827 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A lead business systems analyst is responsible for determining business solutions by creating system applications that would support business operations and maximize the efficiency and productivity of staff. Lead business systems analysts design system controls and develop efficient interfaces according to business requirements and client specifications. They modify system codes and perform configuration, requiring them to have a strong command of programming languages and computer navigation. A lead business systems analyst writes technical reports and organizes instructional manuals for troubleshooting and user reference.
A business analyst/project manager is responsible for developing project management procedures, analyzing processes, and ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of project deliverables, following clients' specifications and requirements to meet their highest satisfaction. Business analysts/project managers manage project resources, delegate tasks to project staff, setting deadlines, and coordinating with the clients for regular updates and suggest strategic adjustments as needed. They also mitigate potential risks and manage changes during the project execution, maintaining the quality of the outputs, and balancing costs to meet the clients' budget goals.
Lead business systems analysts and business analyst/project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Business Systems Analyst | Business Analyst/Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $106,313 | $99,882 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $137,000 | Between $72,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Citi | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a lead business systems analyst and a business analyst/project manager in terms of educational background:
| Lead Business Systems Analyst | Business Analyst/Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between lead business systems analysts' and business analyst/project managers' demographics:
| Lead Business Systems Analyst | Business Analyst/Project Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5% | Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 20.6% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 12% |