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The differences between principal analysts and project 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 principal analyst, becoming a project analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a principal analyst has an average salary of $114,156, which is higher than the $71,174 average annual salary of a project analyst.
The top three skills for a principal analyst include portfolio, ERP and project management. The most important skills for a project analyst are project management, data analysis, and customer service.
| Principal Analyst | Project Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $114,156 | $71,174 |
| Hourly rate | $54.88 | $34.22 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 158,160 | 207,513 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A principal analyst is responsible for evaluating the project management and product development procedures of an organization by analyzing data statistics and market trends. Principal analysts conduct operational audits to identify inconsistencies and defects, including the networks and system database. They create reports on their findings, as well as recommendations to improve optimization and maximum productivity. A principal analyst should be highly communicative and analytical as they also analyze sales reports and financial transactions to develop techniques for increasing profits and revenues.
A project analyst is responsible for overseeing the development of new projects upon completion of data gathering. A project analyst must provide plans and design the project to its full potential. For this, it is essential to conduct extensive research and coordinate with all staff and departments involved through regular reports and various forms of communication. Furthermore, a project analyst must devise strategies to improve particular projects for it to succeed and achieve better results, all in adherence to the company policies and regulations.
Principal analysts and project analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Analyst | Project Analyst | |
| Average salary | $114,156 | $71,174 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $149,000 | Between $52,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | ||
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a principal analyst and a project analyst in terms of educational background:
| Principal Analyst | Project Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between principal analysts' and project analysts' demographics:
| Principal Analyst | Project Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.6% Female, 24.4% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 13.7% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 12% |