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The differences between principal business analysts and analyst leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a principal business analyst, becoming an analyst lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a principal business analyst has an average salary of $115,081, which is higher than the $95,264 average annual salary of an analyst lead.
The top three skills for a principal business analyst include provide management, shared services and project management. The most important skills for an analyst lead are analytics, data analysis, and project management.
| Principal Business Analyst | Analyst Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $115,081 | $95,264 |
| Hourly rate | $55.33 | $45.80 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 164,208 | 122,353 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A principal business analyst provides analytical services to recommend strategies that will optimize business operations. Among their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing data, understanding the purpose and needs of daily operations, performing market research and analysis to identify trends and opportunities, determine the strengths and weaknesses of current procedures, and develop solutions against problem areas. They must also conduct risk assessments, maintain documentation, and present findings through reports and presentations. Moreover, a principal business analyst must lead and encourage staff to reach goals while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.
The duties of an analyst lead depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather leads and data, reviewing findings, and producing reports and presentations for the stakeholders and other higher-ranking officials. Through the results, an analyst lead can provide advice, devise strategies for business optimization, spearhead the development of processes, identify strengths and weaknesses, and offer recommendations on areas in need of improvement. All of this is done while in adherence to the company's vision and mission.
Principal business analysts and analyst leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Business Analyst | Analyst Lead | |
| Average salary | $115,081 | $95,264 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $150,000 | Between $74,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a principal business analyst and an analyst lead in terms of educational background:
| Principal Business Analyst | Analyst Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between principal business analysts' and analyst leads' demographics:
| Principal Business Analyst | Analyst Lead | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.8% Female, 39.2% | Male, 62.4% Female, 37.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 8% |