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The differences between principal business analysts and senior analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a principal business analyst and a senior analyst. Additionally, a principal business analyst has an average salary of $115,081, which is higher than the $84,799 average annual salary of a senior analyst.
The top three skills for a principal business analyst include provide management, shared services and project management. The most important skills for a senior analyst are analytics, data analysis, and tableau.
| Principal Business Analyst | Senior Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $115,081 | $84,799 |
| Hourly rate | $55.33 | $40.77 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 164,208 | 159,807 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A senior analyst's responsibilities will vary in every organization or industry. However, their primary role is to gain an understanding of a company's strengths and weaknesses. Through this, they can devise strategies and determine new opportunities that would be significant in attaining financial gains and a more substantial client base. Furthermore, it is a senior analyst's responsibility to coordinate with various departments, and even clients, to establish a rapport that will be essential in gaining the needed information to catapult a company to its finest.
Principal business analysts and senior analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Business Analyst | Senior Analyst | |
| Average salary | $115,081 | $84,799 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $150,000 | Between $63,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a principal business analyst and a senior analyst in terms of educational background:
| Principal Business Analyst | Senior Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between principal business analysts' and senior analysts' demographics:
| Principal Business Analyst | Senior Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 60.8% Female, 39.2% | Male, 61.8% Female, 38.2% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.3% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |