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The differences between program finance analysts and business 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 program finance analyst and a business analyst. Additionally, a business analyst has an average salary of $74,431, which is higher than the $57,254 average annual salary of a program finance analyst.
The top three skills for a program finance analyst include financial analysis, variance analysis and program management. The most important skills for a business analyst are project management, data analysis, and business analysis.
| Program Finance Analyst | Business Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $57,254 | $74,431 |
| Hourly rate | $27.53 | $35.78 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 154,305 | 170,514 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A program finance analyst is an individual who supports the execution of program financial services to ensure effective and transparent utilization of financial resources. Program finance analysts must obtain and compile information regarding the credit history of loan applicants, corporate financial statements, and other financial information. They communicate with faculty members and business administrators about the company's financial status and provide recommendations for strategic planning. Program finance analysts must also monitor the financial performance of a project and provide analysis for project managers concerning burn rates and potential overruns.
Business analysts are employees who are responsible for interpreting business data and coming up with business solutions. They are well-versed in whatever business the company is in, and they have strong business acumen. They collect data related to the business and then interpret and analyze the data. Business analysts should be able to conduct different levels of analyses and must also be able to create a sound study. Once the analysis is done, they provide recommendations or strategic direction to decision-makers that will help the business become sustainable and grow.
Program finance analysts and business analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Finance Analyst | Business Analyst | |
| Average salary | $57,254 | $74,431 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $76,000 | Between $53,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a program finance analyst and a business analyst in terms of educational background:
| Program Finance Analyst | Business Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between program finance analysts' and business analysts' demographics:
| Program Finance Analyst | Business Analyst | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5% | Male, 53.9% Female, 46.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 14.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 11% |