Do you need a college degree to be a programmer analyst?

No, you do not need a college degree to be a programmer analyst, however, most hiring managers prefer a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or information systems. No matter your background, the rapidly changing technology demands continued education and research into the latest trends.

What skills are required for a programmer analyst?

The skills required for a programmer analyst are a combination of technical understanding and communication skills. A programmer analyst meets with a client to understand which software applications best suit their needs and then develops and tests the system.

How To Become A Programmer Analyst: What It Is and Career Path

What is a programmer analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Tao Ju,

Kevin Treu Ph.D.

Programmer analysts are everywhere. Nearly every industry hires programmer analysts, which means that the job opportunities associated with this career are never-ending. This is great for people who are interested in finding a job!

Programmer analysts spend their days coming up with new software applications and everything that comes along with creating a new application. From testing and analyzing the application to maintaining it, programmer analysts do everything they can to make sure the application was developed to help businesses achieve their goals.

The only thing that's stopping you from becoming a programmer analyst is a bachelor's degree. So once you've obtained that, you'll be on your way! If getting that education has you worried, don't worry. Many programmer analysts focus on vocational or technical training and are still able to get the job. So you definitely have some options.

What general advice would you give to a programmer analyst?

Dr. Tao Ju

Vice Dean for Research & Professor, Washington University in St. Louis

They are not in this alone. The opportunities are out there, but it is up to them to be proactive and take ownership of their career. They should become familiar with and use all of the resources available to them-alumni, faculty and career advisors, job search sites, mentoring programs, career fairs, professional associations, and networking events. Take advantage of their existing network and seek out ways to make further connections. Keep an eye on trends, follow news, and research companies. Dream big but be flexible. In this time of constant transition and change, graduates who can shift their plans to the conditions of the job market will have less stress and more success. Talk with companies they've never heard of and explore careers they've never considered. They might be surprised at what they find and where it leads them. Lastly, remain confident and positive. They've worked hard to get to this point and they can be rest assured that their choice to pursue engineering will pay off in the short and long run.

ScoreProgrammer AnalystUS Average

Salary

5.6

Avg. Salary $71,563

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.3

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.19%

Asian 19.23%

Black or African American 9.82%

Hispanic or Latino 11.45%

Unknown 5.04%

White 54.27%

Gender

female 28.24%

male 71.76%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a programmer analyst

Explore programmer analyst education requirements

Most common programmer analyst degrees

Bachelor's

70.8 %

Master's

14.6 %

Associate

11.0 %

Start to develop specific programmer analyst skills

Skills	Percentages
SQL Server	7.95%
C++	7.89%
Java	7.73%
JavaScript	5.09%
Data Warehouse	4.05%

Complete relevant programmer analyst training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New programmer analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a programmer analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real programmer analyst resumes.

Gain additional programmer analyst certifications

Programmer analyst certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific programmer analyst certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for programmer analysts include Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) and Programming in C# Certification.

More About Certifications

Research programmer analyst duties and responsibilities

Use scripting languages (shell, PERL) to automate routine data management tasks and reporting.
Develop and manage voice network trouble diagnosis and resolution matrices base on GUI interfaces base on HTML coding and XML mapping.
Manage code repository structure and environment for various application using TFS.
Manage to increase company productivity by implementing digital scanning system to replace handwriting practices while being responsible for entire SDLC process.

Prepare your programmer analyst resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your programmer analyst resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a programmer analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable programmer analyst resume templates

Build a professional programmer analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your programmer analyst resume.