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Job outlook for senior analysts in the United States
Senior analyst job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior analyst job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
About 108,400 new jobs for senior analysts are projected over the next decade.
Senior analyst salaries have increased 8% for senior analysts in the last 5 years.
There are over 268,436 senior analysts currently employed in the United States.
There are 159,807 active senior analyst job openings in the US.
The average senior analyst salary is $84,799.
Are senior analyst jobs in demand?
Senior analyst job and salary trends over time
Senior analyst jobs over time
Senior analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 268,436 | 0.08% |
| 2020 | 254,708 | 0.08% |
| 2019 | 249,938 | 0.07% |
| 2018 | 252,398 | 0.08% |
| 2017 | 246,381 | 0.07% |
Average senior analyst salary over time
Senior analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $84,799 | $40.77 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $82,477 | $39.65 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $80,881 | $38.89 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $79,759 | $38.35 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $78,676 | $37.82 | +0.0% |
Senior analyst jobs by state
Most common states for senior analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 867 | 125% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,363 | 28% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 246 | 26% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,426 | 21% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,079 | 19% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,117 | 18% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 179 | 17% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 126 | 17% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 865 | 16% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,074 | 15% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 619 | 15% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,849 | 14% |
| 13 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 427 | 14% |
| 14 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,975 | 13% |
| 15 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,315 | 13% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,303 | 13% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,137 | 13% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 944 | 13% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 477 | 13% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 170 | 13% |
Most common cities for senior analysts
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 19 | 48% | $94,222 |
| 2 | Hartford | 27 | 22% | $85,227 |
| 3 | Atlanta | 78 | 17% | $81,575 |
| 4 | Lansing | 19 | 16% | $82,640 |
| 5 | Washington | 54 | 8% | $94,348 |
| 6 | Boston | 51 | 8% | $89,935 |
| 7 | Huntsville | 15 | 8% | $77,390 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge | 15 | 7% | $72,641 |
| 9 | Tampa | 19 | 5% | $72,751 |
| 10 | Miami | 19 | 4% | $73,144 |
| 11 | Sacramento | 18 | 4% | $98,671 |
| 12 | Minneapolis | 15 | 4% | $80,794 |
| 13 | Denver | 18 | 3% | $81,767 |
| 14 | Detroit | 18 | 3% | $83,129 |
| 15 | Chicago | 60 | 2% | $84,057 |
| 16 | Phoenix | 25 | 2% | $77,793 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 20 | 2% | $70,774 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 30 | 1% | $90,828 |
| 19 | New York | 30 | 0% | $93,974 |
Senior Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior analyst experts
UMass Lowell
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Merrimack College
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Masters of Science in EntrepreneurshipUMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Remember that your first job does not define your career. You may build a career around that first job or you may use it as a valuable learning experience to change careers at some point. Eventually, what we call our careers are only really seen in hindsight. They are part of a narrative we construct about ourselves. So, don't worry to much about whether you are on the 'right path'. The right path is the one you chose at the time given the constraints and alternatives before you. But make the most of every opportunity you can to learn more about yourself - what you like, what you don't like, and what you find fulfilling about your work.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Obviously we are seeing a tremendous increase in AI and other digital technologies. These will become a more crucial skill set for many careers going forward. But I wouldn't downplay the role of what are traditionally seen as soft skills like empathy, communications, and judgment. Not only can these distinguish you from robots but from your human competitors as well.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: If all you want is the highest potential starting salary, then you should aim for careers that offer them. But that is a shortsighted way to view things. For example, many careers that have tournament-like pay structures (think entertainment) often have very low starting salaries but the so-called winners enjoy outsized financial gains. If you are thinking about a more traditional career, I think it's important to make sure you are more valuable to your employer than they are to you. This means you have to market yourself, both to your current employer as well as to potential ones. Of course, this approach may not be for everyone and maximizing your salary potential is only one thing you should be considering when assessing job and career opportunities.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Yipeng Yang: Get to know clearly the job duties quickly. Make good connections with colleagues and listen to their advices.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Swagata Banerjee PhD: Digital literacy: As technology continues to evolve, proficiency in digital tools and platforms will become increasingly essential. Adaptability: The ability to quickly learn new skills and adapt to changing circumstances will be crucial in a rapidly evolving industry landscape. Data literacy: Understanding and analyzing data will become more important for making informed decisions and optimizing strategies. Interdisciplinary skills: The ability to work across different disciplines and collaborate effectively with diverse teams will be highly valued. Emotional intelligence: Soft skills such as empathy, communication, and teamwork will continue to be in demand as workplaces become more interconnected and dynamic.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Reshad Osmani PhD: As a new graduate starting your career, I recommend staying curious, being open to learning from others, seeking feedback, building networks, and being proactive in tackling challenges. Keep developing your analytical skills, stay adaptable, and remember that mistakes are opportunities for growth. Learning by doing should be your number one priority.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Reshad Osmani PhD: To maximize your salary potential when starting your career, consider the following strategies: negotiate your starting salary based on market research, demonstrate your value through accomplishments, seek out opportunities for advancement and growth, continuously improve your skills, consider additional certifications or degrees, and be willing to explore job opportunities that offer competitive compensation packages.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Reshad Osmani PhD: In the next 3-5 years, skills like data analysis, digital literacy, adaptability, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are likely to become even more important across various fields due to the increasing influence of technology, automation, and remote work trends. Additionally, skills related to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and sustainability may also gain prominence.
Renee Robinson Ph.D.
Professor of CommunicationWhat general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Renee Robinson Ph.D.: How can you maximize your salary potential when starting your career in your field?
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Renee Robinson Ph.D.: What skills do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Renee Robinson Ph.D.: That would be awesome! We were hoping you could answer the following questions: 1. What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career in the field?
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Rebecca MacGowan: My general advice is to work backwards and start your career by thinking about what you want to achieve long term. When you think about your career in ten or twenty years, what position are you in? Once you have an idea of the type of position you would like to be in during the middle and/or late stage of your career, go on LinkedIn and look up individuals who currently hold that position and see what their career trajectory was. What positions provided them the stepping stones to achieve the career you currently aspire to? By working backwards, you can ensure that your initial position is setting you up for your long-term goals. Additionally, what you are likely to find when you look at the career paths of different folks is that there are often many paths leading to your ideal future position. Hopefully, this broadens your perspective regarding what position you need right now and how different positions can help set you up for your desired future career. Often, unless we are exceptionally fortunate, our first career after undergraduate isn’t going to be our ideal position, but with proper planning, it can be the first step towards our ideal position.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rebecca MacGowan: Business graduates encompass a broad set of majors, each of which has their own set of best practices and different applied tools that they use. I highly recommend students become familiar with the dominant trends in their fields including decision making processes (how do individuals in their field draw conclusions about what to do) and what software applications are the most prevalent (what they use for supply chain is going to be different from the applications they use for accounting, and so forth) so that they can ensure they are practicing their domain-specific aptitudes prior to graduation. They can do this via their college courses, outside learning opportunities, or via an internship with applied experience. Regardless of their specific major, all business students benefit from the development of their soft skills – rarely in a business environment will you work independently, the majority of the time you are going to be working in groups and teams, nested within departments, nested within organizations, nested within industries. As such, learning strong communication and conflict management skills, gaining an understanding of the strengths of your personal leadership style as well as an understanding of your weaknesses, and figuring out the best way to maintain your personal motivation and how to motivate others, are all skills that transcend time and are helpful across different positions and organizations. Additionally, as AI becomes more prominent in white-collar positions, the ability to interface with AI engines will continue to emerge as an important general skill to have.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Rebecca MacGowan: Maximizing salary potential at any stage of your career is related to how you as a candidate can create value (tangible and intangible) in the organization as well as establishing to the organization the idea of scarcity as it pertains to your profile as a job candidate. Start by assessing what your value add as a candidate is to the company. What hard and soft skills do you have related to your specific field, or the position you are interested in, that you should be compensated for? Establishing this helps you to secure your baseline compensation. Then, in order to further maximize your pay and benefits, it is important to communicate with recruiters and hiring managers how your particular mix of skills is unique and would be difficult to find in another candidate. This creates the scarcity regarding your candidate profile and incentivizes the company to compensate you at a higher level in order to recruit you into the organization. Not only do you have valuable skills, but finding a similar candidate would take significant time and effort, ultimately costing the organization more, so they would be better off allocating that money to giving you a better offer.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): Skills that will become more important in the future are understanding quality measures. Six Sigma Lean principles are very applicable to what we do and help to keep a balanced workflow. A second thing is to understand that you and your coworkers are human. Find resilience tools that help you to keep a calm focus and practice good communication. Stay connected to national organizations for articles and training to stay connected to the future.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): To maximize your salary potential, obtain some experience while you are in school. If there is a clinic to volunteer at or a student job in a lab, take it. Higher pay is almost always offered to the evening and night shift technicians. If your new workplace is on 8-hour nights or evenings, create a schedule where evenings and nights do 10s or 12s and suggest it to the leadership. This makes a much better work-life balance.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Rebecca Bird MAS, BS MT(ASCP): As a new graduate, remember why you decided on this career. Was it because you liked to help people? Then remember your results are improving the quality of life for another person. Is it because you like detective work? Then view each sample as a puzzle to work through. Is it because you want to further your education? Then never stop learning.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Ning Ye Ph.D.: First of all, the ability to understand and interpret data will be key as businesses increasingly use data analytics for decision-making. One area where there will be huge demand is in data analytics, business intelligence, and data visualization. Secondly, I think the ability to adapt fast and bounce back after a failure is going to be more crucial than ever. This encompasses; embracing new ideas, learning from past mistakes, having a positive attitude when faced with adversities. Emotional intelligence (EQ) together with leadership abilities are also important for any employee. This involves knowing how to control your feelings, being able to share others' pain, and leading different teams in a globalized changing world.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Ning Ye Ph.D.: The business environment is a rapidly changing one; I think it's important to be aware of the latest market trends, technologies and best practices in your field. This could mean taking part in workshops or online training or it could even involve seeking higher qualifications like advanced degrees and certifications. Secondly, I believe that it is important to build strong professional networks. Here, networking can easily lead to fresh opportunities and valuable mentorship. Lastly, being able to communicate with others, solve problems as a team, and manage time effectively are all great soft skills you should develop. Such skills will enable you to deal with the intricacies of the workplace efficiently by making an impact within your team.
Prof. Mohammad Elahee Ph.D.
Perlroth Professor of Int’l. BusinessWhat Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Prof. Mohammad Elahee Ph.D.: A combination of both hard and soft skills will be needed to survive in this ‘dog eat dog world’. Hard skills that will be in high demand are familiarity with new AI- and machine-driven technologies and quantitative reasoning. Soft skills that employers will be looking for include emotional intelligence, communication and interpersonal skills and a “can do attitude”. Paradoxical though it may sound, AI would actually create more demand for people with emotional and social intelligence.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Marilyn Krogh: Statistical and communication skills are always in demand, and familiarity with a little AI would be a bonus.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Marilyn Krogh: Know yourself—take time to identify and name your own strengths, interests and priorities in your work life. Take advantage of the services from your university career development center.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Marilyn Krogh: Have a strong undergraduate portfolio, do an internship before graduation, and be willing to 'go an extra mile' for your employer.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Jennifer Barr PhD: Embrace a lifelong learning mindset at the outset. Read case books about successful organizations, notable leaders and new business practices.
Establish an unwavering reputation as a disciplined and responsible worker.
Strive to be an excellent listener. Your attention to detail will be noticed as evidenced through your work.
Be creative and take risks. Suggest an idea to your supervisor about how to improve a procedure or system. This will position you as an early career problem solver.
Seize every opportunity to grow and build key skills including communication, interpersonal, critical thinking and technology.
Recognize the strong correlation between emotional intelligence and success. This is particularly important as you advance in your career.
Cultivate mentorship opportunities and network as much as possible. Eventually step into a mentorship role.
Honesty, integrity and character matter. Be true to yourself and never deviate from your moral compass. Listen to your instincts always.
Create a strong LinkedIn profile and update regularly. It is one of the top recruiting sites.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Dr. David Powell Ph.D.: Job security is one of the primary advantages of being a public administrator. Public administrators also enjoy a great variety in job functions and duties. While average salaries may be a bit lower when compared to the private sector, benefits are usually superior to what private firms offer.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. David Powell Ph.D.: Public administration is always a good field to enter as government touches the lives of everyone on a daily basis. Public administration careers are also very stable as most public administrators are civil servants. As such, they are hired, and keep their positions, based upon their qualifications and performance.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Dr. David Powell Ph.D.: MPA (Master's of Public Administration) graduates typically work in local, state, and national government. Some of the positions they typically hold are management analyst, program analyst, policy analyst, budget analyst, finance manager, and human resources manager/specialist among others. We also have graduates who work in local nonprofit organizations in a variety of policy areas such as housing, senior services, etc.
Dany Doueiri
ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Dany Doueiri: Don't try to start your own business right after you graduate. Keep your dreams, passions, and aspirations alive but get experience from the field through companies, organizations, and institutions. Gain wisdom from those who have more experience than you and those who make mistakes, including your own shortcomings. Then, you can consider branching out. Finally, learning never stops at the end of your college journey. Be humble and keep on learning for life.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Adam Roth: I recommend that students start by identifying a specific skill in demand within your field, such as data analysis or social media marketing, and focus on developing expertise in that area. Research salary ranges and living costs in particular areas where you’re interested in working to ensure your compensation aligns with the local market. Always negotiate a salary and consider other aspects of the offer, such as funds for continuing education, technology and more. Continuing to network and establish demand for your services is essential; attend industry events, join professional associations, and engage with professionals in your field. Never miss an opportunity to reach out to and check in with your professional contacts. Pursue additional learning opportunities and education, such as certifications or advanced degrees, to provide a competitive advantage and increase your earning potential over time.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Bradley Andrew Ph.D.: So-called soft skills are still in demand by employers, based on recent surveys, because a smaller percentage of graduates possess them. These include:
Showing up and on time;
Having a strong work ethic;
Critical thinking skills
Social skills, including the ability to get along well with people, motivate and encourage them, and leadership skills. Also be able to schmooze with clients over dinner or drinks, or just in your office. A personal touch and connection is something software can’t provide.
Creativity—Apple products, for example, appeal to many people because of their combination of form and function.
The ability to work AI in order to increase one’s productivity will become more important over the next 5 years.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Bradley Andrew Ph.D.: I’m going to change the question based on the evidence gathered by labor economists. Overall, income rises most in a person’s 20s and 30s, stagnates in one’s 40s and actually falls from age 50 on. Moreover, people who are willing to change jobs more frequently have greater salary growth. If this is your goal, then spending your twenties and thirties working hard on your skills and credentials, being willing to move from one position to another and being geographically flexible will increase your lifetime income.
Keith Kerr Prof.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Keith Kerr Prof.: There are two approaches to maximizing your salary potential, but only one approach that is completely under our control. While we can learn the best ways to approach employers to advocate for raises and promotions, the outcome of this is dependent on many external factors. What you can control, however, is how you manage the money that you do make. Taking the time to make a detailed budget of your income, expenses and debts allows one to find ways to control their spending, thus generating extra cash for saving and investing each month.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Keith Kerr Prof.: There are two basic ways that most people in the US find financial success: Either find a job that pays a high salary, or find a career that you love, regardless of the salary, and make a habit of saving and investing part of your income each month starting with your first paycheck.
If you invest only $90 a month starting at 21 and ending at retirement, you would have a bit over 1 million dollars (assuming a 10% annual gain). Wait just 5 years and start doing this at 26 and your 5 years of time will have cost you $400,000 by retirement. This is the power of compounding. Start early and even with a lower salary, you still can find financial success while pursuing careers that are meaningful to you.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Keith Kerr Prof.: Grant writing is perhaps the most important skill for sociology majors to acquire. Not all sociology programs offer such skills (luckily my department at Quinnipiac does), but all sociology programs offer courses in research methodology. These skills are all skills that are needed to successfully write grants.
More so, with the research skills and practice in grant writing, one is in a position to approach potential employers as a hire that will more than pay for itself in the grant money that the potential employee can bring into the organization.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Zhu Mao: Find yourself a good platform and demonstrate your irreplaceability. New challenges always coming out from the interdisciplinary area and continuous learning will not only enhance the capability, but also demonstrate the commitment to professional growth and engagement to the field.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Melissa Zimdars: To remember that you're going to learn a lot on the job and that failure is part of the learning process. It's okay to ask questions and to not know things, but you must be willing to take feedback, adjust, and grow.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Melissa Zimdars: - The ability to communicate effectively is an evergreen skill that only seems to be getting more important as the number of ways we communicate with each other, our supervisors, and with clients or outside stakeholders keeps expanding. - The ability to adapt to and learn how to navigate new technologies and platforms.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Melissa Zimdars: Recognize that your first career opportunity won't be your last. If the job you land after college does not have opportunities for growth or advancement, it's imperative that you keep an eye out for them elsewhere as you continue to gain experience in your field.
Fawen Zhang PhD
Professor of AudiologyUniversity of Cincinnati Clermont College
Communication Disorders Sciences And Services
What general advice would you give to a Senior Analyst?
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What Senior Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What will help Senior Analysts increase their earning potential?
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.