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What is a senior application system analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Rick DelVecchio,
Christian Hansen Ph.D.

A senior application system analyst executes, maintains, programs, and troubleshoots computer systems and applications based on the organization's specifications and needs.

They plan, design, and test computer codes for the organization's systems before bringing them into play. They are responsible for altering and improving system procedures and document and forward issues. To protect user privacy, they make sure that safety protocols are in place.

Taking the position of the senior application system analyst demands leadership and organizational skills since they oversee and guide junior analysts. They must also possess extensive knowledge about programming languages and software architecture. And to understand the needs of the organization and other clients, they need to be good communicators.

To pursue this career, candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in systems analysis or a computer-related field. Prior work experience as an analyst is a helpful credential. On average, the senior application system analyst earns $39.38 an hour or $81,919 a year.

What general advice would you give to a senior application system analyst?

Rick DelVecchioRick DelVecchio LinkedIn profile

Director of Career Development, Quinnipiac University

Internships and experiential learning help you build a portfolio of skills and experiences that prove you can bring value to future organizations. Make the most of those opportunities and make sure your resume shows the impact you had. Also, be sure to negotiate your initial job offer! Most employers have a range rather than a set number for compensation. Always negotiate the first offer you receive and try to maximize your initial earnings. Lastly, money follows impact. Track your own performance against the key performance metrics for your role. Be ready to go into your first performance review with data that proves you make a difference for the organization to justify any promotion or compensation increase you are seeking.
ScoreSenior Application System AnalystUS Average
Salary
7.5

Avg. Salary $95,364

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.3

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.19%

Asian 14.42%

Black or African American 10.64%

Hispanic or Latino 11.33%

Unknown 5.03%

White 58.39%

Gender

female 40.28%

male 59.72%

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

Senior application system analyst career paths

Key steps to become a senior application system analyst

  1. Explore senior application system analyst education requirements

    Most common senior application system analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.4 %

    Master's

    16.0 %

    Associate

    11.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior application system analyst skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management11.57%
    Healthcare8.82%
    Technical Support8.18%
    Software Development4.92%
    Payroll4.77%
  3. Complete relevant senior application system analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior application system 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 senior application system analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior application system analyst resumes.
  4. Research senior application system analyst duties and responsibilities

    • Create, manage and troubleshoot internal cloud management systems (blueprints, reservations, provisioning groups and customize workflows . )
    • Manage business requirements gathering for functionality development and interface definition from the legacy systems to the CRM and SA management applications.
    • Migrate customer support function to payroll support group.
    • Prepare UNIX shell scripts for testing the application.
  5. Get senior application system analyst experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a senior application system analyst. The most common roles before becoming a senior application system analyst include programmer analyst, systems analyst team lead and senior systems analyst.
  6. Prepare your senior application system analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior application system 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 senior application system 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 senior application system analyst resume templates

    Build a professional senior application system 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 senior application system analyst resume.
    Senior Application System Analyst Resume
    Senior Application System Analyst Resume
    Senior Application System Analyst Resume
    Senior Application System Analyst Resume
    Senior Application System Analyst Resume
    Senior Application System Analyst Resume
    Senior Application System Analyst Resume
    Senior Application System Analyst Resume
    Senior Application System Analyst Resume
  7. Apply for senior application system analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior application system analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior application system analyst job

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Average senior application system analyst salary

The average senior application system analyst salary in the United States is $95,364 per year or $46 per hour. Senior application system analyst salaries range between $73,000 and $123,000 per year.

Average senior application system analyst salary
$95,364 Yearly
$45.85 hourly

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How do senior application system analysts rate their job?

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Senior application system analyst reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Cons

Managing projects or leading large projects as this makes the BA role difficult to do well


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Relationships with good people who are fully invested in solving problems.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

Have chances to work in strategic planning in different business domain


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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