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Senior project analyst vs analyst lead

The differences between senior project analysts and analyst leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior project analyst, becoming an analyst lead takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an analyst lead has an average salary of $95,264, which is higher than the $80,368 average annual salary of a senior project analyst.

The top three skills for a senior project analyst include project management, data analysis and process improvement. The most important skills for an analyst lead are analytics, data analysis, and project management.

Senior project analyst vs analyst lead overview

Senior Project AnalystAnalyst Lead
Yearly salary$80,368$95,264
Hourly rate$38.64$45.80
Growth rate11%9%
Number of jobs192,245122,353
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4443
Years of experience46

What does a senior project analyst do?

A senior project analyst specializes in developing the best practices to optimize project operations. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to support the planning and execution of projects, managing resources, establishing objectives and timelines, conducting support studies, and developing strategies to improve the workflow. Furthermore, as a senior project analyst, it is essential to lead the analytical efforts and serve as a mentor to junior analysts, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

What does an analyst lead do?

The duties of an analyst lead depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather leads and data, reviewing findings, and producing reports and presentations for the stakeholders and other higher-ranking officials. Through the results, an analyst lead can provide advice, devise strategies for business optimization, spearhead the development of processes, identify strengths and weaknesses, and offer recommendations on areas in need of improvement. All of this is done while in adherence to the company's vision and mission.

Senior project analyst vs analyst lead salary

Senior project analysts and analyst leads have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Project AnalystAnalyst Lead
Average salary$80,368$95,264
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $105,000Between $74,000 And $122,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyGoogleGoogle
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between senior project analyst and analyst lead education

There are a few differences between a senior project analyst and an analyst lead in terms of educational background:

Senior Project AnalystAnalyst Lead
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior project analyst vs analyst lead demographics

Here are the differences between senior project analysts' and analyst leads' demographics:

Senior Project AnalystAnalyst Lead
Average age4443
Gender ratioMale, 52.0% Female, 48.0%Male, 62.4% Female, 37.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 13.1% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage12%8%

Differences between senior project analyst and analyst lead duties and responsibilities

Senior project analyst example responsibilities.

  • Develop infrastructure to enable clients to better understand and manage risks associate with their decision environment to capture opportunities.
  • Inventory and file all project documentation; organize and administer project SharePoint collaborative site.
  • Review and implement testing results with the manufacturers' for DOD acceptance standards.
  • Develop employee self-service benefit enrollment and payroll processing.
  • Analyze and document system requirements for the Java development teams.
  • Develop business, functional, and system requirements for new SharePoint application.
  • Show more

Analyst lead example responsibilities.

  • Lead technical development team using Java technologies to create web applications.
  • Lead release and installation efforts for software and hardware releases through different phases of the SDLC.
  • Manage and design SharePoint as a pseudo-admin.
  • Manage SharePoint project database and maintain project records.
  • Design system architecture for managing and deploying distribute databases to sales representatives.
  • Standardize the OS environment enterprise-wide, resulting in a highly available and easily manage and support system.
  • Show more

Senior project analyst vs analyst lead skills

Common senior project analyst skills
  • Project Management, 19%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Process Improvement, 5%
  • Financial Analysis, 5%
  • Risk Management, 4%
  • SharePoint, 4%
Common analyst lead skills
  • Analytics, 10%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 5%
  • Java, 4%

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