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The differences between solutions analysts and functional analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a solutions analyst and a functional analyst. Additionally, a functional analyst has an average salary of $96,841, which is higher than the $80,370 average annual salary of a solutions analyst.
The top three skills for a solutions analyst include project management, customer service and java. The most important skills for a functional analyst are business process, lifecycle management, and HR.
| Solutions Analyst | Functional Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $80,370 | $96,841 |
| Hourly rate | $38.64 | $46.56 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 167,971 | 52,085 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A solutions analyst is an individual who has in-depth knowledge of a wide range of software products. You will perform various tasks that include isolating key issues, defining requirements and scope, and reviewing a few potential solutions. As a solutions analyst, you will refine the company's business objectives into business requirements and move any project ideas from design to delivery. Additional duties include working closely with stakeholders to understand the enterprise impact assessment, working across all products and channels to ensure business success, and facilitating communication between the stakeholders and the business and technology teams.
Functional analysts are professionals specializing in a specific line of business, technology, and industry. They collect information by interviewing managers and employees and studying the company's systems and procedures. They design computer systems that meet business requirements and prepare reports for the managers. Additional duties for this role include installing and configuring new systems, running tests to ensure that specifications are met, and writing user manuals. Functional analysts are also responsible for conducting training on new capabilities to existing end-users.
Solutions analysts and functional analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Solutions Analyst | Functional Analyst | |
| Average salary | $80,370 | $96,841 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $108,000 | Between $71,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between a solutions analyst and a functional analyst in terms of educational background:
| Solutions Analyst | Functional Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between solutions analysts' and functional analysts' demographics:
| Solutions Analyst | Functional Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.1% Female, 38.9% | Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.5% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 19.5% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |