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The differences between solutions analysts and implementation 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 an implementation analyst. Additionally, an implementation analyst has an average salary of $82,268, 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 an implementation analyst are client facing, data analysis, and shared services.
| Solutions Analyst | Implementation Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $80,370 | $82,268 |
| Hourly rate | $38.64 | $39.55 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 167,971 | 108,170 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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.
An implementation analyst is an individual who is responsible for conducting data analysis and software testing when a company is doing a software upgrade. Implementation analysts must ensure that the company has the appropriate equipment to meet its operational needs by determining which hardware and software they should use. They provide workshops and conduct education for trainers on the functionality of the product as well as to conduct tests to ensure the proper functionality of the product. Implementation analysts must also prepare budgets for proposed equipment or tailor their recommendations to fit an established budget.
Solutions analysts and implementation analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Solutions Analyst | Implementation Analyst | |
| Average salary | $80,370 | $82,268 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $108,000 | Between $60,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | OpenGov |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a solutions analyst and an implementation analyst in terms of educational background:
| Solutions Analyst | Implementation Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between solutions analysts' and implementation analysts' demographics:
| Solutions Analyst | Implementation Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.1% Female, 38.9% | Male, 49.4% Female, 50.6% |
| 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, 10.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.5% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |