How to Become a Business Analyst

In general, business analysts help organizations understand problems, evaluate data and processes, document requirements, and recommend practical business or technology changes. Sometimes known as management analysts, they make data-driven business decisions, prototype products, and make IT recommendations. Business analysts are central to the operations of any company or organization across a variety of sectors, from technology to healthcare and beyond.

But how do you become a business analyst, and what should you expect once you’re hired? Here are some common steps to consider to become a business analyst:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree.
2. Pursue an advanced degree.
3. Fine-tune your technical skills and business capabilities.

Steps to Become a Business Analyst

Though every journey is different, becoming a business analyst generally requires you to complete a number of steps. Let’s examine them in turn.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree.

A bachelor’s degree is usually the first step to becoming an entry-level business analyst, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Though there are no specific requirements about what you study, having a background in finance, business, economics, marketing, or psychology may prove useful.

Please also note that while you typically only need a bachelor’s degree to become a business analyst, some employers may expect prospective candidates to have earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) as well.

2. Pursue an advanced degree in business analytics, data science, statistics, computer science, information management, finance, or economics.

To pursue a business analytics position at a management level—or even higher—you may need to complete an advanced degree. Consider enrolling in a master’s in business analytics or a master’s in business administration program to distinguish yourself in a crowded field. These programs generally take only one year to complete.

3. Fine-tune your technical skills and business capabilities.

Beyond formal coursework, aspiring business analysts may benefit from building practical skills in data analysis, reporting, and stakeholder communication. The exact tools you need will depend on the role: some business analyst jobs are closer to management consulting or process improvement, while others overlap with business intelligence, systems analysis, or product analytics. O*NET’s profile for business intelligence analysts, which includes “business analyst” among reported job titles, describes work such as querying data repositories, generating reports, maintaining BI tools, databases, and dashboards, and identifying patterns and trends in data. Its in-demand software list for business intelligence analysts also includes SQL, Microsoft Power BI, Python, Tableau, R, Snowflake, and SAS, based on 2025 employer job postings.

• Data querying and databases: SQL, database querying, and basic database design.
• Business intelligence and reporting: business intelligence, dashboards, and reporting tools, including platforms such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Statistical and analytical tools: statistical analysis software such as R, SAS, or other tools used to analyze business, financial, or operational data.
• Programming and automation: Python or similar programming tools, especially for roles that involve larger datasets or repeatable analysis.
• Data mining and visualization: data mining and data visualization skills that help analysts find patterns and communicate findings.
• Process analysis and communication: translating business needs into requirements, documenting workflows, and explaining findings to stakeholders.

Professional certifications may also be useful for some career paths, but they are not required for every business analyst role. Depending on your goals, you may explore credentials from organizations such as the International Institute of Business Analysis, the Project Management Institute, or the Institute of Management Consultants. Review eligibility requirements carefully, as some certifications require work experience, training hours, exams, or a combination of these.

A number of supplementary online business analyst courses are also available from universities. Generally lasting weeks, these programs cover a range of topics from checking warehouse inventories to harvesting spreadsheet data. Whatever you study, modules are often self-paced, meaning you can bolster your education while continuing to work.

If you’re unsure, you can follow the steps above and check out our guide on how to become a business analyst with no experience.

What Is a Business Analyst?

Business analysts are increasingly crucial to successful business operations across a variety of industries. But what does it mean to work as a business analyst? Acting as a bridge between the business community and technical solutions providers, business analysts ensure new IT projects are designed and implemented properly. Whether developing a new database or boosting a firm’s cloud capability, business analysts are responsible for guaranteeing that projects meet business objectives and boost the company’s bottom line.

Because they’re so integrated into the world of IT, business analysts often keep abreast of new technology, knowing what’s on the horizon and how it could support a firm’s people and processes. At the same time, they anticipate broader business challenges before they appear, being as comfortable in the boardroom as they are in the tech department.

Finally, business analysts monitor the progress of completed projects. From preventing hacks to tweaking the backend, their work keeps going.

What Does a Business Analyst Do?

With a number of overlapping responsibilities, business analysts are always busy. On any given day, they might be asked to complete a wide range of tasks, including:

Business analyst responsibilities vary by employer, industry, and job title. Some roles focus on improving business processes and documenting requirements, while others are more technical and involve data analysis, reporting, business intelligence tools, or IT systems. O*NET’s profiles for management analysts and business intelligence analysts can both serve as useful reference points, as “business analyst” work may overlap with process improvement, systems design, data reporting, and decision support.

On a given day, a business analyst may be asked to:

• Identify opportunities to improve business operations, workflows, or processes.
• Meet with customers, users, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to understand business needs.
• Translate stakeholder needs into requirements, user stories, process maps, or documentation.
• Analyze data, reports, user feedback, or workflows to identify problems and possible solutions.
• Prototype or model products, processes, dashboards, or system changes.
• Help design or modify business processes, software workflows, or IT systems.
• Work with product managers, system architects, developers, or data teams to support implementation.
• Support testing, user documentation, training materials, or change-management efforts.
• Facilitate workshops or meetings to build shared understanding across technical and nontechnical teams.
• Monitor whether a process, system, or tool continues to meet business needs and recommend updates as needed.

Business Analysts Skills

What makes a good business analyst? Focused on both business and technology, business analysts are comfortable in a range of work environments. Here are some common business analyst traits, according to O*NET OnLine. Remember that this isn’t an exhaustive list.

Communication Skills: Understanding client needs. Explaining changes to management. Problem-solving with IT. Communication is central to a business analyst’s day-to-day—so it’s important to hone your spoken and written skills as you start out in your career.

Technical Skills: Business analysts are comfortable in the IT world. In practice, that means they understand the latest software, what it can do, and its limitations.

Analytical Skills: As the name suggests, finding practical solutions to theoretical problems requires analysts to be deeply analytical. After all, one part of the job is analyzing data, documents, user input, surveys, and workflow—all of which sharpen business practices.

Decision-Making Skills: Responsible for implementing complex IT systems, business analysts often make important decisions. Those who plan to pursue a career as a business analyst will need to assess complex situations, gather input from stakeholders, and promptly select a path forward.

Managerial Skills: Whether planning project scopes or directing staff, handling changes or forecasting budgets, one thing is certain: Business analysts often employ project management skills.

How Much Does a Business Analyst Make?

Because business analysis is largely considered a field, not a singular role, we will use the job title of ‘Management Analyst’ from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics as the comparable salary data set. BLS reports that management analysts earned a median annual salary of $101,860 in 2025. The highest earners earn significantly more, with the top 10% earning more than $171,640.

BLS OEWS data for management analysts shows that pay can vary substantially by location. In the data provided, the highest annual median wages for the US include:

• Massachusetts: $134,720
• District of Columbia: $126,140
• Maryland: $121,680
• Virginia: $117,580
• New York: $112,250

For more information on how much a business analyst makes, explore our business analyst salary guide.

Business Analyst Job Outlook

According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, demand for management analysts is projected to grow 9% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. Management analysts work across many settings, including consulting firms, government agencies, finance and insurance companies, corporate management offices, and self-employment. BLS data shows that the largest share of management analysts worked in professional, scientific, and technical services in 2024, followed by government, self-employment, finance and insurance, and management of companies and enterprises. \

Wherever you work, you’ll be expected to handle a number of responsibilities. From interpreting sales and purchasing trends to predicting future consumer behavior, business analysts are trained to use data to help businesses and organizations succeed. Working in tandem with other departments, including market research, product development, and top-level management, business analysts contribute to a corporation’s overall strategy—both internally and externally.

Business Analyst Professional Organizations

Professional organizations can help business analysts explore certifications, continuing education, networking opportunities, and field-specific resources as their roles become more specialized.

• International Institute of Business Analysis
• Association of Business Process Management Professionals International
• International Institute for Analytics (IIA)
• American Statistical Association
• SIGMOD (ACM Special Interest Group on Management of Data)
• Digital Analytics Association

Explore Our Bootcamp Guides

Business analyst roles can overlap with data analysis, data science, business intelligence, and software-focused work. If you’re comparing adjacent career paths or want to build more technical skills, these bootcamp guides may help you explore related training options:

• Data Science Bootcamp Guide
• Data Analytics Bootcamp Guide
• Coding Bootcamp Guide

Still have questions about becoming a business analyst? Here are some commonly asked questions and answers to consider as you gather information about the field and the profession: