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Business analyst: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$101,860median pay per year, or $48.97 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $60,640lowest 10% earn less
  2. $77,95025th percentile
  3. $101,860median
  4. $133,37075th percentile
  5. $171,640top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median pay for management analysts, the BLS category that includes business analysts, was $101,860 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 10.1% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+10.1%[2]
Openings per year
94,100[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do business analysts make?

BLS counts business analysts in the category called management analysts. Business Analyst is one of the job titles workers in this group report[8]. In May 2025, the median wage was $101,860 a year, or $48.97 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was higher, at $113,790 a year or $54.71 an hour[9]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

Pay varies a lot within the job. Here is how the wages are spread:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][10] $60,640 $29.15
25th[4][10] $77,950 $37.48
Median[1] $101,860 $48.97
75th[4][10] $133,370 $64.12
90th[4][10] $171,640 $82.52

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $60,640 a year[4]. A percentile is a boundary line, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[11].

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out self-employed workers, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, certain bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12]. About 14% of management analysts were self-employed in 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

Massachusetts had the highest state median at $134,720[14]. The District of Columbia was next at $126,140, then Maryland at $121,680[14]. Among the states with published data, Mississippi was last at $69,390[14].

For cities, the metro areas with the highest medians (counting only areas with at least 100 jobs) were San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $136,670 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $135,640[15]. Barnstable Town, MA followed at $132,140[15].

The most jobs are in California (137,280), Florida (71,060) and New York (69,150)[16]. Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City had 67,630 jobs and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria had 62,360[17].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Massachusetts[14]$134,72030,060
District of Columbia$126,14019,000
Maryland$121,68019,170
Virginia$117,58059,620
New York$112,25069,150
Washington$109,17024,760
Alabama$108,0404,900
Vermont$107,520730
New Jersey$105,82022,080
Connecticut$104,9608,000
Colorado$104,75014,360
Illinois$104,27045,820
New Hampshire$104,2702,670
Oregon$101,84010,840
Hawaii$101,7502,920
California$101,460137,280
Texas$101,40050,990
Minnesota$100,79020,700
South Carolina$100,66012,340
Alaska$100,190460
Rhode Island$99,6404,100
Georgia$99,60038,390
Delaware$99,4804,120
Oklahoma$99,4205,760
Tennessee$99,26013,700
Wisconsin$98,78011,670
North Carolina$98,56022,200
Wyoming$98,540390
Montana$97,4701,590
West Virginia$97,4701,740
Missouri$97,27010,030
Kentucky$95,6304,550
Indiana$95,56011,770
Louisiana$95,5404,760
Ohio$94,27025,120
Pennsylvania$93,83034,420
Michigan$93,64013,010
Arizona$93,31017,190
New Mexico$93,1803,910
North Dakota$90,220n/a
Idaho$88,7103,700
Florida$88,61071,060
Iowa$85,5304,150
South Dakota$83,6202,980
Utah$83,5305,670
Nevada$81,6004,550
Kansas$81,2105,280
Maine$75,5302,910
Nebraska$75,3602,740
Arkansas$72,9506,250
Mississippi$69,3903,160

How to become a business analyst

BLS says the typical path has a few parts[7][18]:

BLS lists no typical on-the-job training for this occupation[7].

In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 57% said a bachelor's degree was required, and 24% said a master's degree[23].

With experience, analysts often take on more responsibility. Senior analysts may lead teams on complex projects, and some move into management jobs outside consulting[24].

What business analysts do

Management analysts study how an organization works and suggest ways to run it better[25]. O*NET lists these tasks among the most important[26]:

BLS names analytical, communication, interpersonal, problem-solving and time-management skills as important qualities[27][28][29][30][31].

Where they work

Analysts usually split their time between their own office and the client's site, and they travel often[32]. Stress can come with tight client schedules[32]. Analysts often work many hours under tight deadlines, and some work more than 40 hours a week[33]. Professional, scientific, and technical services was the largest employer group, at 33%[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of management analysts to grow 10.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,077,100 to 1,186,300 jobs, a change of 109,200[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS count of 898,280 jobs covers wage and salary jobs only[35].

BLS projects about 94,100 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings come from new jobs and from workers who leave, so they are more than the growth alone[6]. Each year, 3.2% of workers leave the labor force and 4.2% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is well above the all-occupation median, and jobs are projected to grow faster than average[1][5][2][3]. The usual entry route is a bachelor's degree plus related work experience[7][18]. The work involves client visits, frequent travel and deadline pressure, and some analysts work more than 40 hours a week[32][33]. The job may suit people who like analyzing problems and explaining their findings to clients[27][28].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a business analyst make an hour?
The median hourly wage for management analysts was $48.97 in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $29.15 and the 90th was $82.52[10].
What degree do you need to be a business analyst?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement, and many fields of study can work[7][19][20]. Some employers prefer a master's in business administration[19].
Is business analyst a job in demand?
BLS projects 10.1% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. It also projects about 94,100 openings a year[6].
What is the highest paying state for business analysts?
Massachusetts had the highest median, at $134,720 a year, followed by the District of Columbia at $126,140[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Management Analysts in the US was $101,860 per year and $48.97 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Management Analysts is projected to grow 10.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,077,100 to 1,186,300 jobs (a change of +109,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Management Analysts: 10th percentile $60,640, 25th percentile $77,950, 75th percentile $133,370, 90th percentile $171,640. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 94,100 openings for Management Analysts are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Management Analysts: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. O*NET 13-1111.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Administrative Analyst, Business Analyst, Business Consultant, Employment Programs Analyst, Management Analyst, Management Consultant, Organizational Development Consultant, Performance Management Analyst. O*NET OnLine
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Management Analysts was $113,790 per year and $54.71 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Management Analysts: 10th percentile $29.15, 25th percentile $37.48, 75th percentile $64.12, 90th percentile $82.52. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 14% of Management Analysts were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Management Analysts in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Management Analysts (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $136,670; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $135,640; Barnstable Town, MA $132,140; Boulder, CO $131,470; Lexington Park, MD $130,020; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $126,830; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $126,730; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $126,340. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Management Analysts jobs: California 137,280; Florida 71,060; New York 69,150; Virginia 59,620; Texas 50,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Management Analysts jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 67,630 (median $124,390); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 62,360 (median $126,830); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 37,510 (median $105,090); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 37,060 (median $104,930); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 26,870 (median $101,220); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 26,450 (median $135,640). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 13-1111.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 57%, Master's Degree 24%, Some College Courses 10%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Management Analysts. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Management Analysts. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of management analysts in 2025: Professional, scientific, and technical services 33%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 898,280 people were employed as Management Analysts in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Management Analysts: 3.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.