Systems Analyst Career Guide

Are you organized with excellent researching skills and attention to detail? Do you enjoy solving technical problems, even if they can take hours to do?

If yes, then you may thrive as a systems analyst. Systems analysts play a huge role in the modern day economy. They are responsible for ensuring that systems are set up correctly and that they are operating as productively as possible. To become a systems analyst, a bachelors degree in a computer or information science field is common. However, it is possible to land a job with a degree in another area and experience in IT or programming. Similarly, in some cases, analysts don’t even need a degree as experience and knowledge of programming and IT is enough.

Do you think becoming a systems analyst could be the right job for you? We have talked to professionals in the field to compile detailed career profiles to help you determine whether this job is a good fit. Browse the profiles below to learn more about educational and career backgrounds, salaries, pros and cons, and more.

Systems Analyst Career Ratings

(What these ratings mean)

Income

Career
Growth

Personal Growth

Contribution

Influence

Overview

What a systems analyst does

A systems analysts helps to ensure that systems are set up correctly and that they are operating as productively as possible. They typically set up, upgrade, and maintain both hardware and software. They also analyze or make assessments of how well the existing computer and network components are operating in order to identify necessary changes and upgrades.

The IT department is the systems analysts home. They can work in numerous different industries, but regardless of where they work their typical duties and responsibilities include:

Consulting with managers to determine the role of the IT systems in their organization
Researching emerging technologies and deciding if installing them would increase the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness
Analysizing the costs and benefits of an IT system and presenting it to managers
Devising ways to add new functionality to existing computer systems
Designing and implementing new systems by choosing and configuring hardware and software
Overseeing the installation and configuration of new systems to customize them for the organization
Conducting tests to ensure that the systems work as expected
Training employees on how to use the system

Why they are needed

Systems analyst are responsible for designing, implementing and understanding the complexed computer systems, and subsystems, that we use daily. They help business, and individuals, to reduce costs, minimize risks, be more efficient, offer better management, minimize the use of IT in the future and have better quality servers. Without system analysts, we would be stuck in a rut of poorly functioning and ineffective computer software that is not fit for the growing and advancing population.

Pros and cons of a career as a systems analyst:

Pros:

It is a career that encourages intelligence and brain power, which leads to high job satisfaction
It is a well paying career
System analysts need to keep learning throughout their career, making the possibilities endless
They are needed in nearly every industry, providing lots of jobs
Computer programmers can work on a freelance basis, giving them lots of flexibility

Cons:

There can be competition for jobs
It is a sedentary job, which needs to be considered as part of a balanced lifestyle
It can be stressful, demanding and the hours may be long
Like any job, system analysts will have to do mundane and boring tasks
It is a hard career to enter, as lots of knowledge and experience is needed

Employability

Job market

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of system analysts is expected to grow 7% from 2019 to 2029. This steady employment growth is expected because organizations across the economy are expected to increase their reliance on IT, which means that system analysts will be hired to design and install new computer systems. Even smaller firms are likely to contract to cloud server of expert IT service providers to cut costs. This contracting will steal lead to job growth in all types of IT roles, including system analysts.

Finally, the growing healthcare industry is expected to create a demand for system analysts. System analysts will be needed to accommodate the increase in the use and implementation of electronic health records, e-prescribing and other forms of healthcare IT.

Career paths

To become a systems analyst, a bachelors degree in a computer or information science field is common. However, it is possible to land a job with a degree in another area, such as business or liberal arts, and experience in IT or programming. Similarly, in some cases, analysts don’t even need a degree as experience and knowledge of programming and IT is enough.

As system analysts are heavily involved in the business side of a company, it may be helpful for them to take business course or major in management information systems. Or, they should aim to gather an understanding and experience of the industry they intend on working in. For instance, analysts in the healthcare industry should be clued up health planers such as medicare. Furthermore, employers may prefer to hire analysts with a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in information systems.

Finally, as computers and software are constantly changing, throughout their career system analysts will have to take courses to remain competitive. Without this understanding, they will fall behind. With all this additional experience and knowledge, it is common for systems analyst to advance to becoming project managers and lead a team of analysts.

Example Job Titles for Systems Analyst

Below is a list of common job titles in the Systems Analyst field. Click the links below for more information about these job titles, or view the next section for actual real-life job profiles.

Benefits & Conditions

Income and benefits

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for system analysts in the United States was $93,730 in May 2020. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $56,510 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $152,060 per year.

The top paying industry was the information industry, where the median annual wage was $96,430. This was followed by management of companies and enterprises ($96,170), computer systems design and related services ($96,040). finance and insurances ($94,040) and finally the government ($82,560).

Autonomy and Flexibility

Right from the get go, systems analysts should have high levels of autonomy and flexibility. Often, they are some of the most senior people in the IT department. They work for business when a lot of the people know little about computers, so they have control over the decisions they make regarding solving computer and software issues.

It is likely that their flexibility is less than their autonomy. As they tend to work for large organizations, they may find that they have to work set hours. Similarly, they are likely to find that they may have to work overtime to meet deadlines or when emergencies occur.

Locations and commute

According to Zippia, the best state to be a systems analyst, based on average annual salary and number of jobs available, are:

Rhode Island, where the average annual salary is $75,711
New Jersey, where the average annual salary is $77,844
District of Columbia, where the average annual salary is $80,301
Washington, where the average annual salary is $73,615
Virginia, where the average annual salary is $72,818

The worst states to be a systems analyst, according to Zippia, are Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Work environment

The Bureau of Labour Statistics concludes that 28% of system analysts in the United States were employed by the computer systems design and related services industry. A further 14% were employed by the finance and insurance industry, 9% by the management of companies and enterprises, 7% by the information industry and a final 6% by the government.

In general, system analysts will work in an office and they will often have to collaborate and coordinate with others. Systems analysts can work directly for an organization and tend to stay in the same office and team. Or, they can work as a contractor, where they will travel to different locations and work with different teams.

Career Satisfaction

Common Matching Personality Types

Which personalities tend to succeed and thrive in Systems Analyst careers? Based on our research, there is a relatively strong positive correlation between the following personality types and Systems Analyst career satisfaction. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t many exceptions, of course, but if you fit into one of the following personality types then we suggest you give strong consideration to a career in Systems Analyst.

16 Types (Myers-Briggs)

ISTP
INTP

Big Five (OCEAN)

None

DISC

CD (Perfectionist)

Enneagram

None

Holland Codes (RIASEC)

Personality types

Like many other information technology and software focused roles (e.g., computer programmers or software developers) it is likely that a successful will present the INTP personality type. The INTP, or “The Thinker” is logical and rational. They like to work independently to solve problems, but they also enjoy confiding in people they trust. They like to come up with out of the box solutions for many problems and spend time looking at things from different angles.

Accomplishment and mastery

Theres one thing for sure… being a systems analyst can be stressful and difficult! However, to become a systems analyst requires knowledge and skill. Therefore, when they qualify and land their first job, they will feel accomplished. Similarly, every time a systems analyst creates software, or fixes an issue, they will feel accomplished.

Finally, as the software industry is constantly changing and computer software is developing at a rapid speed, system analysts must keep learning and training. This constant need for the development of new skills will ensure that a systems analysts sense of mastery will remain high for their entire career.

Meaning and contribution

System analysts play an absolutely essential part in the economy by ensuring the organizations have well designed, well maintained and functioning IT equipment. They help organizations to be more efficient, more secure and to reduce costs. Without them, businesses would be stuck and not able to progress and, therefore, the work of each and every systems analyst is incredibly meaningful!

Life fit

Some systems analysts will work full time. Some will work more than 40 hours per week, especially nearer deadlines or in the case of an emergency.

Who will thrive in this career?

Individuals who like to solve technical problems
Those with excellent research and organization skills
Those with a passion for continuous learning
People who can come up with solutions quickly
Those who are comfortable working with others and confident instructing them
Individuals with exceptional attention to detail

Who will struggle in this career?

People who aren’t confident working with others
People who want to become an expert and never advance their skills
Those who don’t have the patience to focus on even the smallest of details
Those who are looking for a more active and physically demanding job

Requirements

Quick Glance

Skills

Degrees

Skills and talents

The typical skills and talents required for a systems analyst include:

Troubleshooting, as system analysts need to be able to accurately check code for errors
Analytical skills, as system analysts must interpret complex information from various sources and decide the best solution
Communication skills, as analysts need to be able to communicate with management and the IT-department
Creativity, as analysts need to find innovative solutions to computer problems and to find these solutions they will often need to think outside the box
Attention to detail, as analysts need to spot even the smallest of problems

Education

Certifications

There are no specific certifications or licenses that systems analysts in the United States need to work.

How to Become

Summary

Systems analysts play a huge role in the modern day economy. They help to ensure that systems are set up correctly and that they are operating as productively as possible. They help businesses to be efficient, risk free and profitable by setting up, upgrading, and maintaining both hardware and software. Due to their importance to the modern day business, business analysts are in growing demand, creating many exciting job opportunities.

Immediate action

To kick start a career as a systems analyst, there are plenty of online courses that you can complete to enhance your resume and show employers your passion and determination to work in the industry.

Education and learning

To become a systems analyst, a bachelors degree in a computer or information science field is common. It is possible, however, to land a job with a degree in another area and experience in IT or programming. Similarly, in some cases, analysts don’t even need a degree as experience and knowledge of programming and IT is enough.

As well as this, analysts may have to take further training in business, the specific industry they are working for and the updating software.

Skill development

Whilst working as a systems analyst there are lots of opportunity for skill development and career progression. Many professionals continue to take courses throughout their entire career to advance their skills, their knowledge and to keep up to date with the ever growing and changing industry.

FAQs

Ask a Question

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