What is a systems analyst and how to become one

Q: Does a system analyst need to know programming?

No, a system analyst does not need to know programming. While systems analysts should enjoy working with computers and be curious about new technologies, they do not necessarily need to do any coding themselves.

Q: How long does it take to become a systems analyst?

It takes about four years to become a systems analyst. This is because most types of systems analyst careers require at least a bachelor's degree as an entry-level education requirement.

Q: How much does a systems analyst make?

The average salary for a systems analyst is between $70,000 and $90,000 in a year. The best-paid 25 percent made $117,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $70,000. While this can vary depending on the level of experience, industry, and education, most systems analysts can expect to make at least $70,000 in a year.

Q: What is the career path for a systems analyst?

The career path for a systems analyst varies depending on personal experience, knowledge, and aptitude, but may start as a systems support analyst and progress up to a chief technology officer.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a systems analyst?

The base qualification needed to become a systems analyst is a bachelor's degree in information technology. After this, a systems analyst should be able to demonstrate that they have a high level of analytical, communications, and technical skills.

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted Experts

Erik Johnson Ph.D.,

Dr. Pauline Mosley

A systems analyst evaluates, designs, and implements information systems to meet the needs of an organization. They use their technical expertise to develop solutions that improve efficiency and effectiveness. A systems analyst works with users, developers, and other stakeholders to ensure the system meets their needs. They may also be involved in testing, documentation, and training activities. A successful systems analyst has strong analytical abilities, technical expertise, and communication skills.

What general advice would you give to a Systems Analyst?

Erik Johnson Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Economics, Carthage College

Economics gives you a set of tools to analyze a variety of policy and business problems. However, determining which tools to apply in which situation requires that you learn the industry, you are working from top to bottom. When you begin a new job in a new field, be sure to do everything you can to understand how the organization and the industry work to understand the primary incentives that everyone faces. One right way to do this is to make as many connections within the company you are working for as possible, and always be on the lookout for new opportunities within the company and how they can help you learn more. Moreover, do your best to ensure that a significant portion of your job involves some creative endeavors, such as economic modeling or building tools for yourself or others to use. As computing power continues to become cheaper, and artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, relatively repetitive tasks become more comfortable and easier to automate. Therefore, you will have less job security. Creative tasks, such as modeling and tool building, are difficult to automate and are more likely to provide you with more satisfaction.

ScoreSystems AnalystUS Average

Salary

5.9

Avg. Salary $75,383

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.3

Growth Rate 9%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.19%

Asian 14.41%

Black or African American 10.66%

Hispanic or Latino 11.36%

Unknown 5.03%

White 58.35%

Gender

female 30.59%

male 69.41%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.5

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.8

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Systems Analyst?

Pros

High demand for systems analysts in many industries
Good salary and benefits
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Potential to work remotely or have flexible hours
Potential for job stability and security

Cons

High pressure to meet deadlines and deliver results
Long hours and overtime may be required at times
May require travel or working on-site at client locations
May require working outside of regular business hours or being on call for emergencies
Potential for burnout due to the high demand and pressure of the job

Key steps to become a systems analyst

Explore systems analyst education requirements

Most common systems analyst degrees

Bachelor's

67.1 %

Associate

14.4 %

Master's

13.6 %

Start to develop specific systems analyst skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	8.17%
Project Management	5.05%
Troubleshoot	4.69%
Java	4.23%
C++	3.75%

Complete relevant systems analyst training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New systems analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a systems analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real systems analyst resumes.

Gain additional systems analyst certifications

Systems analyst certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific systems analyst certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for systems analysts include Software Engineering Master Certification (SEMC) and Programming in C# Certification.

More About Certifications

Research systems analyst duties and responsibilities

Manage AS400 operations teams and provide training / end-user support as scheduled.
Lead a team of two developers who create various GUI report parameter screens and associate reports.
Write scripts (shell, Perl, AutoIt) to automate administrative tasks, troubleshooting, and disaster recovery operations.
Manage ticket resolution of 250/300 per month, within SLA and root cause analysis and defects tie back to development.

Prepare your systems analyst resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your systems analyst resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a systems analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Systems Analyst Resume templates

Build a professional Systems Analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Systems Analyst resume.

Apply for systems analyst jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a systems analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do systems analysts rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Systems Analyst reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022

Pros

-interacting with end users or customers - delivering successful products or services

Cons

Managing projects or leading large projects as this makes the BA role difficult to do well

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

As it seeks to solve problems in innovative way

Cons

It needs more patience to apply the true solution and satisfy your client

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Challenges, problem-solving,communicating with differnet individuals

Systems Analyst FAQs

What is a systems analyst and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Systems Analyst?

What are the pros and cons of being a Systems Analyst?

Systems Analyst career paths

Key steps to become a systems analyst

Explore systems analyst education requirements

Most common systems analyst degrees

Start to develop specific systems analyst skills

Complete relevant systems analyst training and internships

Gain additional systems analyst certifications

Research systems analyst duties and responsibilities

Prepare your systems analyst resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Systems Analyst Resume templates

Apply for systems analyst jobs

How Did You Land Your First Systems Analyst Job

Average systems analyst salary

How do systems analysts rate their job?

Systems Analyst reviews

Systems Analyst FAQs

Does a system analyst need to know programming?

How long does it take to become a systems analyst?

How much does a systems analyst make?

What is the career path for a systems analyst?

What qualifications do you need to be a systems analyst?

Search for systems analyst jobs

Systems Analyst jobs by state