Business analyst job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed business analysts about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed business analysts about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Organising
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Cooperative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Imaginative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a business analyst
A business analyst is involved with:
- Translating the work of technical teams to colleagues and stakeholders with a less technical background, and the inverse: translating business goals to more technically-oriented people in the form of briefs and problem statements
- Evaluating technological processes by how they meet business needs - including cost, efficiency, and accuracy
- Understanding how changes in processes affect the business and fixing problems or inefficiencies as they arise
- Coming up with recommendations for improvements to optimise technological processes
- Gathering business requirements
- Leading the design, planning, and implementation of better processes
- Analysing data
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Learning opportunities
Implementing new systems, improving business performance, and taking an innovative approach to your work provides many exciting challenges where no two days are the same. The best solutions are often unexpected and tailored to the specific business, enabling you to go off the beaten track to develop your own processes.
High paying
Typically, business analyst salaries are over $100,000 per year with an average salary of $118,000.
Job security
Business analyst positions are highly skilled. People with these skills are very sought after.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a business analyst
Jobs in information technology have strong expected future growth as our industries – and entire lives – come to rely more heavily on technology. The role of a business analyst is no different.
In 2020, 34,100 people were working in this industry, and by 2025, the industry size is expected to reach 43,500. Business analysts are required for almost every industry, including IT, financial services, health, retail, telecommunications – or any industry where technology can improve business operations.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
As they upgrade their skills and experience, business analysts can build a career path in either business or technology – or continue to amalgamate the two in more senior roles.
Potential pathways include:
Mid
-
Systems analyst
Most common qualification: Diploma of Information Technology (ICT50120)
Senior
-
Business analyst
Most common qualification: Diploma of Information Technology (ICT50120)
-
IT project manager
Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Information Technology (ICT60220)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
If you’re interested in business analysis, you may already have some key business analyst skills or be able to develop them in preparation for your first business analyst role.
Crucial soft skills for business analysts include:
Decision-making
Business analysts need to collect relevant data and use their critical thinking skills to make good decisions. If you’re the kind of person who makes a spreadsheet when making a big purchase, you may already have the temperament to be a business analyst.
Communication
Business analysts work with both technical and business teams. This means you constantly have to think about how to use your communication skills best to phrase information to people given their knowledge and background. Clear writing and speaking, informed by your audience, are critical.
Time management
Business analysts ensure that processes are as efficient as possible. In turn, this requires their own methods to be disciplined and meet appropriate deadlines. Well-organised people who plan their time wisely and break down tasks into key milestones are well-suited to this role.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
Formal study is likely needed to gain the technical skills necessary to thrive as a business analyst.
Crucial technical skills for business analysts include:
Research and analysis
Coming up with the best solutions involves a keen analysis of current processes and problems, drawing on the field’s best knowledge, methodologies, techniques, and resources.
Project management
Business analyst tasks are complex and made even more so because you often need to delegate tasks to different team members and ensure everyone is on track for timely completion. Project management skills are essential for keeping the team on task, managing workflows, and meeting the small goals necessary for ultimate project delivery.
Knowledge of both business and technology
You need to understand how business works and elements of business like meeting regulatory obligations, acting in the interests of shareholders, optimising profits and minimising loss, and concepts like productivity and efficiency. At the same time, you also need to understand how different technology systems and processes support business aims.
How to become a business analyst
-
Study
Complete either a VET course, like the Diploma of Information Technology (ICT50220), or a degree like a Bachelor of Business. Try to choose electives that allow you to learn more about business and technology. Other relevant qualifications include information systems, business, business administration, systems engineering, or similar.
-
Gain experience
On your first job search, find a related entry-level position that allows you to build on both your soft and technical skills. A role like technology customer support or sales are great options. They allow you to hone your skills by communicating between those with technical backgrounds and those without working on or managing complicated projects. If you already have experience in a role like software engineer or technology project manager, your skills should enable you to make a lateral move.
-
Consult the Business Analyst Guide
A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK Guide), published by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), is the globally recognised standard for business analysis, allowing you to understand the role more deeply as you shape your career towards this path. IIBA also offer Business Analysis Certification Competencies (CCBA) such as the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) course and The Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) course.
Explore related qualifications
Diploma of Information Technology
Learn the fundamentals of technology, software engineering, Microsoft Excel, and information systems — and how organisations use them — as experienced teachers guide you. The Diploma of Information Technology (ICT50220) usually takes one year of full-time study (or part-time equivalent). Upon completion, you may be eligible for credit towards further study, going straight into the second year of a bachelor degree level, so it’s a great way to dip your toes into tech.
6 providers offer this course
Bachelor of Business
Learn to identify business opportunities, how businesses of all sizes work, and use up-to-date theory to ensure business processes are compliant with relevant laws and as efficient as possible. Get exposure to multiple disciplines of study, including accounting, economics, business systems, management, statistics, and marketing. A bachelor degree in business takes three years of full-time study to complete (or part-time equivalent).
4 providers offer this course
Bachelor of Applied Information Technology
Immerse yourself in the world of IT with areas of study such as information systems, cloud computing, computer programming, data science, SQL, app development, business analysis, cybersecurity, tech entrepreneurship, and more. This applied qualification shows you how IT knowledge and skills are helpful within organisations and may enable you to complete relevant placements and projects. A bachelor of Applied Information Technology typically takes three years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent).
1 providers offer this course
Related subjects
If you’re interested in the industries of technology and business, there are plenty of other subjects and roles you can consider, including:
Reviews
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
- All
- Positive
- Negative
Jett
Nov 03 2021Meaningful and important work.
What are the best parts of the job?
The best part is knowing that the work I am doing is meaningful and important.
What's the most challenging part?
The people I have to work with make my job harder than it needs to be.
Alicia
Nov 03 2021Comes with lots of flexibility.
What are the best parts of the job?
The job has great flexibility, meaning I often am able to work from home.
What's the most challenging part?
Completing my tasks on time and making sure the business succeeds.
Beau
Nov 03 2021Good pay.
What are the best parts of the job?
It's a well-earning job, the pay is very good.
What's the most challenging part?
Dealing with debtors is tedious and challenging at times.
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Job cluster: The Technologist
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
Business analysts and other technical roles are suited to the career personality of The Technologist.
Technologists are natural problem solvers, are interested in gadgets and technology from a young age, tinker with code, and get immersed in video games. Because of your inquisitive nature and interest in digital technology, you’re drawn toward jobs that involve building, fixing, and improving things with technology.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications do you need to be a business analyst?
There are no specific qualifications required to become a business analyst. Still, it is a good idea to have a solid grounding in IT and business-related fields by gaining a bachelor degree.
How do I start a business analyst career?
Business analyst is not an entry-level job, so you need to gain experience in related areas like project management and software engineering to get started. It’s also a good idea to check out A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide), published by the International Institute of Business Analysts. It is the globally recognised standard for business analysis.
Is it hard to become a business analyst?
The role of a business analyst is a challenging one, where you manage complex projects and lead and communicate with people from a range of different professional backgrounds. It requires quite a specialised skill set that you get from years of industry experience. That said, dedicated professionals with a strong interest in this area should build these skills over a few years and are much in demand.
Is business analyst a dying career?
No. There is strong future growth in the demand for business analysts (as there is for other technological professionals) as the world comes to rely increasingly on technology in a range of industries and people’s daily lives.