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Computer Systems Analyst Career Guide

Learn how to become a computer systems analyst

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systems analyst with business team

A systems analyst meets with the business
strategy team about a project's tech needs.

Computer systems analysts are essentially the middle men between the tech and the business sides of a company.

They determine what software, programming and other requirements are necessary to meet a business's goals, and work with development teams to enact all recommendations.

Systems analysts must be strategic thinkers with both the necessary technical know-how and the business savvy to understand the broader needs of a company. They must be able to solve problems, work with a variety of different types of people, and troubleshoot both technical and conceptual issues.

Though systems analysts generally work on a more macro level, IT systems analysts in particular may also be responsible for implementing programmatic and technical strategies and creating or contributing to users' manuals and troubleshooting guides. At the top levels of the systems analyst field, a consulting specialist may make recommendations to entire departments or companies, which rely on the systems analyst's extensive experience to enhance the impact of technology on company performance.

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Systems Analyst Career Path

Entry Level Mid Level Senior Level

Types of Roles

Applications systems analyst

Senior systems analyst

Systems analyst specialist

Experience

0 – 4 years

5 – 10 years

10+ years

Getting There

  • All entry-level requirements
  • Experience with databases and server systems
  • Excellent writing skills

Salary*

$51,000

$74,500

$94,000

Description

  • Analyze interaction between business computer programming systems
  • Troubleshoot problems and brainstorm technical or related solutions
  • Coordinate with business team and developers in creating and implementing company tech strategy
  • Document programming history, including changes made to a system
  • Direct the work of lower level systems analysts
  • Conceptualize better programming practices
  • Implement department-wide procedural changes

* Depends on company size, specific job, and location
Sources: Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), Princeton Review, Salary.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monster.com

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