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Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊBusiness Data Analyst
Mid-Level

Business Data Analyst

Somewhere in the company's data is the answer to a business question β€” and digging it out, then making it make sense to decision-makers, is the job. You turn raw numbers into decisions.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
I
E
A
S
R
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Business Data Analysts
Professional Services Β· 30%Financial Services Β· 18%Technology & Information Β· 12%Administrative Services Β· 6%Healthcare Β· 6%Manufacturing Β· 4%
Job markets for Business Data Analysts
Employment concentration Β· ~269 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Technology
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Business Data Analyst

The work mixes building reports and translating findings with the unglamorous pulling and cleaning of data, for people who don't speak SQL. You partner with teams across the business, often starting from a vague question and shaping it into something answerable. Framing the problem well matters more than the query itself, and a sharp analysis that doesn't land changes nothing.

What surprises people is how much is communication and stakeholder management, not analysis β€” the same finding lands or dies on how you present it. Data is often messy, incomplete, or contradictory, and priorities shift. The role ranges from light reporting to deep analytics, depending entirely on the company's data maturity and culture.

It tends to fit someone analytical, curious, and a clear communicator. If you want pure technical depth or clean problems, the ambiguity and politics can frustrate. But if you like being the person who turns a fuzzy question into a clear, defensible answer β€” and watching it actually change a decision β€” the work tends to be satisfying.

What people in this role value
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
RecognitionModerate
SupportLower
IndependenceLower
RelationshipsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$112K+9%
Professional Services$101K-2%
Energy & Utilities$88K-15%
Wholesale & Distribution$85K-17%
Government$80K-22%
Compared to Technology average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Business Data Analysts (SOC 15-2051.01), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Technology β†’
Business Data AnalystData Science EngineerMarketing Data ScientistBusiness ConsultantBusiness Process AnalystBusiness AnalystBusiness Intelligence EngineerReports AnalystData AnalystBusiness Systems AnalystInformation SpecialistCompetitive Intelligence AnalystReporting AnalystBusiness Database AnalystMarketing Database AnalystBusiness Systems ConsultantMarket Intelligence AnalystBusiness Technology ConsultantMarket Intelligence ConsultantStrategic Business and Technology Intelligence Consultant
Exploring the Business Data Analyst career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$64K–$194K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
233K
U.S. Employment
+33.5%
10yr Growth
23K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$80K$77K$74K$71K$68K201920202021202220232024$68K$80K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningActive LearningCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingJudgment and Decision MakingMathematicsComplex Problem SolvingMonitoring
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
15-2051.01

Explore related roles

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directorData Operations Director$171KdirectorData Center Product Director$109KdirectorClinical Data Management Director (CDM Director)$113KmidData Science Engineer$113KmidMarketing Data Scientist$113KmidBusiness Consultant$98K
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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.