The salary of the system analyst depends on a variety of factors like employer type, experience, and job location. According to national statistics, the median annual wages of system analysts range anywhere between USD 45,000 to USD 70,000.
Almost all businesses today are supported by computers and you need people with expertise to configure and install them. This is where a system analyst comes in, they have in-depth understanding of information technology (IT), project management, and commerce. They design IT solutions to improve efficiency in workplaces and provide faster computing solutions. System analyst use IT tools to assist businesses of different sizes achieve their targets. Individuals with attention to detail, good communication skills and problem solving capabilities do well in this profession.
The economy is showing signs of stabilization and is expected to grow in the coming years with the IT industry as the dominant driving force. This translates into more opportunities for system analyst as they are responsible for operating and developing computer systems that run the computers in an organization. Although the salary figures have taken a dent since the downward spiral of the economy, they still earn considerable pay packets.
Average Salary
In a computer driven industry, system analysts get paid well as they are responsible for developing or configuring operating systems. Salary figures given below are just to give you an idea about system analyst’s earnings, as salaries can be affected by various factors like education and experience. The average salary according to national statistics is around the $65,000 mark. In an entry-level job, in this profession you can expect around $45,000 per annum but this figure varies according to the employer type.
Like most other professions, the salary is influenced by the geographic location of the job. Individuals working in urban settings like New York or California can expect to earn higher wages than their counterparts working in rural settings. System analyst jobs in New York are known to pay wages that hover around the $90,000 mark. In California, the pay packets of system analyst range anywhere between $80,000 to $90,000 per year.
Employer type and the financial size of the employer also factors in the system analyst salaries. In the IT industry and insurance sector, one can expect $45,000 to $70,000 annually. In the healthcare sector, where the use of computer systems is prevalent the salary figures can range between $45,000 to $65,000 per year. In the education sector, system analysts can earn salaries that range between $40,000 to $67,000.
Job Description
The system analyst is responsible for the operating system and the associated multi-user secondary systems. Along with the operating systems, they are responsible for configuring and installing the required hardware. They are also in-charge of maintenance of the operating systems and attend to any glitches that may occur. A system analyst also develops new computer systems by configuring hardware and software that best suits the organizational requirements. They also devise processes that will optimize the use of existing systems and identify alternatives for optimizing computer resources.
Analyzing information to evaluate existing systems and upgrade them to suit client requirements is the mainstay of their job profile. On specific projects they research proposed business procedures and develop hardware and software interfaces to better suit the operating system. In multi-user systems, they will work towards troubleshooting system bugs and training new users. Outlining system capabilities and data processing abilities is one of the important duties of a system analyst.
Understanding business practices and project management methodology is the main requirement for this job profile. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field with good written and verbal communication skills are expected to do well in this profession.