Role profile
Systems analyst
Also called: Computer systems analyst · IT business analyst · Business systems analyst · Systems architect (overlaps) · ERP analyst · Software quality analyst (overlaps)
Systems analysts study how an organization uses its computer systems and design changes that make them work better for the business, sitting between users, managers and developers. They are hired by IT consulting firms, government, hospitals, insurers, banks and large companies running ERP or CRM platforms.
- Median pay, 2025
- $105,850
- $67,340 to $167,710 (10th to 90th percentile)
- US jobs, 2025
- 544,400
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Outlook, 2025-35
- +8%
- Much faster than average
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- No prior experience required
What the work looks like
- Interview users and managers to understand how work actually gets done, which is rarely how the process document says.
- Write requirements, user stories and acceptance criteria that developers can build from.
- Map data flows and draw process and system diagrams.
- Evaluate whether to configure an existing system, buy a product or build something custom, with rough costs.
- Test new features and system upgrades before release, and coordinate user acceptance testing.
- Configure business platforms such as Salesforce, ServiceNow, SAP or Workday, often without writing much code.
- Train users on changes and handle the questions after go-live.
How people get in
The BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical, usually in computer science or information systems, though some employers hire business or liberal arts graduates who have built technical skills elsewhere. Business courses help because so much of the job is understanding how the organization makes money.
Many analysts move in from inside the business: someone in finance, operations or healthcare billing becomes the person who knows the system best, then shifts into IT. Industry knowledge counts, since an analyst at a hospital, for example, needs to understand health plans and clinical workflows.
Platform-specific skills (Salesforce, ServiceNow, SAP) can be a faster way in than general credentials. For technically complex roles some employers prefer a master's in computer science or an MBA with an information systems focus.
Skills employers ask for
- Requirements gathering and user stories
- Process mapping and diagramming
- SQL for data checks
- Jira or Azure DevOps
- Testing and user acceptance testing
- ERP or CRM platforms (SAP, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Workday)
- Basic scripting or low-code tools
- Data modeling basics
- Stakeholder interviews
- Clear technical writing
Outlook to 2035
The BLS projects 8% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 32,900 openings a year, as organizations keep expanding IT and adopting AI tools. Someone still has to decide how new systems fit existing processes, which is the core of this job. Analysts who pair business domain depth with hands-on platform skills are in the best position.
How the pay compares
Systems analyst highlighted against the other 13 roles we track.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer Systems Analysts. Pay is 2025 median annual wage; outlook is projected employment change 2025-35.