A Program Analyst manages and evaluates a company's programs, systems, and policies, and gives recommendations for improvements. He/She researches, compiles, and analyzes complex data to identify trends and develop reports. He/She also monitors program metrics and performance, identifies issues, and resolves them. Additionally, he/she helps program managers with the development of budgets and schedules. Also, he/she advises them on planning, testing, and implementing new programs or systems. Program analysts can work in accounting companies, health care, manufacturing, and more.
Most employers demand that for a bachelor's degree in computer science or any related field with at least two years of relevant work experience. Certifications like Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certification or Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-BA) certification can also be beneficial. The skillset for this job includes communication, analytical, technical writing, organization, interpersonal, problem-solving, project management, presentation, and teamwork skills. Program analysts make about $76,276 annually. This ranges from $52,000 to $111,000.
What Does a Program Analyst Do
There are certain skills that many program analysts have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills and time-management skills.
Learn more about what a Program Analyst does
How To Become a Program Analyst
If you're interested in becoming a program analyst, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 66.8% of program analysts have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 18.2% of program analysts have master's degrees. Even though most program analysts have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Learn More About How To Become a Program Analyst
Top Program Analyst Jobs Near You
Program Analyst Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of project manager you might progress to a role such as business manager eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title senior finance manager.
Top Careers Before Program Analyst
Top Careers After Program Analyst
Recent Job Searches
Average Salary for a Program Analyst
Program Analysts in America make an average salary of $75,039 per year or $36 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $106,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $52,000 per year.
Average Program Analyst Salary
$75,039 Yearly
$36.08 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Number Of Program Analyst Jobs By State
Program Analyst Education
Program Analyst Majors
Program Analyst Degrees
Top Colleges for Program Analysts
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
5. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
6. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
7. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
9. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
10. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
Top Skills For a Program Analyst
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 9.3% of program analysts listed veterans on their resume, but soft skills such as interpersonal skills and problem-solving skills are important as well.
Program Analyst Demographics
Program Analyst Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among program analysts, 54.5% of them are women, while 45.5% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among program analysts is White, which makes up 68.1% of all program analysts.
- The most common foreign language among program analysts is Spanish at 41.4%.
Work Experience Programs For Program Analysts
Virtual work experience programs replicate work at top companies and help you gain the skills to be successful when applying and working there. In only a few hours, learn the relevant tools necessary to complete a typical work day at that company. Virtual work experience programs are 100% free, open-access, and self-paced. No experience or application is required!
Corporate Analyst Development Program (CADP) Program
Company: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Cost: Free
Duration: 4.25-5.75 hours
Wealth Management Program
Company: Goodbody
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-6 hours
Token Service Technology Program
Company: Visa
Cost: Free
Duration: 2-3 hours
Financial Services Regulation Program
Company: Herbert Smith Freehills
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-6.5 hours
Audit Program
Company: Grant Thornton Australia
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-6 hours
Process Design Program
Company: Accenture North America
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-6 hours
Data Visualisation: Empowering Business with Effective Insights Program
Company: Tata
Cost: Free
Duration: 3.5-4.5 hours
Data Analytics Program
Company: General Electric
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-6 hours
Asset Management Program
Company: JPMorgan Chase
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-6.5 hours
Global Finance and Business Management Program
Company: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Cost: Free
Duration: 4-5 hours
Online Courses For Program Analyst That You May Like
Advertising Disclosure The courses listed below are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the course, we may receive a commission.
The Complete Financial Analyst Training & Investing Course
Succeed as a Financial Analyst & Investor by Award Winning MBA Prof who worked @Goldman, in Hedge Funds & Venture Capital...
Practical SQL Bootcamp for Data Analysts and Data Scientists
Master One of the Most In-Demand Skills for Data Analysts in 2020!...
Data Analysis with R Programming
This course is the seventh course in the Google Data Analytics Certificate. These courses will equip you with the skills needed to apply to introductory-level data analyst jobs. In this course, you'll learn about the programming language known as R. You'll find out how to use RStudio, the environment that allows you to work with R. This course will also cover the software applications and tools that are unique to R, such as R packages. You'll discover how R lets you clean, organize, analyze, vis...
Show More Program Analyst CoursesBest States For a Program Analyst
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a program analyst. The best states for people in this position are Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and Washington. Program analysts make the most in Maryland with an average salary of $93,853. Whereas in New York and New Jersey, they would average $91,302 and $89,353, respectively. While program analysts would only make an average of $89,250 in Washington, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
How Do Program Analyst Rate Their Jobs?
Working as a Program Analyst? Share your experience anonymously.
Title for your review
Do you work as a Program Analyst?
Rate how you like work as Program Analyst. It's anonymous and will only take a minute.
Top Program Analyst Employers
We've made finding a great employer to work for easy by doing the hard work for you. We looked into employers that employ program analysts and discovered their number of program analyst opportunities and average salary. Through our research, we concluded that Cognizant was the best, especially with an average salary of $83,171. Department of Homeland Security follows up with an average salary of $85,909, and then comes Science Applications International with an average of $84,318. In addition, we know most people would rather work from home. So instead of having to change careers, we identified the best employers for remote work as a program analyst. The employers include Parsons, SAIC, and Salient CRGT
Becoming a Program Analyst FAQs
How Much Do Program Analysts Make?
Program analysts make $70,000 a year, on average ($34.10 per hour). There is, however, considerable range in how much a program analyst can make - starting from as little as $50,000 to as much as $99,000 a year. Factors such as years of experience, location, and company type impact how much a program analyst can make.
Is Being A Programmer/analyst A Good Career?
Yes, being a programmer/analyst is a good career. Working as a programmer/analyst can be a rewarding career choice that pays well and is in demand across many industries. Being a programming analyst is a great career choice for those who enjoy learning new coding languages and working in the technology industry.
What Do You Need To Become A Program Analyst?
To become a program analyst, you need to be a great computer programmer, and you must have the necessary education, skills, and qualifications.
Most employers require computer programmer candidates to obtain their bachelor's degree in computer science or a related subject. Other employers may only require you to earn a high school diploma with several years of coding experience or an associate's degree from a junior college or technical institute.
What Skills Do I Need To Be A Program Analyst?
The skills needed to be a program analyst reflect the ability to review a company's computer systems to ensure they operate properly and efficiently. Their main duties include determining requirements for each system, making recommendations to optimize programs accordingly, and identifying and resolving system issues.