Top Business Analytics Jobs to Consider

Big data is big news. If you have a keen eye for detail and a passion for helping companies thrive, you might consider pursuing any number of business analytics jobs. But what exactly is business analytics and what types of careers in business analytics might you pursue? This in-depth career guide will help you get started exploring your options.

In This Article:

• What Is Business Analytics?
• How Does a Business Analytics Degree Help Me Advance My Career?
• 7 Business Analytics Jobs

What Is Business Analytics?

Throughout 2021, North American businesses spent about $297.5 billion on advertising.¹ Marketing and advertising activities are crucial for businesses because they need to raise brand awareness among consumers in order to sell their products or services. Otherwise, those companies would find themselves going out of business.

Yet, not all advertising campaigns are effective. In order to increase the effectiveness of their advertising, businesses rely on business analytics to provide key insights into their consumer’s demographics, preferences, lifestyle and buying habits. For example, if a company determines that their reusable water bottles are particularly popular among millennials, they’ll target their advertising campaigns to that demographic.

It’s the job of business analytics professionals to collect, organize and analyze very large datasets that provide invaluable insights into a company’s target audience. It’s important to note, however, that although marketing and advertising campaigns are heavily dependent on business analytics, these very large datasets can also help inform other types of business decisions. Through business analytics, an organization can make informed decisions about the following issues:

• Whether to expand into an international market
• How many new staff members to hire
• The sales potential of a new product or service line (as well as its ideal price tag)
• The ideal release date for a new product or service

Business analytics can even help logistics companies develop more efficient shipping routes, and it can help car companies figure out how to improve the performance of vehicles. In short, business analytics helps companies thrive and may benefit consumers as well.

How Does a Business Analytics Degree Help Me Advance My Career?

A Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics degree program teaches you vital industry skills, the most prominent being advanced data analytics. You will learn how to apply appropriate methods to address data-centric challenges. Careers in business analytics also teaches you to hone your critical thinking and problem-solving skills — two proficiencies that are applicable to all lines of work. You will also learn many diverse data science techniques and approaches, such as, data preparation, data mining, model development and evaluation, all within the context of optimizing the performance of business organizations.

A business analytics degree can enable you to pursue an entry-level job in the field. After gaining some practical work experience, you may be qualified to pursue higher-level positions in business analytics.

7 Business Analytics Jobs

Here are just a few of the career paths that you might consider pursuing after you earn a business analytics degree.

1. Information Technology (IT) Business Analyst

All sorts of businesses rely on technology platforms to facilitate their work — from electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare to package tracking systems in logistics. It’s the responsibility of an IT business analyst to evaluate a company’s IT infrastructure needs and assess their current systems by making recommendations for improving the infrastructure in a way that best meets the company’s needs. In short, IT business analysts look for ways of streamlining productivity and developing technology-driven solutions to organizational problems.

Some responsibilities of an IT business analyst may include:

• Gain an in-depth understanding of organizational needs and operational difficulties
• Recommend IT improvements
• Manage the life cycle of planning, developing, implementing and evaluating new IT infrastructure
• Draft data-reliant reports on the IT infrastructure that enable executives to make informed decisions

2. Market Researcher

Many business analytics jobs are found in the marketing and advertising field. As previously noted, advertisers are heavily dependent on data analytics to target their campaigns to specific demographics. If you choose to earn a business analytics degree, one possible career you might pursue is that of a market researcher.

Market researchers collect, organize and analyze data that pertain to consumer buying habits. They also evaluate business conditions (e.g. the economy). Based on these data, market researchers can forecast sales trends, measure how effective an advertising campaign is and then provide written reports to the marketing team that provide insights on the company’s target consumers.

As of May 2021, market research analysts have a median annual wage of $63,920, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).²

3. Project Manager

A project manager helps all members of tech teams stay on schedule and under budget. The project manager gathers data about the team’s performance, creates schedules and prepares budgets to predict the workflow. If you like data but also love working with teams, this job could be a viable option.

A project manager may also:

• Handle reports
• Manage team members and oversee tasks
• Minimize project risk
• Plan and organize various aspects of the project

As of May 2021, project management specialists have a median annual salary of $94,500, according to the according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.³

4. Operations Research Analyst

If you are a numbers person who excels in statistics, programming and research skills, becoming an operations research analyst may be right for you. As an operations research analyst, you would use various statistical methods and machine learning techniques to extract meaning from data and interpret it. You would work with large sets of data to identify trends, develop charts and create visual presentations to assist with business decisions.

Some other of an operations research analyst may include:

• Crafting reports using data
• Finding data-driven solutions to problems that arise
• Working with a team and/or individuals from other departments
• Analyzing and understanding patterns in data sets

As of May 2021, operations research analysts have a median annual wage of $82,360, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.⁴

5. Operations Manager

Some business analytics jobs are high-level positions, such as that of the operations manager. An operations manager, sometimes called a general manager, is responsible for overseeing many of the day-to-day operations of a business. Operations managers tend to wear many hats, sometimes handling matters such as supply chain challenges, hiring and training staff, assessing the need for more inventory and managing the budget.

An in-depth understanding of business data analytics is crucial for this role because operations managers must be able to analyze and interpret relevant data in order to make smart decisions. Aspiring operations managers must also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and pay attention to small details while still keeping the bigger picture in mind. Since this is a higher-level role, you are likely to need multiple years of relevant work experience in addition to your degree.

As of May 2021, top executives have a median annual wage of $98,980, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.⁵

6. Business Analytics Manager

Another high-level position to consider pursuing is a job as a business analytics manager. As the title suggests, a business analytics manager is responsible for overseeing and directing the business analytics team. Their ultimate goal is to use business analytics to drive the company’s growth.

A business analytics manager will consult with various stakeholders, including executives, to develop a strong understanding of the company’s vision, plans and current needs. They will then use that information to plan and develop the activities of the business analytics team, ensuring that the team’s activities align with the company’s overall mission. Business analytics managers are often responsible for presenting the work of the team to the company’s decision-makers.

As of May 2021, business analytics managers have a median annual wage of $93,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.⁶

7. Chief Data Officer

Although a business analytics manager holds a managerial role in a company, that job might not necessarily be the senior-most data-centric role. Modern companies are increasingly making room in the C-suite for data analytics professionals. The chief data officer (CDO) is a senior executive who is responsible for all high-level strategic data management decisions, including those pertaining to data governance, data strategies and data quality.

The CDO typically works closely with other C-level executives and the heads of various departments (e.g. marketing) to make strategic decisions that are data-driven. Those decisions may affect anything from the customer experience to international expansions. The job of any C-suite executive is not an entry-level one; if you aspire to become a CDO, you can expect to need many years of work experience and possibly a master’s degree in addition to your undergraduate business analytics degree.

If you’re passionate about the potential list of careers in business analytics, you can find your purpose at Grand Canyon University (GCU). The Colangelo College of Business is pleased to offer the Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics degree program, which instills foundational competencies in quantitative tools and research methods. Fill out the form on this page to learn more about pursuing your future at GCU. 

¹Retrieved from Statista, Advertising spending in North America from 2000 to 2024 in January 2023.

² The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Market Research Analysts as of May 2021, retrieved on Feb. 23, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as market research analysts. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.

³ The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Project Management Specialists as of May 2021, retrieved on Feb. 23, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as project management specialists. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.

⁴ The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Operations Research Analysts as of May 2021, retrieved on Feb. 23, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as operations research analysts. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.

⁵ The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Top Executives as of May 2021 retrieved on June 28, 2022. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as top executives. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.

⁶ The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Business Analytics Managers as of May 2021, retrieved on Feb. 23, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as business analytics managers. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.

Approved by associate professor for the Colangelo College of Business on Feb. 21, 2023.