{"id":5183,"date":"2023-09-29T10:02:46","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T14:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/?p=5183"},"modified":"2024-07-17T15:14:11","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T19:14:11","slug":"business-analyst-vs-project-manager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/careers\/business-analyst-vs-project-manager","title":{"rendered":"Business Analyst vs. Project Manager: What’s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You may have decided your career path lies in business, but aren\u2019t sure exactly what you want to do. While you enjoy examining data and drawing conclusions, you also like following through and making sure certain projects are complete. If this sounds like you, you might be deciding between business analyst vs. project manager for your career. But which path to choose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a Business Analyst?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Business analysts evaluate and interpret data to help their companies make data-backed decisions. They may provide several possible solutions and forecast the possible outcome for each. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBusiness analysts are focused on collecting, interpreting, and exposing patterns in the data of a product, process, project, or tool. They identify challenges or opportunities based on the data and present the findings and recommendations to leadership,\u201d says Marshal Oller, PMP, president, Project Management Institute, Portland Chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> Business Analyst Career Path: What’s the Trajectory?<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though your job title might be business analyst, the term can also apply to business analyst \u201cspecialties,\u201d such as management analyst, financial analyst<\/a>, or systems analyst. For example, a management analyst analyzes the company\u2019s performance and identifies where it needs to improve. And a systems analyst specializes in IT systems, analyzing how well the software and programs a company uses meet its needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> Business Analyst vs. Data Analyst: What’s the Difference?<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a Project Manager?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A project manager<\/a> oversees a project from start to finish. They are the primary point of contact during the project and coordinate everything<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project managers are responsible for ensuring the project is finished on time without going over budget. They collaborate and communicate with all the stakeholders to ensure everyone knows what they need to do, when they need to do it, and what is due when.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also up to the project manager to resolve any conflicts that occur and make sure that everyone involved in the project has the tools they need to get their part done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> What Is Project Management?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Are Business Analysts and Project Managers Different?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBusiness analysts are responsible for gathering requirements. They research and do the analysis necessary to make better decisions,\u201d explains Ordonna Sargeant, PMP, PMI-ACP, and career mentor. \u201cA project manager typically concentrates on the project tasks, baselines, timelines, and challenges to achieve the desired solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> 20+ Business Analyst Skills for Your Resume in 2024<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, a business analyst is more like a data scientist<\/a> (and some business analysts are<\/em> data scientists). Business analysts use data to answer questions and make predictions to help the company choose an action plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Data Science<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Step into the shoes of a data scientist in this free course from BCG. Help the company tackle a challenge using data, uncovering patterns, and making predictions.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness understanding, hypothesis framing, data visualization, exploratory data analysis\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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A project manager doesn\u2019t answer questions or make predictions, though they may forecast the budget. Project managers execute the action plan. In a sense, the business analyst determines the destination, while the project manager decides how to get everyone there and makes sure they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Oller notes, \u201cThe difference between a project manager and business analyst is more complementary. A project manager would reach out to an analyst to confirm or deny a program risk, research a potential opportunity, or scope a new work track.\u201d In other words, business analysts and project managers work together to move the business forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Are Business Analysts and Project Managers Similar?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though business analysts and project managers are different roles, there are some similarities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both jobs require you to connect the dots. As a business analyst or project manager, you\u2019ll have access to a lot of information from many sources. Taken as individual points, the information doesn\u2019t mean much. But business analysts and project managers take these dots and put them together to create a larger, more comprehensive picture that anyone can look at and understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> Business Analyst vs. Data Analyst: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s another similarity between a business analyst and project manager. Both roles require the ability to take a lot of information \u2014 some of it very technical \u2014 and make it understandable for everyone. This requires stellar communication skills<\/a>, empathy, and a deep understanding of what stakeholders want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Analyst vs. Project Manager Salaries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just as the jobs are similar, so are the salaries. Below are the estimated base salaries<\/a> for a business analyst and the estimated base salaries<\/a> for a project manager by years of experience from Glassdoor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years of Experience<\/th>Business Analyst<\/th>Project Manager<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
0-1<\/td>$59,000 – $85,000<\/td>$54,000 – 93,000<\/td><\/tr>
1-3<\/td>$64,000 – $93,000<\/td>$60,000 – $101,000<\/td><\/tr>
4-6<\/td>$68,000 – $103,000<\/td>$65,000 – $111,000<\/td><\/tr>
7-9<\/td>$70,000 – $109,000<\/td>$70,000 – $118,000<\/td><\/tr>
10-14<\/td>$74,000 – $117,000<\/td>$76,000 – $126,000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to Become a Project Manager vs. Business Analyst <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because the two roles are fairly different, the path to becoming a business analyst vs. a project manager varies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pursuing a Business Analyst Career<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in becoming a business analyst, you\u2019ll likely need a bachelor\u2019s degree in business, economics<\/a>, data science, or a similar field. In some cases, you may need an MBA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Financial Services: Climate Change<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

See what it's like to work as a consultant on climate change initiatives in this free course from Oliver Wyman. Learn what it takes to get your clients to net-zero emissions by 2030.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCritical thinking, communication, research, data analysis\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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You may also benefit from obtaining certifications to demonstrate you have the necessary business analyst skills. The International Institute of Business Analysis<\/a> has several certifications you can pursue, as does the Project Management Institute<\/a> (PMI).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pursuing a Project Manager Career<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Because schools don\u2019t typically offer a project management major, there are no specific degree requirements. Project managers may have studied anything from art to sociology to law. As a result, a formal degree is not necessary to enter the field, though it can be helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Future project managers should also consider obtaining certifications through PMI<\/a> or other credentialing bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> 10 Common Project Manager Interview Questions <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Skills Do a Business Analyst vs. Project Manager Need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though both business analysts and project managers use skills like communication and collaboration<\/a>, there are some specific skills you\u2019ll need to be successful in each role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Analyst Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Business analysts often use their hard skills<\/a> to get the job done. This includes technical and analytical skills,<\/a> such as cost-benefit analysis. Other important hard skills are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n