Share Your Voice
How much are you worth?
IIBA has just sent out our 2019 salary survey where we’ll look at the ecosystem in place for today’s business analysis professional. Our profession has a myriad of job titles, so the title of Business Analyst doesn’t mean the same thing that it did years ago. We’re now looking at the discipline of business analysis rather than the job title or role.
If I remember way back to when I started my business analysis career, people thought that projects failed because of incomplete or poorly understood requirements. I think that statistics such as this were at the foundation of our profession, but I think they got it wrong; it wasn’t poorly defined requirements, it was poor analysis. That report issued in 2003 or so, saw the profession grow and if you look at the statistics in our latest survey, I think businesses continue to find value in the work we do.
They must find value, because when I look at last year’s survey the salary of the practitioner is going up. Certified practitioners make on average 8% more than non-certified ones because organizations see the value of the analysis skills they deliver.
The 2018 survey also shows that on average female practitioners make more money than their male counterparts. Women are excelling in the profession and are taking on more and more key areas which can only help up and coming practitioners. Most of the business analysts that I looked up to in my career are female - Barb Carkenord, Kitty Hass, Kathleen Barret, Ellen Gottesdiener, and Angela Wick. They’re all BA heroines of mine.
A key concern of mine is the development of new analysts. I’ve heard a few people say that they can’t get BA experience without a job, and they can’t get a BA job without experience. However, the 2018 survey states that 42% of people taking the survey have less than 3 years’ experience. That bodes well for the profession as we continue to bring on new analysts.
The new survey has just been released and I hope you’ll take the time to put your mark on it. I’ve always seen the glass as being half full, and for us and our profession there is a lot of optimism and opportunity ahead!
About the Author
Jared loves being a Business Analyst and has done so in title for over 15 years with over 25 years of business leadership experience in both the retail and energy sectors. He is a strong advocate for IIBA, having served in various capacities with the Calgary IIBA Chapter as well as chairing the Volunteer Chapter Network. He brings his passion for business analysis and experience as a Chapter Leader to the role of Director of Chapter and Membership Engagement of IIBA.
He holds his Bachelor of Arts degree in French from the University of Calgary and the Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®) designation. He will take any chance possible to evangelize business analysis and will talk your ear off about the role and the profession should you allow him to do so.