Key takeaways
- Data scientists earned a median $120,230 in May 2025, and BLS projects the job to grow 35% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3% average for all jobs.
- Most business analytics grads start as data, business, financial, marketing or operations analysts, with BLS medians from about $78,760 to $102,740.
- Only about 27% of business analytics grads hold a graduate degree (New York Fed), so the bachelor's is usually the working credential.
- Communication matters as much as coding: the job is explaining what the numbers mean.
Business analytics is a newer major, and families are often unsure how it differs from data science or a regular business degree. The short version: it is a business degree with a heavy dose of statistics, databases, spreadsheets, programming and visualization, aimed at helping companies make better decisions.
Graduates are hired by retailers, banks, hospitals, sports teams, tech firms, consultancies and government agencies. Below we cover the main jobs, the pay, how the major compares with data science, and how AI is changing analyst work. For the more technical neighbor, see what you can do with a data science degree.
What jobs can you get with a business analytics degree?
Graduates work as data analysts, business intelligence analysts, financial analysts, market research analysts, operations research analysts, management consultants and, with strong technical skills, data scientists. BLS reports data scientists earned a median $120,230 and management analysts $101,860 in May 2025. Nearly every industry hires them.
Pay below is the national median (the middle wage) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, the newest release. Our calculator and Continuum use a different series, so their numbers won't match exactly.
1. Data Analyst or Business Intelligence Analyst
Builds reports and dashboards that show leaders what is happening and why. BLS doesn't have a single data analyst category; many of these roles are counted under management, market research or operations research analysts.
2. Data Scientist
Builds statistical and predictive models. BLS: median $120,230 (middle half $85,660–$158,880), with 35% projected growth from 2025 to 2035.
3. Management Analyst (Consultant)
Helps organizations cut costs and work more efficiently. BLS: median $101,860.
4. Operations Research Analyst
Uses optimization and simulation to solve scheduling, pricing and supply problems. BLS: median $88,940.
5. Financial Analyst
Evaluates investments and company performance. BLS financial and investment analysts: median $102,740.
6. Market Research Analyst
Studies customers and markets to guide marketing. BLS (including marketing specialists): median $78,760.
7. Computer Systems Analyst
Connects business needs with technology systems. BLS: median $105,850.
8. Logistician
Analyzes and coordinates supply chains. BLS: median $82,320.
9. Analytics or Marketing Manager
Leads analytics or marketing teams after experience. BLS marketing managers: median $166,790.
How much do business analytics majors make?
BLS medians for common analytics careers in May 2025 ranged from $78,760 for market research analysts and marketing specialists to $120,230 for data scientists. The New York Fed reports a $72,000 early-career median for business analytics grads, rising to $109,000 at mid-career.
| Career | Median pay | Middle 50% range | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market research analyst / marketing specialist | $78,760 | $58,350–$108,310 | Bachelor's |
| Logistician | $82,320 | $64,440–$106,190 | Bachelor's |
| Operations research analyst | $88,940 | $68,360–$125,990 | Bachelor's |
| Management analyst | $101,860 | $77,950–$133,370 | Bachelor's + experience |
| Financial and investment analyst | $102,740 | $79,290–$133,340 | Bachelor's |
| Computer systems analyst | $105,850 | $82,860–$134,110 | Bachelor's |
| Data scientist | $120,230 | $85,660–$158,880 | Bachelor's (some prefer master's) |
| Marketing manager | $166,790 | $123,020–$216,410 | Bachelor's + experience |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 national estimates. The middle 50% is the 25th to 75th percentile. Pay varies by state, employer and experience.
Business analytics vs. data science: which major should you choose?
Business analytics is a business degree that uses data; data science is a technical degree that builds data tools. Analytics majors take more management, finance and marketing, while data science majors take more math, programming and machine learning. Choose analytics for business-facing roles and data science for model-building and engineering roles.
Both can lead to data scientist jobs. BLS says data scientists typically need at least a bachelor's in math, statistics, computer science or a related field, and that common degree fields include business. INFORMS, the professional association for analytics and operations research, offers early-career resources and the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) credential. Our is a data science major worth it guide covers the technical side in depth.
Is business analytics a good major?
Yes for most students who like numbers and business. Demand for data skills is strong, and BLS projects 35% growth for data scientists through 2035. New York Fed data show 5.0% unemployment and 28.7% underemployment for recent grads, so internships and a portfolio of projects help a lot.
The New York Fed tracks how business analytics graduates actually fare, using Census survey data. Recent graduates (ages 22–27) had an unemployment rate of 5.0% and an underemployment rate of 28.7%, meaning that share worked in jobs that don't usually require a degree. Median pay was $72,000 early in their careers and $109,000 at mid-career (ages 35–45), and 27% of business analytics bachelor's holders also have a graduate degree.
MajorMatch's Business Analytics Loan vs Upside calculator starts from Continuum wages of about $86,000 early-career and $119,000 mid-career. At its default $50,000 loan (6.5% for 10 years), total repayment is about $68,129, against an estimated lifetime earnings gain of about $1,670,345 over a high-school-only path, roughly 24.5 times the loan cost. It is an illustration you can adjust with your real net price, not a quote.
NACE's Winter 2026 survey projected a $68,873 average starting salary for business bachelor's grads overall, and analytics-heavy roles often start higher. BLS expects data science growth to come from more data-driven decisions and companies building AI into their workflows.
Will AI replace business analysts?
AI will automate routine reporting, but it raises the value of analysts who can frame the right question and explain results. MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check rates management analysts at 45% task exposure and data scientists at 64%. The more a role involves judgment and persuasion, the safer it is.
MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check (part of the assessment results) estimates what share of a job's tasks AI tools could significantly speed up or automate. It measures exposure, not a forecast of job loss. Business Analytics scores 55% overall. That is one of the higher scores among the majors we profiled, so encourage your student to build skills AI can't easily copy: understanding a business deeply, working with stakeholders, and telling a clear story with data. For the bigger picture, see our guide to AI-proof college majors.
Is business analytics the right major for your teen?
It fits students who like math and puzzles but also want to work with people and business problems. Students who enjoy fantasy-sports stats, spreadsheets or figuring out why something sold well tend to like it. Students who want deep coding and machine learning may prefer data science or computer science.
Picture a student who… tracks every stat for her school basketball team, likes economics class, and wants a career where she can explain her ideas to a boss. Business analytics fits that blend of numbers and persuasion. This is an illustrative scenario, not a real student.
Compare with a general business degree, finance and industrial engineering, then take the assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do business analytics grads make?
The New York Fed reports a $72,000 early-career median and $109,000 at mid-career for business analytics majors. BLS medians for common jobs run from $78,760 to $120,230.
Is business analytics hard?
It requires statistics and some programming, often SQL and Python or R, but less advanced math than data science or engineering. Students comfortable with algebra and statistics usually do well.
Can you become a data scientist with a business analytics degree?
Yes. BLS lists business among common degree fields for data scientists. Extra coursework in programming and machine learning helps.
Is business analytics a good major for the future?
Demand for data skills is strong: BLS projects 35% growth for data scientists from 2025 to 2035. Routine reporting will be automated, so communication and judgment matter.
What is the difference between business analytics and a business degree?
A general business degree covers management, marketing and finance broadly. Business analytics adds statistics, databases, programming and modeling.