BUSINESS Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Management Analyst

With a national median of $101,860 and +8.8% projected job growth through 2034, Management Analyst offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.

About Management Analyst

Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.


Median Wage
$101,860
Employed Nationally
898K
Openings / Year
98,100
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Also known as:

Administrative Analyst Administrative Support Coordinator Business Analyst Business Consultant Business Development Analyst

How Much Do Management Analysts Make?

Management Analyst earn $101,860 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $77,950 and $133,370. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$101,860
National Median (Annual)

Well above average for college graduates.

$78K–$133K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

What Do Management Analysts Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Management Analyst roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

  • Gather and organize information on problems or procedures.
  • Confer with personnel concerned to ensure successful functioning of newly implemented systems or procedures.
  • Analyze data gathered and develop solutions or alternative methods of proceeding.
  • Document findings of study and prepare recommendations for implementation of new systems, procedures, or organizational changes.
  • Plan study of work problems and procedures, such as organizational change, communications, information flow, integrated production methods, inventory control, or cost analysis.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Critical Thinking Active Listening Reading Comprehension Judgment and Decision Making Complex Problem Solving

Who Thrives Here

C
Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

I
Investigative

This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.

E
Enterprising

Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.

Where Do Management Analysts Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
Moderate

Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.

What Is the Job Outlook for Management Analysts?

The BLS projects +8.8% employment change for Management Analyst through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 98,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↗ +8.8%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

Faster than average.

98,100
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

898K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Management Analyst professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $101,860 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 California 136,200 $102,110 +0.2%
2 Florida 74,030 $83,130 -18.4%
3 New York 65,390 $106,930 +5.0%
4 Virginia 64,710 $109,650 +7.6%
5 Texas 49,950 $98,650 -3.2%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Management Analyst positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 8 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Bachelor's degree
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Business Administration 395,227 $68,257 2,611
2 Business 57,204 $68,407 933
3 Management Sciences 56,747 $86,176 593
4 Counseling Psychology 39,326 $50,523 799
5 Data Analytics 7,294 292
6 Business Statistics 4,885 $77,981 258
7 Educational Evaluation 4,249 $47,700 164
8 Applied Statistics 541 31

Top Colleges for Aspiring Management Analysts

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT 96
2 United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO 96
3 United States Military Academy West Point, NY 96
4 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 93 $3,033 $75,971
5 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 93 $12,548 $82,511
6 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 93 $12,470 $84,943

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Management Analyst, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Management Analyst Pros & Cons

Strong earnings and growing demand make Management Analyst a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.

PROS
  • Very high median salary The national median of $101,860 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
  • Fast-growing field At +8.8% projected growth through 2034, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
  • High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $133,370 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
  • Large, established field 898K people work in this occupation nationally, creating a broad job market with openings spread across every region and industry.
CONS
  • Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $101,860 median while building the experience employers require.

Management Analyst Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Management Analyst professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Management Analyst is $101,860, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $77,950 and $133,370. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Management Analyst a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. A $101,860 median with +8.8% projected growth through 2034 is a combination most career fields can't match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $77,950, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to become a Management Analyst?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Business Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $101,860 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Management Analyst?
The BLS projects +8.8% employment change for Management Analyst through 2034, faster than average compared to all occupations. About 98,100 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 898K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Management Analyst salaries vary so widely?
The $55,420 gap between the 25th ($77,950) and 75th ($133,370) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Management Analyst professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Management Analyst roles: Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, and Complex Problem Solving. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.

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