What does a management analyst do? Duties, pay, education and outlook
Management analysts, often called management consultants, recommend ways to improve an organization's efficiency. They gather and analyze information about problems, develop solutions and present recommendations to management. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education, and many enter with some years of related experience.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| O*NET-SOC code | 13-1111.00 (Management Analysts) |
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience | Less than 5 years in a related occupation |
| Licensing | Not required; certifications may help |
| Median annual wage | $101,860 per year (May 2025, BLS) |
| Projected growth | 10 percent, 2025 to 2035 (much faster than average) |
| Number of jobs | 1,077,100 (2025) |
| Projected openings | About 94,100 per year, on average, over the decade |
What does a management analyst do?
The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) lists these duties:
- Gather and organize information about the problems to be solved or the procedures to be improved.
- Interview personnel and conduct onsite observations to determine the methods, equipment and personnel needed.
- Analyze financial and other data, including revenue, expenditure and employment reports.
- Develop solutions or alternative practices.
- Recommend new systems, procedures or organizational changes.
- Make recommendations to management through presentations or written reports.
- Confer with managers to ensure changes are working.
Work environment
Professional, scientific and technical services employ 33 percent of management analysts, government (excluding state and local education and hospitals) 18 percent, self-employed workers 14 percent, finance and insurance 13 percent and management of companies and enterprises 5 percent. Analysts may travel frequently to meet clients, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Education, training and licensing
- Education: A bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education, commonly in business, social science or engineering. Some employers prefer a master's degree in business administration (MBA).
- Experience: Many enter with several years of experience. Employers in specialized fields often prefer related backgrounds, such as accountants or auditors for tax firms or computer systems analysts for software companies.
- Licensing and certification: A license is not required. Certifications may give jobseekers an advantage.
Skills that matter
The OOH names analytical skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills and time-management skills. O*NET lists the skills, knowledge and work activities for this occupation, which is useful when you tailor a resume.
How much do management analysts make?
BLS reports a median annual wage of $101,860 per year (May 2025). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $60,640 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $171,640. Our guide on how to research pay explains how to read these numbers for your area.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, a gain of 109,200 jobs, with about 94,100 openings projected each year on average over the decade.
How to get hired
- Build a track record in one domain. Analysts are often hired for specialist knowledge, such as accounting, operations or technology. Pick a domain and show measurable improvements you made.
- Quantify your work. Describe the problem, your analysis, the recommendation and the result. Our ATS resume guide covers how to format this for screening software.
- Plan for case-style interviews. Practice structuring a problem aloud with our interview prep tools.
- Switching in from another field? See career change resume.
- Search steadily. Use our find a job fast routine and search jobs on LiveRec.
Related occupations
Accountants and auditors; administrative services and facilities managers; budget analysts; cost estimators; economists; financial analysts; financial managers; market research analysts; operations research analysts; project management specialists.
Frequently asked questions
Do management analysts need an MBA? No. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education, though some employers prefer an MBA.
Do management analysts need a license? No. A license is not required, though certifications may give jobseekers an advantage.
What is the difference between a management analyst and a consultant? The terms overlap. The OOH profile covers management analysts, who are often called management consultants.
Is this a growing field? BLS projects 10 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
Related guides
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Analysts: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/management-analysts.htm (accessed 31 October 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Management Analysts (13-1111.00): https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1111.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
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