Which degree helps me land a good paying job easily after MS in the US- Business Analytics or Data analytics?

Question

Which degree helps me land a good paying job easily after MS in the US-  Business Analytics or Data analytics?

S Raghav · Accepted Answer

Between Business Analytics and Data Analytics, the one that helps you land a better-paying job in the US often depends on your target role, but generally, Data Analytics leans more technical and leads to higher starting salaries.
Data Analytics programs usually go deeper into coding (Python, R), machine learning, and big data tools like Spark or Hadoop. If you're aiming for roles like Data Scientist, Data Engineer, or Product Analyst at tech companies, a Data Analytics degree gives you a competitive edge.
Business Analytics, on the other hand, is broader ,  it combines business strategy with data interpretation. You&rsquo;ll find roles like Business Analyst, Operations Analyst, or Marketing Analyst. The pay is still good, especially in finance and consulting firms, but slightly lower than technical data roles.
If the goal is to enter the tech industry or land a STEM-heavy job with high pay and long-term growth, Data Analytics usually offers more direct pathways.

Divakshi Arora · Answer

Think of it this way, Business Analytics tells you what the data means for business. Data Analytics dives into how that data is processed in the first place,  and that difference shows in salaries too.
&bull; Business Analytics grads land roles in strategy, operations, and marketing ,  average salaries range between $70K&ndash;$90K depending on location and company. &bull; Data Analytics grads often go into data science, ETL development, or engineering-heavy analyst roles, especially in tech &mdash; salaries here start closer to $90K&ndash;$110K. &bull; If you're comfortable with coding, databases, and statistical modeling, Data Analytics has more high-paying options &mdash; but it comes with a steeper learning curve. &bull; Business Analytics is a better fit if you're more business-focused but still want to work with data and get into consulting or corporate roles. &bull; Also, Business Analytics programs are often more international student&ndash;friendly when it comes to job search support and networking.
Choose based on your skillset and what kind of work you enjoy &mdash; not just the paycheck.

Joshua Borisova · Answer

Hey Nikhita, how are you doing?
So to know which degree would get you a good-paying job amongst MS in Business Analytics and MS in Data Analytics, you need to understand the basic difference between them. Both of these degrees would make you equipped with the ability to use data and make more accurate decisions by utilizing statistics and software tools. You would get hands-on experience on analysis techniques but the major difference is that in data analytics you would be turning data into analytics while in business analytics, you would have to use that data for the business acumen such as marketing, finance etc. and create an advantage for the organization. 
According to my research, the demand of a business analyst is more than that of a data analyst in the USA as those candidates have the ability to turn data and statistics into the benefit of the organization. So I believe an MS in Business Analytics would be more beneficial in terms of package. 
Was this helpful? Let me know if you want me to find out some best universities which you can opt for your MS.