Most Underrated IT Role That Pays Surprisingly Well in 2024

The Unsung Hero of IT: Why Systems Analysts Deserve More Attention (and Pay)

In a world obsessed with AI engineers, cybersecurity pros, and data scientists, there’s one IT role quietly making a huge difference behind the scenes—yet it rarely makes headlines. That role is the Systems Analyst.

It doesn’t come with the same glamour as machine learning. It doesn’t get flashy bootcamp ads like cybersecurity. And no one’s posting viral tweets about being a systems analyst at a Fortune 500 company. But here’s the reality: systems analysts are the connective tissue of tech operations, and many of them are making six figures without needing to write Python code 12 hours a day.

So, what exactly do they do—and why is this role flying under the radar?

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What Does a Systems Analyst Actually Do?

A systems analyst’s job is deceptively simple on paper: analyze an organization’s IT systems and improve them. But in practice, they’re the translators between business and tech. They sit in the space where engineers, executives, end-users, and databases collide—and make sense of it all.

Their core responsibilities include:

• Understanding business processes and how technology can improve them
• Assessing and redesigning workflows
• Evaluating or recommending new software and systems
• Acting as a liaison between technical teams and business departments
• Documenting system requirements and ensuring smooth implementation

Think of them as architects, planners, and negotiators rolled into one. They’re not necessarily coding solutions—but they’re the ones deciding which solutions get built, why, and how they integrate with everything else.

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Why This Role Is So Underrated

A few reasons.

First, it’s not as marketable to tech influencers. You won’t find a thousand-hour systems analyst course being pushed online because it’s not a skills-based role in the same way coding or hacking is. It requires something softer: business context, communication skills, and a deep understanding of how systems fit together.

Second, the title sounds vague. “Systems analyst” can mean different things at different companies. Sometimes it leans more toward IT project management. Other times, it’s close to a business analyst role with a tech slant. But in most cases, it sits at the strategic core of how an organization’s tech actually supports its operations.

And third? It doesn’t scream cutting-edge. There’s no shiny new systems analyst algorithm or viral tool. But that’s the thing: good systems analysts keep everything running, while others chase the next big thing.

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A Salary You Probably Didn’t Expect

Here’s where it gets interesting.

In many companies—especially those with legacy infrastructure, healthcare systems, banking software, or complex ERPs—experienced systems analysts are critical. And critical roles come with solid pay.

According to multiple U.S. salary aggregators:

• Entry-level systems analysts start around $65,000 to $80,000
• Mid-level professionals often make $90,000 to $110,000
• Senior or specialized analysts (especially with finance or healthcare experience) can earn $120,000 to $140,000+

And because the role is more flexible and cross-functional, it often opens doors to project management, solution architecture, or senior IT leadership down the line.

In other words, it's a career path with range—not just money.

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Who Is This Role Perfect For?

If you’re someone who:

• Understands tech but doesn’t necessarily want to code every day
• Likes solving problems by looking at the big picture
• Can translate business needs into technical terms (and vice versa)
• Enjoys process improvement more than product invention
• Wants a job with stable demand across industries

…then the systems analyst path might be more aligned with your natural skillset than you think.

It’s also a great option for people pivoting into tech from non-tech fields—especially from operations, logistics, finance, or business process roles.

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Real-World Examples

Let’s take a healthcare company running outdated scheduling software that regularly causes appointment errors. A systems analyst is brought in—not to rebuild the software from scratch, but to:

• Map out the business workflow
• Identify where communication breaks down between systems
• Propose a better way to sync patient data with scheduling tools
• Work with developers and end-users to test and implement the fix

No deep ML models. No cybersecurity firewalls. Just an elegant solution to a real business problem.

Now imagine this across multiple teams, systems, vendors, and countries. You start to see how valuable that person becomes.

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Why It’s Often Invisible

The systems analyst doesn’t always get credit when things go right—but they’re often the first to get the call when things go wrong.

Their work is upstream. It happens in meetings, diagrams, spreadsheets, and decision documents. There’s no GitHub repo with stars. No keynote talk. Just stable, well-integrated tech systems functioning as they should.

Ironically, their invisibility is a sign they’re doing their job well.

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Final Thought: Don’t Overlook the Quiet Roles

Tech has a way of glamorizing the newest, loudest roles. But often, the best careers are the ones that don’t trend on Twitter.

The systems analyst role is strategic, steady, and pays very well for those who do it well. It might not come with viral YouTube tutorials or conference applause—but it comes with impact, upward mobility, and the satisfaction of solving problems that matter.

So if you're exploring tech, don’t just ask, “What’s hot right now?” Ask instead: What quietly runs the world behind the scenes?

You might find that your future role has been sitting there all along—just under the radar.