How much do budget analysts make in 2026?
Budget analysts have their own BLS occupational series, and the match is exact rather than pooled — a rarity on these pages. SOC 13-2031 reports a national median of $91,640 a year ($44.06 an hour) across 47,160 people, with a 10th percentile near $62,250 and a 90th percentile of $136,660 (OEWS May 2025). The narrower band compared with corporate finance roles reflects where these jobs sit: government at federal, state and local level, public universities, school districts, hospitals and nonprofits, where pay scales are structured and ceilings are lower but the distribution is tighter. The work is budget formulation and execution: developing budget requests with programme managers, analysing funding proposals for cost and justification, monitoring spending against appropriations or approved budgets, projecting shortfalls and surpluses, preparing budget documents and legislative or board materials, and advising on the financial consequences of programme decisions. Federal budget analysts follow their own pay structure with defined grade progression. Pay follows the size of the budget analysed and the seniority of the decision process it feeds. Employment is projected to grow 1% through 2034 with roughly 3,100 openings a year. → Full budget analyst career guide, career path, credentials & placement →
Note: $91,640 blends every experience level and every setting in this occupation. For pay by level alone, see Pay by Level below.
- Budget Analysts earn a national median $91,640/yr ($44.06/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2031); the P10 to P90 range is $62,250 to $136,660.
- This is an exact-match occupational series rather than a pooled one: SOC 13-2031 counts 47,160 budget analysts with a $91,640 median and a comparatively narrow $62,250 to $136,660 band.
- The narrow band reflects the sector mix — government, public universities, school districts, hospitals and nonprofits, where pay scales are structured and ceilings lower but distribution tighter.
- The work is budget formulation and execution: building requests with programme managers, analysing proposals, monitoring against appropriations, and advising on the financial consequences of decisions.
US Budget Analyst Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025
Pay by Level · BLS OEWS May 2025
How much do budget analysts earn at each level?
BLS OEWS publishes one blended wage for the whole occupation and does not break pay out by credential or practice level. The levels below distribute the published percentile range across the credential tiers this role actually hires at.
Level medians are aligned to the BLS OEWS May 2025 percentile distribution for SOC 13-2031; GlobalCybers does not yet publish a verified placement sample for this role, so no verified median is shown.
Methodology & Sources
How the numbers on this page are built
Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2031, United States national estimate. Public, methodologically rigorous, but sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection — so it reflects wages that are already 1–2 years old by the time you read them.
Level and certification medians: distributed across the published BLS percentile range for this SOC code (P10 through P90) according to the credential tiers this occupation actually hires at. They are modeled reference points, not separately surveyed wages.
State and metro figures: modeled — the BLS national median multiplied by the GlobalCybers state wage index, and for metros by the published metro index for that state. They are estimates of local pay, not BLS state or metropolitan-area observations, and are labelled as modeled in the tables below.
No verified placement sample:GlobalCybers does not yet publish a placement median for this role, so no "verified" figure appears anywhere on this page.
Pay by Career Level
How much does a budget analyst earn at each career stage?
Budget analysis pay follows budget size and the seniority of the decision process supported. Each median is anchored to the BLS OEWS distribution for SOC 13-2031, an exact-match occupational series.
By State
Which states pay budget analysts the most in 2026?
State figures are modeled estimates — the BLS national median multiplied by the GlobalCybers salary-calculator state wage index — not BLS state observations. For this occupation the employer type matters most: federal roles follow their own national pay structure with locality adjustments, while state, local and institutional pay varies by jurisdiction and its fiscal position.
6 of 51 state guides shown, ranked by median. Bar is relative to California ($105,390), the highest-paying state shown. See all role salary guides →
By Metro
Which cities pay budget analysts the most?
Metro figures are modeled — national median times state wage index times published metro index — not BLS MSA observations. Capital cities and metros with large federal, state or institutional presence host most of these roles.
BLS OEWS MSA estimates, May 2025. Nominal pay — weigh each metro against its cost of living before relocating.
Certification Impact
Which certifications raise a budget analyst’s pay the most?
Median annual pay before and after each credential, based on GlobalCybers placement data cross-referenced with BLS. License upgrades move the needle most; stackable certs add on top.
Impacts are not additive, the licensing rows share the same career ladder. Browse all 167 certifications →
Trade Comparison
How does budget analyst pay compare to related roles?
BLS OEWS national median across the closest trades. Budget Analysts sit mid-pack on median but carry one of the widest P10–P90 spreads, licensing and specialization drive the upside.
BLS OEWS May 2025. Verify budget analyst wages on BLS.gov →
Take-Home Pay
What does a budget analyst actually take home after taxes?
The medians above are gross base wage.
Estimates use 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, and 7.65% FICA. Actual take-home varies with filing status, deductions, and local tax.
FAQ
Budget Analyst Salary, Frequently Asked Questions
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