Budget Analysts
Budget Analysts (SOC 13-2031) earn a median $91,640 a year ($44.06 an hour) in the United States, with 47,160 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What budget analysts do
Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan how they will spend their money and keep track of whether they stick to the plan. Analysts examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations, then summarize budgets and recommend whether funding requests should be approved. During the year they study monthly budget and accounting reports to keep spending in check, review operating budgets for trends that affect future needs, and give advice and technical assistance on cost analysis and the allocation of funds. They compile and analyze accounting records and other data to determine the resources needed. The occupation excludes financial and investment analysts, who evaluate investments, and differs from accountants and auditors, who keep or examine records, and from financial managers, who direct finance functions. Titles include budget analyst, budget coordinator, and budget and policy analyst. They also consult with managers so that budget adjustments follow program changes, and they direct the preparation of regular and special budget reports.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Budget Administrator (Budget Admin), Budget Analyst, Budget and Policy Analyst, Budget Coordinator, Budget Engineer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $29.93 | $36.21 | $44.06 | $54.91 | $65.70 | $46.33 | 47,160 |
| Annual | $62,250 | $75,320 | $91,640 | $114,220 | $136,660 | $96,370 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where budget analysts earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $39.45 | $48.75 | $59.90 | $69.56 | $75.36 | $59.94 | 1,490 | 2.13 | 7.02 |
| Annual | $82,060 | $101,400 | $124,590 | $144,680 | $156,750 | $124,680 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $31.58 | $40.30 | $50.97 | $64.05 | $75.36 | $52.94 | 2,490 | 0.90 | 2.97 |
| Annual | $65,680 | $83,820 | $106,020 | $133,220 | $156,750 | $110,120 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $33.95 | $40.67 | $50.71 | $64.18 | $75.36 | $53.99 | 2,730 | 0.66 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $70,610 | $84,590 | $105,470 | $133,490 | $156,750 | $112,310 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $33.26 | $38.88 | $47.84 | $62.09 | $71.95 | $50.91 | 4,160 | 0.23 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $69,170 | $80,860 | $99,520 | $129,140 | $149,650 | $105,890 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $29.35 | $36.73 | $47.83 | $59.80 | $68.59 | $48.76 | 870 | 0.41 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $61,050 | $76,400 | $99,490 | $124,380 | $142,670 | $101,420 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $33.26 | $38.88 | $47.84 | $62.09 | $71.95 | $50.91 | 4,160 | 0.23 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $69,170 | $80,860 | $99,520 | $129,140 | $149,650 | $105,890 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $29.25 | $33.69 | $39.89 | $49.92 | $60.67 | $42.90 | 3,340 | 0.24 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $60,840 | $70,080 | $82,970 | $103,830 | $126,200 | $89,220 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $27.24 | $32.16 | $40.46 | $49.00 | $59.48 | $42.61 | 3,150 | 0.32 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $56,660 | $66,900 | $84,170 | $101,910 | $123,710 | $88,620 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $31.25 | $36.29 | $42.57 | $52.33 | $64.99 | $46.11 | 2,760 | 0.29 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $64,990 | $75,490 | $88,540 | $108,840 | $135,190 | $95,920 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $33.95 | $40.67 | $50.71 | $64.18 | $75.36 | $53.99 | 2,730 | 0.66 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $70,610 | $84,590 | $105,470 | $133,490 | $156,750 | $112,310 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Iowa City, IA | Hourly | $39.10 | $51.56 | $64.83 | $64.83 | $77.14 | $59.05 | 40 | 0.44 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $81,330 | $107,240 | $134,850 | $134,850 | $160,460 | $122,820 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $41.35 | $45.80 | $63.33 | $77.70 | $82.34 | $62.70 | 340 | 0.30 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $86,000 | $95,270 | $131,730 | $161,620 | $171,270 | $130,420 | ||||
| Ann Arbor, MI | Hourly | $36.89 | $43.12 | $61.47 | $67.91 | $74.09 | $56.58 | 90 | 0.43 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $76,720 | $89,690 | $127,860 | $141,250 | $154,110 | $117,690 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $39.45 | $48.75 | $60.12 | $69.56 | $77.42 | $59.80 | 4,100 | 1.31 | 4.31 |
| Annual | $82,060 | $101,400 | $125,050 | $144,680 | $161,030 | $124,390 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $37.89 | $42.42 | $56.43 | $66.03 | $81.43 | $56.65 | 760 | 0.32 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $78,800 | $88,240 | $117,360 | $137,330 | $169,380 | $117,830 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $39.45 | $48.75 | $60.12 | $69.56 | $77.42 | $59.80 | 4,100 | 1.31 | 4.31 |
| Annual | $82,060 | $101,400 | $125,050 | $144,680 | $161,030 | $124,390 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $31.74 | $38.51 | $46.32 | $57.07 | $70.72 | $49.04 | 1,950 | 0.21 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $66,030 | $80,100 | $96,340 | $118,710 | $147,100 | $102,010 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $28.58 | $36.27 | $48.02 | $58.57 | $67.86 | $47.36 | 1,170 | 0.41 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $59,440 | $75,440 | $99,880 | $121,830 | $141,150 | $98,510 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $26.70 | $33.61 | $46.23 | $63.33 | $73.43 | $48.52 | 1,150 | 0.85 | 2.80 |
| Annual | $55,540 | $69,910 | $96,150 | $131,730 | $152,730 | $100,910 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $31.22 | $38.23 | $46.57 | $58.27 | $67.81 | $48.64 | 1,070 | 0.17 | 0.56 |
| Annual | $64,930 | $79,520 | $96,870 | $121,210 | $141,050 | $101,170 | ||||
Top industries employing budget analysts
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 25.5% of budget analysts nationally (12,030 jobs) at a median $103,380 a year ($49.70 an hour), followed by State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (13.3%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (11.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 12,030 | 25.5% | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 6,280 | 13.3% | $83,980 | $40.37 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 5,540 | 11.7% | $86,280 | $41.48 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 4,410 | 9.4% | $79,740 | $38.34 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 3,380 | 7.2% | $96,210 | $46.26 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (47,160). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $79,940 for budget analysts in May 2021 and $91,640 in May 2025, with employment of 47,440 and 47,160.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $79,940 | $38.43 | 47,440 |
| May 2022 | $82,260 | $39.55 | 48,430 |
| May 2023 | $84,940 | $40.84 | 47,310 |
| May 2024 | $87,930 | $42.27 | 47,170 |
| May 2025 | $91,640 | $44.06 | 47,160 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $59.90 | $124,590 | $82,060 | $156,750 | 1,490 | 2.13 | 7.02 |
| 2 | Maryland profile | $50.97 | $106,020 | $65,680 | $156,750 | 2,490 | 0.90 | 2.97 |
| 3 | Virginia profile | $50.71 | $105,470 | $70,610 | $156,750 | 2,730 | 0.66 | 2.19 |
| 4 | California profile | $47.84 | $99,520 | $69,170 | $149,650 | 4,160 | 0.23 | 0.75 |
| 5 | Alabama profile | $47.83 | $99,490 | $61,050 | $142,670 | 870 | 0.41 | 1.36 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $46.68 | $97,100 | $70,660 | $130,180 | 1,290 | 0.45 | 1.48 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $46.46 | $96,640 | $61,240 | $147,640 | 1,510 | 0.43 | 1.40 |
| 8 | Michigan profile | $46.36 | $96,430 | $65,390 | $142,380 | 1,020 | 0.23 | 0.76 |
| 9 | New Jersey profile | $46.28 | $96,250 | $67,590 | $140,730 | 840 | 0.20 | 0.65 |
| 10 | Connecticut profile | $45.88 | $95,440 | $70,720 | $131,160 | 970 | 0.57 | 1.88 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $45.79 | $95,250 | $64,360 | $124,900 | 1,090 | 0.55 | 1.82 |
| 12 | Illinois profile | $45.61 | $94,880 | $59,300 | $132,380 | 750 | 0.12 | 0.40 |
| 13 | Alaska profile | $45.55 | $94,740 | $74,340 | $130,270 | 220 | 0.67 | 2.21 |
| 14 | Vermont profile | $44.92 | $93,430 | $68,580 | $105,310 | 90 | 0.31 | 1.02 |
| 15 | Rhode Island profile | $44.61 | $92,790 | $65,680 | $130,480 | 90 | 0.18 | 0.60 |
| 16 | New Hampshire profile | $44.52 | $92,600 | $68,080 | $130,480 | 80 | 0.11 | 0.37 |
| 17 | Hawaii profile | $44.41 | $92,380 | $63,790 | $120,270 | 210 | 0.34 | 1.10 |
| 18 | Massachusetts profile | $44.36 | $92,260 | $67,860 | $131,770 | 1,280 | 0.35 | 1.16 |
| 19 | Georgia profile | $44.17 | $91,870 | $55,050 | $133,090 | 1,900 | 0.39 | 1.28 |
| 20 | Ohio profile | $43.19 | $89,840 | $60,570 | $135,370 | 800 | 0.14 | 0.47 |
| 21 | Utah profile | $42.60 | $88,610 | $63,570 | $133,630 | 280 | 0.16 | 0.54 |
| 22 | New York profile | $42.57 | $88,540 | $64,990 | $135,190 | 2,760 | 0.29 | 0.94 |
| 23 | Maine profile | $42.37 | $88,130 | $61,110 | $118,040 | 200 | 0.31 | 1.03 |
| 24 | New Mexico profile | $42.00 | $87,360 | $58,360 | $129,470 | 740 | 0.85 | 2.81 |
| 25 | Tennessee profile | $41.62 | $86,570 | $63,920 | $133,280 | 1,140 | 0.35 | 1.15 |
| 26 | Iowa profile | $41.61 | $86,550 | $63,650 | $134,440 | 390 | 0.25 | 0.82 |
| 27 | South Carolina profile | $41.47 | $86,260 | $62,870 | $125,860 | 470 | 0.21 | 0.68 |
| 28 | Minnesota profile | $41.33 | $85,970 | $65,160 | $134,040 | 450 | 0.15 | 0.50 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $40.78 | $84,810 | $60,500 | $123,300 | 730 | 0.23 | 0.74 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania profile | $40.50 | $84,240 | $55,220 | $124,590 | 1,490 | 0.25 | 0.81 |
| 31 | Florida profile | $40.46 | $84,170 | $56,660 | $123,710 | 3,150 | 0.32 | 1.05 |
| 32 | Idaho profile | $40.01 | $83,220 | $63,290 | $126,220 | 190 | 0.22 | 0.73 |
| 33 | Nebraska profile | $39.91 | $83,010 | $61,100 | $122,530 | 200 | 0.19 | 0.63 |
| 34 | Texas profile | $39.89 | $82,970 | $60,840 | $126,200 | 3,340 | 0.24 | 0.78 |
| 35 | North Carolina profile | $39.59 | $82,350 | $59,050 | $128,560 | 1,830 | 0.37 | 1.22 |
| 36 | Wisconsin profile | $39.51 | $82,180 | $59,960 | $112,610 | 820 | 0.28 | 0.92 |
| 37 | Indiana profile | $39.46 | $82,080 | $60,390 | $106,330 | 390 | 0.12 | 0.40 |
| 38 | Delaware profile | $39.42 | $82,000 | $65,980 | $122,260 | 260 | 0.55 | 1.80 |
| 39 | Missouri profile | $39.42 | $81,980 | $60,920 | $128,110 | 520 | 0.18 | 0.59 |
| 40 | Nevada profile | $39.23 | $81,600 | $64,500 | $114,250 | 440 | 0.28 | 0.94 |
| 41 | Wyoming profile | $38.99 | $81,100 | $63,480 | $106,330 | 80 | 0.27 | 0.90 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $38.94 | $80,990 | $55,620 | $118,360 | 670 | 0.39 | 1.29 |
| 43 | Louisiana profile | $38.72 | $80,530 | $53,560 | $122,660 | 330 | 0.17 | 0.56 |
| 44 | Kansas profile | $38.53 | $80,140 | $59,240 | $117,810 | 270 | 0.19 | 0.62 |
| 45 | Montana profile | $38.32 | $79,700 | $62,260 | $103,530 | 360 | 0.71 | 2.33 |
| 46 | South Dakota profile | $38.07 | $79,180 | $56,910 | $116,000 | 120 | 0.27 | 0.88 |
| 47 | Mississippi profile | $37.91 | $78,850 | $46,690 | $103,380 | 390 | 0.34 | 1.11 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $37.91 | $78,850 | $51,200 | $119,430 | 180 | 0.26 | 0.87 |
| 49 | North Dakota profile | $37.21 | $77,400 | $61,350 | $100,420 | 150 | 0.36 | 1.17 |
| 50 | Kentucky profile | $36.95 | $76,860 | $59,960 | $112,400 | 630 | 0.31 | 1.03 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $34.52 | $71,800 | $46,750 | $106,330 | 320 | 0.24 | 0.81 |
Part of Business and Financial Operations Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 13-2031 Budget Analysts.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-2031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 13-2031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.