Budget Analyst
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.
Also called: Budget Analyst · Budget Coordinator · Budget Officer · Budget Planning Analyst · Budget and Policy Analyst · Cost Analyst · Financial Services Officer · Fiscal Analyst
O*NET-SOC 13-2031.00 (Budget Analysts)
Budget Analyst salary
Wages for budget analysts across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $44.06.
Budget Analyst pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $69,170 | $99,520 | $149,650 |
| Texas | $60,840 | $82,970 | $126,200 |
| Florida | $56,660 | $84,170 | $123,710 |
| New York | $64,990 | $88,540 | $135,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,220 | $84,240 | $124,590 |
| Illinois | $59,300 | $94,880 | $132,380 |
| Ohio | $60,570 | $89,840 | $135,370 |
| Georgia | $55,050 | $91,870 | $133,090 |
| North Carolina | $59,050 | $82,350 | $128,560 |
| Michigan | $65,390 | $96,430 | $142,380 |
Budget Analyst job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 50,400 jobs in 2025 to 51,300 in 2035 (2% change).
- About 2,900 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Below Average.
How to become a budget analyst
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma.3%
- High school diploma or equivalent6.2%
- Some college, no degree8.6%
- Associate's degree4.7%
- Bachelor's degree45.4%
- Master's degree32.5%
- Doctoral or professional degree2.3%
Related training programs
- Accounting
- Accounting and Finance
- Finance, General
- Public Finance
What does a budget analyst do?
Common tasks
- Analyze monthly department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls.
- Provide advice and technical assistance with cost analysis, fiscal allocation, and budget preparation.
- Review operating budgets to analyze trends affecting budget needs.
- Compile and analyze accounting records and other data to determine the financial resources required to implement a program.
- Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations.
- Summarize budgets and submit recommendations for the approval or disapproval of funds requests.
- Consult with managers to ensure that budget adjustments are made in accordance with program changes.
- Direct the preparation of regular and special budget reports.
- Interpret budget directives and establish policies for carrying out directives.
- Testify before examining and fund-granting authorities, clarifying and promoting the proposed budgets.
Most important skills
- Mathematics
- Using math to solve problems.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
- Management of Financial Resources
- Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Budget Analyst certifications
The certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- CertNexus · Core
Budget Analyst jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more accounting, budget & finance jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Accounting, Budget & Finance jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
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This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Budget Analysts. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.