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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Budget Analyst expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $97,767, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $68,437 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Positioned in Business & Finance within the broader Finance & Strategy industry, Budget Analysts typically hold Bachelor's degree. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$108,360 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Budget Analyst in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $178,080 — $108,360 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($69,720). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The salary distribution for Budget Analysts reveals a $68,437 spread from entry to senior. At $97,767, the median sits $17,400 above the national median household income of $80,367. That's a strong baseline — and it only includes individual earnings, not household. The P10 floor of $70,392 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $138,829 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $166,320 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $70,280. That $96,040 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Budget Analyst in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $178,080 — $108,360 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($69,720). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Budget Analyst is $70,392, while senior-level (P90) earners average $138,829. That $68,437 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Budget Analysts pull in an average of $138,829. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Budget Analysts average $70,392 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $70,392 | $97,767 | $138,829 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £39,394 | £54,714 | £77,693 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$54,068 | CA$75,095 | CA$106,634 |
| Australia | 13 | A$62,038 | A$86,164 | A$122,353 |
| Sweden | 24 | 367,249 kr | 510,068 kr | 724,296 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $84,960 | $117,999 | $167,559 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $82,102 | $114,030 | $161,923 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $81,648 | $113,400 | $161,028 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $75,600 | $105,000 | $149,100 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $74,693 | $103,740 | $147,311 |
| Washington | 8 | $73,256 | $101,745 | $144,478 |
| New York | 5 | $68,947 | $95,760 | $135,979 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $68,947 | $95,760 | $135,979 |
| Florida | 22 | $68,425 | $95,035 | $134,949 |
| Colorado | 11 | $67,243 | $93,393 | $132,618 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $67,133 | $93,240 | $132,401 |
| Nevada | 5 | $67,012 | $93,072 | $132,162 |
| Arizona | 12 | $66,679 | $92,610 | $131,506 |
| Oregon | 5 | $66,528 | $92,400 | $131,208 |
| Idaho | 3 | $66,326 | $92,120 | $130,810 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $65,802 | $91,392 | $129,777 |
| Utah | 4 | $65,621 | $91,140 | $129,419 |
| Virginia | 7 | $64,541 | $89,640 | $127,289 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $63,706 | $88,480 | $125,642 |
| Alaska | 1 | $63,504 | $88,200 | $125,244 |
| Illinois | 5 | $62,778 | $87,192 | $123,813 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $61,219 | $85,027 | $120,738 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $60,480 | $84,000 | $119,280 |
| Montana | 1 | $60,480 | $84,000 | $119,280 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $60,278 | $83,720 | $118,882 |
| Texas | 40 | $59,981 | $83,307 | $118,296 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $59,876 | $83,160 | $118,088 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $59,573 | $82,740 | $117,491 |
| Georgia | 6 | $59,371 | $82,460 | $117,093 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $59,270 | $82,320 | $116,894 |
| Kansas | 4 | $58,968 | $81,900 | $116,298 |
| Michigan | 6 | $58,766 | $81,620 | $115,900 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $58,061 | $80,640 | $114,509 |
| Maryland | 1 | $58,061 | $80,640 | $114,509 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $57,456 | $79,800 | $113,316 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $57,456 | $79,800 | $113,316 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $55,944 | $77,700 | $110,334 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $55,642 | $77,280 | $109,738 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $54,886 | $76,230 | $108,247 |
| Missouri | 4 | $54,886 | $76,230 | $108,247 |
| Alabama | 5 | $54,674 | $75,936 | $107,829 |
| Indiana | 3 | $53,827 | $74,760 | $106,159 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $53,827 | $74,760 | $106,159 |
| Iowa | 2 | $53,222 | $73,920 | $104,966 |
| Ohio | 6 | $53,122 | $73,780 | $104,768 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $50,803 | $70,560 | $100,195 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Budget Analyst median of $117,999 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($114,030) and Hawaii ($113,400). But raw salary is only half the story. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $70,560 and $73,920. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($178,080 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $84,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $178,080 | 212 | $84,000 | $104,991 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $166,320 | 198 | $84,000 | $98,517 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $154,560 | 184 | $84,000 | $92,043 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $152,040 | 181 | $84,000 | $90,656 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $149,520 | 178 | $84,000 | $89,268 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $148,680 | 177 | $84,000 | $88,806 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $148,680 | 177 | $84,000 | $88,806 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $145,320 | 173 | $84,000 | $86,956 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $145,320 | 173 | $84,000 | $86,956 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $141,960 | 169 | $84,000 | $85,106 |
Career economics for Budget Analysts: entry level averages $70,392, mid-career hits $97,767, and experienced professionals reach $138,829. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's degree, and the work is hybrid. The outlook: steady. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The weighted national median salary for Budget Analysts is $97,767 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $70,392, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $138,829.
The highest-paying city for Budget Analysts is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $178,080. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($178,080), Santa Clara ($166,320), Irvine ($154,560). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Budget Analyst salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $69,720. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Budget Analysts (10th percentile) average $70,392 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $128,218. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Budget Analysts average $138,829 nationally — $68,437 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Budget Analysts can earn up to $252,874.
The top-paying states for Budget Analysts are California ($117,999 median), Massachusetts ($114,030 median), Hawaii ($113,400 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Budget Analyst involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Finance & Strategy sector (Business & Finance), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $97,767 and representation across 288 metro areas, Budget Analyst offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $68,437 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.