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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.
What does a Business Analyst actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $110,570 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $78,850 to $201,400. The $77,399 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
A career as a Business Analyst sits at the intersection of Business & Finance and Finance & Strategy. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's degree, and the field is characterized by high demand. The work itself is hybrid/remote. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$122,550 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Business Analyst in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $201,400 — $122,550 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($78,850). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The three-tier salary picture for Business Analysts in 2026: $79,610 at entry (P10), $110,570 at midpoint, and $157,009 at the senior end (P90). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The $77,399 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $30,203 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $188,100 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $79,483. That $108,617 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. The gap between P10 and P90 shows the earning ceiling is high.
A Business Analyst in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $201,400 — $122,550 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($78,850). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Business Analyst is $79,610, while senior-level (P90) earners average $157,009. That $77,399 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Business Analysts at $133,452 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $117,325) is $16,127.
At the 90th percentile, Business Analysts pull in an average of $157,009. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $79,610 | $110,570 | $157,009 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £44,553 | £61,879 | £87,868 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$61,148 | CA$84,928 | CA$120,598 |
| Australia | 13 | A$70,162 | A$97,447 | A$138,376 |
| Sweden | 24 | 415,341 kr | 576,862 kr | 819,144 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $96,085 | $133,452 | $189,501 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $92,853 | $128,963 | $183,127 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $92,340 | $128,250 | $182,115 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $85,500 | $118,750 | $168,625 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $84,474 | $117,325 | $166,602 |
| Washington | 8 | $82,850 | $115,069 | $163,398 |
| New York | 5 | $77,976 | $108,300 | $153,786 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $77,976 | $108,300 | $153,786 |
| Florida | 22 | $77,385 | $107,480 | $152,621 |
| Colorado | 11 | $76,048 | $105,623 | $149,984 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $75,924 | $105,450 | $149,739 |
| Nevada | 5 | $75,787 | $105,260 | $149,469 |
| Arizona | 12 | $75,411 | $104,738 | $148,727 |
| Oregon | 5 | $75,240 | $104,500 | $148,390 |
| Idaho | 3 | $75,012 | $104,183 | $147,940 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $74,419 | $103,360 | $146,771 |
| Utah | 4 | $74,214 | $103,075 | $146,367 |
| Virginia | 7 | $72,993 | $101,379 | $143,958 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $72,048 | $100,067 | $142,095 |
| Alaska | 1 | $71,820 | $99,750 | $141,645 |
| Illinois | 5 | $70,999 | $98,610 | $140,026 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $69,236 | $96,161 | $136,549 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $68,400 | $95,000 | $134,900 |
| Montana | 1 | $68,400 | $95,000 | $134,900 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $68,172 | $94,683 | $134,450 |
| Texas | 40 | $67,836 | $94,216 | $133,787 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $67,716 | $94,050 | $133,551 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $67,374 | $93,575 | $132,877 |
| Georgia | 6 | $67,146 | $93,258 | $132,427 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $67,032 | $93,100 | $132,202 |
| Kansas | 4 | $66,690 | $92,625 | $131,528 |
| Michigan | 6 | $66,462 | $92,308 | $131,078 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| Maryland | 1 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $64,980 | $90,250 | $128,155 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $64,980 | $90,250 | $128,155 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $63,270 | $87,875 | $124,783 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $62,928 | $87,400 | $124,108 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $62,073 | $86,213 | $122,422 |
| Missouri | 4 | $62,073 | $86,213 | $122,422 |
| Alabama | 5 | $61,834 | $85,880 | $121,950 |
| Indiana | 3 | $60,876 | $84,550 | $120,061 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $60,876 | $84,550 | $120,061 |
| Iowa | 2 | $60,192 | $83,600 | $118,712 |
| Ohio | 6 | $60,078 | $83,442 | $118,487 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $57,456 | $79,800 | $113,316 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Business Analyst median of $133,452 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($128,963) and Hawaii ($128,250). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $79,800 and $83,600. 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 ($201,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $95,000 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 | $201,400 | 212 | $95,000 | $117,072 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $188,100 | 198 | $95,000 | $110,507 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $174,800 | 184 | $95,000 | $103,185 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $171,950 | 181 | $95,000 | $101,616 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $169,100 | 178 | $95,000 | $100,047 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $168,150 | 177 | $95,000 | $99,524 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $168,150 | 177 | $95,000 | $99,524 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $164,350 | 173 | $95,000 | $97,432 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $164,350 | 173 | $95,000 | $97,432 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $160,550 | 169 | $95,000 | $95,340 |
Career economics for Business Analysts: entry level averages $79,610, mid-career hits $110,570, and experienced professionals reach $157,009. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's degree, and the work is hybrid/remote. The outlook: high demand. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The weighted national median salary for Business Analysts is $110,570 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $79,610, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $157,009.
The highest-paying city for Business Analysts is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $201,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($201,400), Santa Clara ($188,100), Irvine ($174,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Business Analyst salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $78,850. 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 Business Analysts (10th percentile) average $79,610 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $145,008. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Business Analysts average $157,009 nationally — $77,399 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Business Analysts can earn up to $285,988.
The top-paying states for Business Analysts are California ($133,452 median), Massachusetts ($128,963 median), Hawaii ($128,250 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Business Analyst involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Finance & Strategy sector (Business & Finance), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $110,570 and representation across 288 metro areas, Business Analyst offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $77,399 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
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.