Budget Analysts : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Budget Analysts : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
OOH HOME
OCCUPATION FINDER
OOH FAQ
HOW TO FIND A JOB
A-Z INDEX
OOH SITE MAP
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Business and Financial
Budget Analysts
PRINTER-FRIENDLY
Summary
What They Do
Work Environment
How to Become One
Pay
Job Outlook
State & Area Data
Similar Occupations
More Info
Summary
Please enable javascript to play this video.
Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7VZ_myj3s8.
Quick Facts: Budget Analysts
2024 Median Pay
$87,930 per year
$42.27 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
None
On-the-job Training
None
Number of Jobs, 2024
50,400
Job Outlook, 2024–34
1% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2024–34
500
What Budget Analysts Do
Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan their finances.
Work Environment
Budget analysts work in government agencies, private companies, and universities. Most work full time.
How to Become a Budget Analyst
Budget analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Courses in accounting, economics, and statistics are helpful.
Pay
The median annual wage for budget analysts was $87,930 in May 2024.
Job Outlook
Employment of budget analysts is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 3,100 openings for budget analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for budget analysts.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of budget analysts with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about budget analysts by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
What Budget Analysts Do
About this section
Budget analysts prepare budget reports and monitor spending.
Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan their finances. They prepare budget reports and monitor organizational spending.
Duties
Budget analysts typically do the following:
Work with program and project managers to develop the organization’s budget
Review managers’ budget proposals and funding requests for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with laws and other regulations
Combine program and department budgets into a consolidated organizational budget
Explain funding requests to others in the organization, to legislators, and to the public
Help top managers analyze proposed plans and find alternatives if the projected results are unsatisfactory
Monitor organizational spending to ensure that it is within budget
Inform program managers of the status and availability of funds
Estimate future financial needs
Budget analysts advise organizations—including governments, private companies, and universities—about the details of their finances. They prepare annual and special reports and evaluate budget proposals. They analyze data to determine the costs and benefits of various programs, and they recommend funding levels based on their findings. Although government officials or
top executives
in a private company usually decide on an organization’s budget, they rely on the work of budget analysts to prepare the information for that decision.
Sometimes, budget analysts use cost–benefit analyses to review financial requests, assess program tradeoffs, and explore alternative funding methods. Budget analysts also may examine past budgets and research economic and financial developments that affect the organization’s income and expenditures. Budget analysts may recommend cutting spending on particular programs or redistributing funds.
Throughout the year, budget analysts oversee spending to ensure that organizations comply with the budget and to determine whether certain programs need changes in funding. Analysts also evaluate programs to determine whether they are producing desired results.
In addition to providing technical analysis, budget analysts must communicate their recommendations effectively within the organization. For example, if there is a difference between the approved budget and actual spending, budget analysts may write a report explaining those discrepancies and recommend changes to reconcile them.
Budget analysts working in government may attend committee hearings to explain their recommendations to legislators. Occasionally, budget analysts evaluate how well a program is doing, assess policy, and draft budget-related legislation.
Work Environment
About this section
Budget analysts work in a variety of settings including government agencies, universities, and companies.
Budget analysts held about 50,400 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of budget analysts were as follows:
Federal government
26%
Educational services; state, local, and private
15
State government, excluding education and hospitals
13
Local government, excluding education and hospitals
11
Professional, scientific, and technical services
10
Although budget analysts usually work in offices, they may travel to get budget details firsthand or to verify funding allocations.
Work Schedules
Most budget analysts work full time, and overtime is sometimes required during development, mid-year, and final reviews of budgets. The pressures of deadlines and tight work schedules may be stressful.
How to Become a Budget Analyst
About this section
Budget analysts must present technical information in writing that is understandable for the intended audience.
Budget analysts typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. Some employers prefer to hire applicants who have a master's degree. Courses in accounting, economics, and statistics are helpful.
Education
Budget analysts typically need at least a bachelor's degree in
fields
such as
business
social science
psychology
, or
mathematics
. Because developing a budget requires numeracy and analytical skills, coursework in accounting, economics, and statistics is helpful.
Sometimes, budget- or finance-related work experience may be substituted for formal education.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although not required, some budget analysts choose to earn professional certification, which may help with career advancement. Information on certifications is available from
CareerOneStop
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP)
skills data page
Analytical skills.
Budget analysts must be able to process a variety of information, evaluate costs and benefits, and solve complex problems.
Communication skills.
Budget analysts must be able to explain and defend their analyses and recommendations in meetings and legislative committee hearings.
Detail oriented.
Creating an efficient budget requires careful analysis of each budget item.
Math skills.
Budget analysts need math skills and the ability to use financial-management software and programs.
Writing skills.
Budget analysts must present written technical information in a way that is understandable to the intended audience.
Pay
About this section
Budget Analysts
Median annual wages, May 2024
Budget analysts
$87,930
Financial specialists
$82,140
Total, all occupations
$49,500
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
The median annual wage for budget analysts was $87,930 in May 2024.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $60,510, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $134,640.
In May 2024, the median annual wages for budget analysts in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Federal government
$99,800
Professional, scientific, and technical services
98,390
Local government, excluding education and hospitals
84,510
State government, excluding education and hospitals
80,280
Educational services; state, local, and private
77,460
Most budget analysts work full time, and overtime is sometimes required during development, mid-year, and final reviews of budgets. The pressures of deadlines and tight work schedules may be stressful.
Job Outlook
About this section
Budget Analysts
Percent change in employment, projected 2024–34
Financial specialists
5%
Total, all occupations
3%
Budget analysts
1%
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Employment of budget analysts is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 3,100 openings for budget analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Calls for efficient use of public funds will lead to continued demand for budget analysts to estimate program costs, develop budgets, and explain their findings to legislators and the public. Demand for these workers is somewhat tied to the government funding that is allocated for these positions. However, budget analysts manage resource allocation and will be needed even during times of tight budgets.
Employment projections data for budget analysts, 2024–34
Occupational Title
SOC Code
Employment, 2024
Projected Employment, 2034
Change, 2024–34
Employment by Industry
Percent
Numeric
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Budget analysts
13-2031
50,400
51,000
500
Get data
State & Area Data
About this section
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
The
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
(OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation.
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles
Projections Central
Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at
www.projectionscentral.org
. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.
CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop includes hundreds of
occupational profiles
with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a
salary info tool
to search for wages by zip code.
Similar Occupations
About this section
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of budget analysts.
Occupation
Job Duties
ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
2024 MEDIAN PAY
Accountants and Auditors
Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records.
Bachelor's degree
$81,680
Cost Estimators
Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to assess the time, money, materials, and labor required to make a product or provide a service.
Bachelor's degree
$77,070
Economists
Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.
Master's degree
$115,440
Financial Analysts
Financial analysts guide businesses and individuals in decisions about expending money to attain profit.
Bachelor's degree
$101,910
Financial Managers
Financial managers create financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.
Bachelor's degree
$161,700
Management Analysts
Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.
Bachelor's degree
$101,190
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents determine how much is owed in taxes and collect tax from individuals and businesses on behalf of the government.
Bachelor's degree
$59,740
Actuaries
Actuaries use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to analyze the economic costs of risk and uncertainty.
Bachelor's degree
$125,770
Financial Examiners
Financial examiners ensure compliance with laws that govern institutions handling monetary transactions.
Bachelor's degree
$90,400
Insurance Underwriters
Insurance underwriters evaluate insurance applications and decide whether to approve them.
Bachelor's degree
$79,880
Contacts for More Information
About this section
For information about certifications, visit
CareerOneStop
O*NET
Budget Analysts
Suggested citation:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook
, Budget Analysts,
at
(visited
March 25, 2026
).
Last Modified Date:
Thursday, August 28, 2025
What They Do
The
What They Do
tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties.
Work Environment
The
Work Environment
tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face.
How to Become One
The
How to Become One
tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.
Pay
The
Pay
tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.
State & Area Data
The
State and Area Data
tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop.
Job Outlook
The
Job Outlook
tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings.
Similar Occupations
The
Similar Occupations
tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.
Contacts for More Information
The
More Information
tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).
2024 Median Pay
The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2024, the median annual wage for all workers was $49,500.
On-the-job Training
Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.
Entry-level Education
Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.
Work experience in a related occupation
Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education.
Number of Jobs, 2024
The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2024, which is the base year of the 2024–34 employment projections.
Job Outlook, 2024-34
The projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034. The average growth rate for all occupations is 3 percent.
Employment Change, 2024-34
The projected numeric change in employment from 2024 to 2034.
Entry-level Education
Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.
On-the-job Training
Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.
Employment Change, projected 2024-34
The projected numeric change in employment from 2024 to 2034.
Growth Rate (Projected)
The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2024 to 2034.
Projected Number of New Jobs
The projected numeric change in employment from 2024 to 2034.
Projected Growth Rate
The projected percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034.
2024 Median Pay
The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2024, the median annual wage for all workers was $49,500.
Publications
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Business and Financial