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Business & Finance

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

Median salary (BLS)

$91,640

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$62k – $137k

Job outlook

+1% (about average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $112,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Budget Analysts

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Bachelor's degree

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How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$40,500–$153,000

Time to qualify

4.5 yr

Renewal

—

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    Industry certification (optional for many roles)

    Certification

    Role-dependent — e.g. CPA, Series 7/65, PMP, SHRM. Not always required, but often expected for advancement.

    $500–$3,000 · 6 months source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Budget Analysts" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Budget Analysts Intern

    Internship

    $36,000

    ~4 mos to advance

  2. Junior Budget Analysts

    Entry / Junior

    $62,250

    ~2 yrs to advance

  3. Budget Analysts

    Established

    $91,640

    ~3 yrs to advance

  4. Senior Budget Analysts

    Senior

    $114,150

Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Business & Finance

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.