Budget analysts
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Budget Analysts: Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports for the purpose of maintaining expenditure controls.
Budget analysts held 58,000 jobs throughout private industry and government in 2004. Federal, State, and local governments are major employers, accounting for 52 percent of budget analyst jobs. About 23 percent worked for the Federal Government. Many other budget analysts worked in manufacturing, financial services, or management services. Other employers include schools and hospitals.
Salaries of budget analysts vary widely by experience, education, and employer. Median annual earnings of budget analysts in May 2004 were $56,040. The middle 50 percent earned between $45,170 and $70,530. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,850, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $87,380. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of budget analysts in May 2004 were:
| Federal Government | $61,640 |
| Local government | 52,520 |
| State government | 51,870 |
According to a 2005 survey conducted by Robert Half International—a staffing services firm specializing in accounting and finance—starting salaries of financial, budget, treasury, and cost analysts in small companies ranged from $29,750 to $36,250. In large companies, starting salaries ranged from $33,500 to $40,000.
In the Federal Government, budget analysts usually started as trainees earning $24,677 or $30,567 year in 2005. Candidates with a master’s degree began at $37,390. Beginning salaries were slightly higher in areas where the prevailing local pay level was higher. The average annual salary in 2005 for budget analysts employed by the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $67,767.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Budget Analysts)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Budget analysts | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: 250 mean earnings: $79,130 (EC) (def) (IG) | $42,380 | $49,820 | $63,290 | $103,940 | $136,720 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 210 mean earnings: $83,120 | $42,420 | $50,410 | $68,250 | $110,150 | $140,600 |
| Utilities employment: 340 mean earnings: $62,580 (EC) (def) (IG) | $42,100 | $50,250 | $60,550 | $72,510 | $86,170 |
| Utilities employment: 340 mean earnings: $62,580 | $42,100 | $50,250 | $60,550 | $72,510 | $86,170 |
| Construction employment: 350 mean earnings: $68,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $42,200 | $52,580 | $66,150 | $84,460 | $103,890 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 270 mean earnings: $70,040 | $44,540 | $53,150 | $67,080 | $87,080 | $106,930 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 60 mean earnings: $62,580 | $35,050 | $43,500 | $60,430 | $81,510 | $89,250 |
| Manufacturing employment: 5,590 mean earnings: $68,670 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,570 | $54,350 | $67,430 | $82,720 | $95,370 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $61,830 | $39,090 | $48,190 | $57,880 | $77,580 | $90,560 |
| Textile Mills employment: 30 mean earnings: $53,740 | $27,440 | $34,760 | $50,240 | $74,810 | $87,510 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 230 mean earnings: $72,020 | $44,150 | $54,170 | $67,560 | $83,940 | $112,730 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 90 mean earnings: $56,270 | $36,030 | $42,730 | $52,930 | $69,630 | $85,450 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 150 mean earnings: $61,060 | $40,970 | $49,280 | $60,270 | $71,410 | $85,760 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 100 mean earnings: $58,550 | $38,220 | $44,530 | $55,960 | $69,040 | $85,970 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 2,200 mean earnings: $73,500 | $48,390 | $59,380 | $72,860 | $87,700 | $104,270 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 90 mean earnings: $56,560 | $35,060 | $47,570 | $56,270 | $67,470 | $77,330 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $62,490 | $39,960 | $47,130 | $58,630 | $71,820 | $93,100 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 470 mean earnings: $60,730 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,420 | $47,020 | $57,360 | $75,430 | $91,700 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 250 mean earnings: $59,270 | $32,440 | $45,810 | $57,220 | $74,010 | $88,950 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 150 mean earnings: $58,870 | $38,020 | $47,660 | $55,030 | $68,890 | $88,440 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 70 mean earnings: $69,920 | $35,580 | $50,650 | $72,040 | $90,600 | $105,280 |
| Retail Trade employment: 170 mean earnings: $80,030 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,920 | $47,420 | $59,960 | $78,210 | >$145K |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: n.a. mean earnings: $58,220 | $23,050 | $47,280 | $60,310 | $72,610 | $86,250 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 640 mean earnings: $62,870 (EC) (def) (IG) | $45,480 | $52,320 | $61,130 | $71,510 | $86,070 |
| Air Transportation employment: 140 mean earnings: $55,620 | $43,650 | $48,530 | $54,480 | $63,320 | $70,970 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 120 mean earnings: $68,540 | $42,690 | $52,250 | $67,600 | $83,430 | $95,330 |
| Truck Transportation employment: n.a. mean earnings: $57,170 | $48,850 | $51,340 | $55,480 | $59,820 | $70,250 |
| Postal Service employment: 210 mean earnings: $68,960 | $57,370 | $61,110 | $67,360 | $77,000 | $87,670 |
| Information employment: 1,600 mean earnings: $64,600 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,090 | $49,230 | $62,390 | $78,130 | $93,290 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 300 mean earnings: $64,810 | $44,320 | $51,980 | $63,640 | $75,920 | $88,890 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 60 mean earnings: $68,420 | $43,850 | $51,920 | $66,190 | $83,620 | $100,490 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 30 mean earnings: $80,750 | $49,020 | $55,190 | $68,820 | $85,720 | >$145K |
| Telecommunications employment: 920 mean earnings: $64,340 | $41,310 | $49,460 | $62,090 | $77,570 | $92,740 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 250 mean earnings: $62,550 | $32,340 | $41,560 | $58,480 | $82,140 | $103,420 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 2,510 mean earnings: $59,500 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,290 | $45,790 | $56,210 | $70,210 | $86,140 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 810 mean earnings: $58,740 | $37,210 | $45,070 | $55,490 | $69,100 | $85,400 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 280 mean earnings: $65,120 | $41,140 | $49,060 | $59,930 | $74,900 | $91,760 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 1,360 mean earnings: $58,750 | $38,270 | $45,590 | $55,950 | $69,950 | $84,820 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 40 mean earnings: $56,340 | $39,150 | $43,180 | $51,310 | $67,950 | $85,210 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 260 mean earnings: $110,360 (EC) (def) (IG) | $50,010 | $66,750 | $86,080 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Real Estate employment: 220 mean earnings: $119,140 | $53,410 | $73,760 | $90,090 | >$145K | >$145K |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 30 mean earnings: $65,830 | $44,120 | $50,470 | $61,080 | $80,440 | $100,950 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 5,280 mean earnings: $67,870 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,060 | $49,660 | $64,080 | $81,930 | $102,500 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 5,280 mean earnings: $67,870 | $39,060 | $49,660 | $64,080 | $81,930 | $102,500 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 3,110 mean earnings: $65,610 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,040 | $50,050 | $63,070 | $79,230 | $94,840 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 3,110 mean earnings: $65,610 | $41,040 | $50,050 | $63,070 | $79,230 | $94,840 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 640 mean earnings: $61,430 (EC) (def) (IG) | $39,750 | $47,840 | $57,660 | $72,950 | $89,180 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 580 mean earnings: $61,560 | $39,770 | $48,400 | $57,760 | $72,390 | $89,440 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 60 mean earnings: $60,090 | $39,690 | $43,800 | $56,390 | $77,540 | $87,720 |
| Educational Services employment: 5,810 mean earnings: $51,780 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,660 | $39,980 | $49,620 | $60,920 | $74,200 |
| Educational Services employment: 5,810 mean earnings: $51,780 | $32,660 | $39,980 | $49,620 | $60,920 | $74,200 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 1,690 mean earnings: $56,200 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,300 | $43,120 | $53,960 | $67,110 | $80,010 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 170 mean earnings: $62,170 | $38,730 | $43,880 | $53,940 | $72,270 | $114,900 |
| Hospitals employment: 1,210 mean earnings: $57,560 | $38,280 | $45,480 | $55,690 | $68,270 | $80,580 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 70 mean earnings: $52,770 | $33,030 | $40,270 | $52,930 | $64,790 | $71,820 |
| Social Assistance employment: 240 mean earnings: $46,200 | $30,070 | $35,150 | $43,290 | $56,440 | $69,150 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 100 mean earnings: $66,360 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,290 | $45,800 | $61,570 | $79,290 | $94,950 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 40 mean earnings: $61,610 | $38,690 | $45,040 | $55,480 | $73,600 | $88,070 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 70 mean earnings: $51,010 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,120 | $33,020 | $42,980 | $64,230 | $89,980 |
| Accommodation employment: 60 mean earnings: $50,100 | $27,040 | $32,870 | $42,660 | $61,660 | $87,490 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 360 mean earnings: $61,960 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,010 | $45,330 | $55,950 | $72,170 | $93,170 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 350 mean earnings: $62,010 | $36,810 | $45,640 | $56,160 | $72,440 | $92,830 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 24,270 mean earnings: $61,160 (def) (IG) | $39,410 | $47,880 | $58,450 | $72,230 | $88,250 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 24,270 mean earnings: $61,160 | $39,410 | $47,880 | $58,450 | $72,230 | $88,250 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.