Hiring Budget Analysts

What do budget analysts do?

• 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.
• Summarize budgets and submit recommendations for the approval or disapproval of funds requests.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 13-2031.00.

What does it take to become one?

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

O*NET Job Zone 4, SVP (7.0 to < 8.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Accounting software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Access for this role.

What do budget analysts get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for budget analysts in 86 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $65,950 to $131,730 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $88,810. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 13-2031.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for budget analysts in this build is $131,730. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $26,346 to $39,519 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a budget analysts search fill?

23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.