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Budget Analysts

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $91,640 Median per year · $44.06/hr Most earn $62,250–$136,660

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Consult with managers to ensure that budget adjustments are made in accordance with program changes.
  • Compile and analyze accounting records and other data to determine the financial resources required to implement a program.
  • Compile and analyze accounting records and other data to determine the financial resources required to implement a program.
  • Analyze monthly department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls.
  • Testify before examining and fund-granting authorities, clarifying and promoting the proposed budgets.
  • Summarize budgets and submit recommendations for the approval or disapproval of funds requests.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 2,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service25.5%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals13.4%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals11.3%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools11.1%
  • Management of companies and enterprises6.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Budget analyst is usually not an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree and then spend about 1 to 2 years in a related role before moving into it, so the full path often takes around 5 to 6 years after high school. Pay for this career is on your results page, which shows typical local and national figures.

  1. Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or public administration

    4 years

    You build core skills in numbers, financial reporting, and how organizations plan money, which every budget role depends on.

  2. Accountant

    1-2 years

    You learn to check records, reconcile accounts, and spot errors, which is the same careful checking budget analysts do on estimates.

  3. Budget Analyst

    Career goal

    You review budget requests, check them for accuracy and rule compliance, and analyze spending reports for managers.

Where it can lead

  1. Financial Manager

    About 4-6 years of related experience usually expected of experience first

    You take on responsibility for an organization's financial planning and decisions, and you usually lead a team rather than just analyze numbers.

  2. Treasurer or Controller

    About 8-10 years of related experience usually expected of experience first

    You oversee all financial reporting, accounting, and cash management for an organization, which is the top financial role in many companies.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and statistics classesStrong math skills make college finance and accounting courses much easier and show you enjoy working with numbers.
  • Take an economics or personal finance classThese classes show how money decisions work for families, businesses, and governments, which is the big picture budget analysts think about.
  • Join DECA or a business clubClubs like DECA or FBLA let you practice real business and finance problems and often include competitions where you present your work.
  • Get a part-time job that handles moneyWorking a cash register, tracking inventory, or managing a small budget for a school club builds comfort with money and careful record-keeping.
  • Learn basic ExcelFree tutorials and school computer classes can teach you formulas and tables, which you will use constantly in budget work.

In college

  • Major in accounting, finance, or economicsThese majors cover budgeting, financial reporting, and analysis, which are the core skills employers expect for budget analyst roles.
  • Take an advanced Excel or data analysis courseSpreadsheet and data tools are used every day in budget work, and showing these skills on a resume helps you stand out.
  • Apply for an internship in a finance or budget officeMany colleges, cities, counties, and companies offer internships where you can help prepare or review budgets, giving you real experience before graduation.
  • Work a campus job in the business or financial aid officeCampus jobs that handle budgets, payments, or records teach you careful number checking and show employers you can handle responsibility.
  • Join a finance or accounting student clubStudent clubs give you networking, guest speakers, and chances to practice case problems that look good on applications.

Tips for getting started

  • Get comfortable with spreadsheets early. Budget work relies heavily on Excel, so practicing formulas and simple charts now will help you in any finance job.
  • Look for internships or part-time work in a business office, a government finance office, or a school district business department. Real budget experience is what employers look for after your degree.
  • Take a mix of math, economics, and writing classes. Budget analysts must crunch numbers and also explain them clearly in reports to people who aren't accountants.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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