# Budget Analysts

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/budget-analysts
- SOC code: 13-2031.00
- Career family: Business and finance
- Median annual pay: $91,640 (10th percentile $62,250, 90th percentile $136,660)
- Projected growth: Slower than average, +1.9%
- Openings a year: 2,900
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CEI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 0 |
| Investigative (I) | 45 |
| Artistic (A) | 10 |
| Social (S) | 21 |
| Enterprising (E) | 65 |
| Conventional (C) | 100 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 87/100)
- Getting Information (importance 87/100)
- Processing Information (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 75/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 75/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 71/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 71/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 70/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Management of Financial Resources, Active Learning, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Economics and Accounting, Mathematics, English Language, Administration and Management, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service, Law and Government, Education and Training, Personnel and Human Resources

## Also called

Budget Administrator (Budget Admin), Budget Analyst, Budget and Policy Analyst, Budget Coordinator, Budget Engineer, Budget Examiner, Budget Management Analyst, Budget Officer, Budget Planning Analyst, Budget Specialist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Accounting and Related Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5203) (CIP 5203, 1,951 colleges)
- [Finance and Financial Management Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5208) (CIP 5208, 924 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $108,590 | $185,551 | $20,750 |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $141,543 | $160,313 | $19,500 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $126,622 | $152,744 | $13,088 |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $92,127 | $147,746 | $18,650 |
| [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wake-forest-university-3149) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $116,242 | $145,996 | $19,500 |
| [American University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/american-university-69) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $76,317 | $134,332 | $20,633 |
| [Southern Methodist University SMU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-methodist-university-smu-2498) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $93,440 | $133,852 | $17,250 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $81,536 | $132,075 | $18,975 |

## Related careers

- [Accountants and Auditors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/accountants-and-auditors): $83,680 median pay
- [Treasurers and Controllers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/treasurers-and-controllers): $166,570 median pay
- [Financial Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-managers): $166,570 median pay
- [Credit Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/credit-analysts): $83,510 median pay
- [Personal Financial Advisors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/personal-financial-advisors): $105,070 median pay
- [Financial Examiners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-examiners): $94,160 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.