Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Using numbers, measurements, formulas, quantitative reasoning, and mathematical concepts.
Identifying problems, considering possible solutions, and choosing appropriate actions.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Budget Analyst Budget analysts must present technical information in writing that is understandable for the intended audience. Budget analysts typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. Some employers prefer to hire applicants who have a master's degree. Courses in accounting, economics, and statistics are helpful.
Education
Budget analysts typically need at least a bachelor's degree in fields such as business, social science, psychology, or mathematics. Because developing a budget requires numeracy and analytical skills, coursework in accounting, economics, and statistics is helpful. Sometimes, budget- or finance-related work experience may be substituted for formal education.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Although not required, some budget analysts choose to earn professional certification, which may help with career advancement. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of budget analysts is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035. Despite limited employment growth, about 2,900 openings for budget analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Calls for efficient use of public funds will lead to continued demand for budget analysts to estimate program costs, develop budgets, and explain their findings to legislators and the public. Demand for these workers is somewhat tied to the government funding that is allocated for these positions. However, budget analysts manage resource allocation and will be needed even during times of tight budgets. Budget Analysts Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Financial specialists 4% Total, all occupations 3% Budget analysts 2% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Budget Analysts Do
Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan their finances. They prepare budget reports and monitor organizational spending.
Duties
Budget analysts typically do the following:
- Work with program and project managers to develop the organization’s budget
- Review managers’ budget proposals and funding requests for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with laws and other regulations
- Combine program and department budgets into a consolidated organizational budget
- Explain funding requests to others in the organization, to legislators, and to the public
- Help top managers analyze proposed plans and find alternatives if the projected results are unsatisfactory
- Monitor organizational spending to ensure that it is within budget
- Inform program managers of the status and availability of funds
- Estimate future financial needs
Budget analysts advise organizations—including governments, private companies, and universities—about the details of their finances. They prepare annual and special reports and evaluate budget proposals. They analyze data to determine the costs and benefits of various programs, and they recommend funding levels based on their findings. Although government officials or top executives in a private company usually decide on an organization’s budget, they rely on the work of budget analysts to prepare the information for that decision.
Sometimes, budget analysts use cost–benefit analyses to review financial requests, assess program tradeoffs, and explore alternative funding methods. Budget analysts also may examine past budgets and research economic and financial developments that affect the organization’s income and expenditures. Budget analysts may recommend cutting spending on particular programs or redistributing funds.
Throughout the year, budget analysts oversee spending to ensure that organizations comply with the budget and to determine whether certain programs need changes in funding. Analysts also evaluate programs to determine whether they are producing desired results.
In addition to providing technical analysis, budget analysts must communicate their recommendations effectively within the organization. For example, if there is a difference between the approved budget and actual spending, budget analysts may write a report explaining those discrepancies and recommend changes to reconcile them.
Budget analysts working in government may attend committee hearings to explain their recommendations to legislators. Occasionally, budget analysts evaluate how well a program is doing, assess policy, and draft budget-related legislation.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Budget analysts held about 50,400 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of budget analysts were as follows:
| Federal government | 26% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 15 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 13 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 11 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 9 |
Although budget analysts usually work in offices, they may travel to get budget details firsthand or to verify funding allocations.
Work Schedules
Most budget analysts work full time, and overtime is sometimes required during development, mid-year, and final reviews of budgets. The pressures of deadlines and tight work schedules may be stressful.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Analytical skills. Budget analysts must be able to process a variety of information, evaluate costs and benefits, and solve complex problems. Communication skills. Budget analysts must be able to explain and defend their analyses and recommendations in meetings and legislative committee hearings. Detail oriented. Creating an efficient budget requires careful analysis of each budget item. Math skills. Budget analysts need math skills and the ability to use financial-management software and programs. Writing skills. Budget analysts must present written technical information in a way that is understandable to the intended audience.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about budget analysts by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.