California Median
$99,520
per year
Hourly Rate
$47.85
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+9% vs US median
US median $91,640
State Rank
#4 of 51
4,160 employed here
How much does a Budget Analyst make in California?
Budget Analysts in California take home a median of $99,520 annually — roughly $47.85 an hour — which runs 9% above the national median of $91,640.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $69,170 while the top 10% make $149,650 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $80,860 and $129,140 a year.
Budget Analyst salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,170 | $33.25 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $80,860 | $38.88 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $99,520 | $47.85 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $129,140 | $62.09 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,650 | $71.95 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories for Budget Analyst pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Budget Analyst salary in other states
District of Columbia $124,590Maryland $106,020Virginia $105,470Alabama $99,490Colorado $97,100Washington $96,640Michigan $96,430New Jersey $96,250Connecticut $95,440Oregon $95,250Illinois $94,880Alaska $94,740Vermont $93,430Rhode Island $92,790New Hampshire $92,600Hawaii $92,380Massachusetts $92,260Georgia $91,870Ohio $89,840Utah $88,610New York $88,540Maine $88,130New Mexico $87,360Tennessee $86,570Iowa $86,550South Carolina $86,260Minnesota $85,970Arizona $84,810Pennsylvania $84,240Florida $84,170Idaho $83,220Nebraska $83,010Texas $82,970North Carolina $82,350Wisconsin $82,180Indiana $82,080Delaware $82,000Missouri $81,980Nevada $81,600Wyoming $81,100Oklahoma $80,990Louisiana $80,530Kansas $80,140Montana $79,700South Dakota $79,180Mississippi $78,850West Virginia $78,850North Dakota $77,400Kentucky $76,860Arkansas $71,800
Working as a Budget Analyst in California
Nationally, about 47,000 people work as Budget Analysts in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($99,520) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Budget Analyst make in California?
The median Budget Analyst salary in California is $99,520 per year, or about $47.85 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $69,170 at the entry level to $149,650 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Budget Analysts about 9% more than the national median of $91,640. California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Budget Analysts?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $99,520 a year. About 4,160 Budget Analysts are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Budget Analyst salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.