Budget Analyst salary in California
Budget Analysts in California earn a median of $99,520 a year ($47.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,650 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $91,640. California ranks 4th of 51 states for budget analysts pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.23 budget analysts per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $105,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for budget analysts in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,170 | $33.26 |
| 25th percentile | $80,860 | $38.88 |
| Median | $99,520 | $47.84 |
| 75th percentile | $129,140 | $62.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,650 | $71.95 |
| Average (mean) | $105,890 | $50.91 |
Half of budget analysts earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,293.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,146.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,827.69 |
| Weekly | $1,913.85 |
| Hourly | $47.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Budget Analyst salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $131,730 | 340 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $117,360 | 760 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $110,470 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $107,010 | 290 |
| Salinas, CA | $103,970 | 50 |
| Modesto, CA | $102,480 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | $98,590 | 60 |
| Visalia, CA | $97,970 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $96,870 | 1,070 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $96,260 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $95,870 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $95,620 | 500 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $87,860 | 320 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $86,200 | 110 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,610 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for budget analysts
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $124,590 |
| Maryland | $106,020 |
| Virginia | $105,470 |
| California | $99,520 |
| Alabama | $99,490 |
| Colorado | $97,100 |
| Washington | $96,640 |
| Michigan | $96,430 |
| New Jersey | $96,250 |
| Connecticut | $95,440 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $97,050 | $46.66 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $109,110 | $52.46 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Loan Officer | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,810 | $38.85 |
| Tax Preparer | $70,030 | $33.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $88,900 | $42.74 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Credit Analyst | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Financial Examiner | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Credit Counselor | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a budget analyst make in California?
The median salary for budget analysts in California is $99,520 a year, or $47.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid budget analysts make in California?
The top 10% of budget analysts in California earn at least $149,650 a year. The top 25% earn $129,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for budget analysts in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,170 a year, and a quarter of budget analysts earn $80,860 or less.
How many budget analysts work in California?
About 4,160 budget analysts are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.