Budget Analyst salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Budget Analysts in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $110,470 a year ($53.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $71,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,680 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $91,640. Pay here is 11% higher than the California statewide median of $99,520. There are 0.39 budget analysts per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $106,460, close to the median.
Pay range for budget analysts in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| 25th percentile | $84,760 | $40.75 |
| Median | $110,470 | $53.11 |
| 75th percentile | $123,590 | $59.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,680 | $63.79 |
| Average (mean) | $106,460 | $51.18 |
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 | $9,205.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,602.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,248.85 |
| Weekly | $2,124.42 |
| Hourly | $53.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Budget Analyst salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $131,730 | 340 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $117,360 | 760 |
| 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 |
See Budget Analyst pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $91,610 | $44.04 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $97,720 | $46.98 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $124,380 | $59.80 |
| Loan Officer | $86,200 | $41.44 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $78,590 | $37.78 |
| Credit Counselor | $62,500 | $30.05 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $95,730 | $46.02 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $89,340 | $42.95 |
| Project Management Specialist | $106,250 | $51.08 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $79,710 | $38.32 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $80,340 | $38.63 |
| Management Analyst | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $82,040 | $39.44 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $75,890 | $36.48 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for budget analysts in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $110,470 a year, or $53.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid budget analysts make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of budget analysts in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $132,680 a year. The top 25% earn $123,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for budget analysts in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,240 a year, and a quarter of budget analysts earn $84,760 or less.
How many budget analysts work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 80 budget analysts are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.