Budget Analysts Salary
In Ames, IA, budget analysts earn $84,030 at the median, or about $40.4 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $94,596 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 21.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $84K get you in Ames?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ames’s Regional Price Parity (88.83). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About budget analysts
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What this looks like in Ames
Budget analysts pay in Ames tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $92K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,153/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.83 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for budget analysts in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $92K | $100K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $102K | $115K |
| Iowa City | $135K | $147K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $88K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Budget Analysts pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Budget Analysts salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $125K | +36% | 1,490 |
| Maryland | $106K | +16% | 2,490 |
| Virginia | $105K | +15% | 2,730 |
| California | $100K | +9% | 4,160 |
| Alabama | $99K | +9% | 870 |
| Colorado | $97K | +6% | 1,290 |
| Washington | $97K | +5% | 1,510 |
| Michigan | $96K | +5% | 1,020 |
| New Jersey | $96K | +5% | 840 |
| Connecticut | $95K | +4% | 970 |
| Oregon | $95K | +4% | 1,090 |
| Illinois | $95K | +4% | 750 |
| Alaska | $95K | +3% | 220 |
| Vermont | $93K | +2% | 90 |
| Rhode Island | $93K | +1% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $93K | +1% | 80 |
| Hawaii | $92K | +1% | 210 |
| Massachusetts | $92K | +1% | 1,280 |
| Georgia | $92K | +0% | 1,900 |
| Ohio | $90K | -2% | 800 |
| Utah | $89K | -3% | 280 |
| New York | $89K | -3% | 2,760 |
| Maine | $88K | -4% | 200 |
| New Mexico | $87K | -5% | 740 |
| Tennessee | $87K | -6% | 1,140 |
| Iowa | $87K | -6% | 390 |
| South Carolina | $86K | -6% | 470 |
| Minnesota | $86K | -6% | 450 |
| Arizona | $85K | -7% | 730 |
| Pennsylvania | $84K | -8% | 1,490 |
| Florida | $84K | -8% | 3,150 |
| Idaho | $83K | -9% | 190 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -9% | 200 |
| Texas | $83K | -9% | 3,340 |
| North Carolina | $82K | -10% | 1,830 |
| Wisconsin | $82K | -10% | 820 |
| Indiana | $82K | -10% | 390 |
| Delaware | $82K | -11% | 260 |
| Missouri | $82K | -11% | 520 |
| Nevada | $82K | -11% | 440 |
| Wyoming | $81K | -12% | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $81K | -12% | 670 |
| Louisiana | $81K | -12% | 330 |
| Kansas | $80K | -13% | 270 |
| Montana | $80K | -13% | 360 |
| South Dakota | $79K | -14% | 120 |
| West Virginia | $79K | -14% | 180 |
| Mississippi | $79K | -14% | 390 |
| North Dakota | $77K | -16% | 150 |
| Kentucky | $77K | -16% | 630 |
| Arkansas | $72K | -22% | 320 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track budget analysts salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a budget analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,153/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,826/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is budget analyst a high-paying job in Ames?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $92K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Ames compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Ames pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.83), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Ames, IA?
The median is $84,030 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,760, and experienced budget analysts can clear $98,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,261/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 21.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a budget analysts salary go in Ames?
Ames has a Regional Price Parity of 88.83 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median budget analysts salary is worth about $94,596 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do budget analysts get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.