Budget Analysts Salary
In Arkansas, budget analysts earn $71,800 at the median, or about $34.52 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $81,926 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Arkansas?
About budget analysts
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for budget analysts in Arkansas runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $92K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 21.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Arkansas can be a reasonable trade-off for budget analystss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Budget Analysts salary by metro in Arkansas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $74K | +3% | 40 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $66K | -8% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track budget analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a budget analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 21.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,805/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is budget analyst a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $72K here vs. $92K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Arkansas pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Arkansas?
The median is $71,800 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,750, and experienced budget analysts can clear $106,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,689/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 21.8% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $81,926 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.