Budget Analysts Salary
In Helena, MT, budget analysts earn $79,700 at the median, or about $38.32 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.67), that's roughly $83,307 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,404/month, or 26.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K get you in Helena?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Helena’s Regional Price Parity (95.67). 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 Helena
Pay for budget analysts in Helena runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $92K. Rent runs $1,404/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 95.67) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for budget analysts in metros near Helena, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $63K | $65K |
| Boise City | $84K | $85K |
| Cheyenne | $79K | $82K |
| Rapid City | $75K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Helena, MT
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $40K 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 Helena?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,404/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Helena?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,784/month. At HUD’s $1,404/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Helena?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $80K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Helena compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Helena pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — below the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Helena, MT?
The median is $79,700 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,070, and experienced budget analysts can clear $103,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Helena?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,072/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,404/month, which eats 27.7% 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 Helena?
Helena has a Regional Price Parity of 95.67 (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 $83,307 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.