Budget Analysts Salary
In Illinois, budget analysts earn $94,880 at the median, or about $45.61 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $101,097 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $95K get you in Illinois?
About budget analysts
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Illinois
Budget analysts pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $95K locally vs. $92K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Budget Analysts salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $88K | -7% | 430 |
Compare to other states
Track budget analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a budget analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,558/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $95K locally vs. $92K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Illinois pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Illinois?
The median is $94,880 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,300, and experienced budget analysts can clear $132,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,870/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 24% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $101,097 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.