Budget Analysts Salary
In Iowa, budget analysts earn $86,550 at the median, or about $41.61 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $97,400 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in Iowa?
About budget analysts
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What this looks like in Iowa
Budget analysts pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $87K locally vs. $92K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 19.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Budget Analysts salary by metro in Iowa
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $135K | +56% | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $102K | +18% | 70 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $92K | +6% | 180 |
| Ames | $84K | -3% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track budget analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a budget analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 19.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,819/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is budget analyst a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $87K locally vs. $92K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Iowa pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Iowa?
The median is $86,550 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,650, and experienced budget analysts can clear $134,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,397/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 19.7% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $97,400 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.