Budget Analysts Salary
In Iowa City, IA, budget analysts earn $134,850 at the median, or about $64.83 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $160K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.51), which stretches that salary to about $147,361 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $962/month, or 11.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $135K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.51). 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 Iowa City
Iowa City sits well above the national pay line for budget analysts, local pay runs about 47% higher than the U.S. median of $92K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $962/month, 12.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.51 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Iowa City offers a genuinely strong financial position for budget analystss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for budget analysts in metros near Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $92K | $100K |
| Ames | $84K | $95K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $102K | $115K |
| 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, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $160K or more, a $79K 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 Iowa City?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 12.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $962/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Iowa City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,880/month. At HUD’s $962/month FMR, rent would take 20% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is budget analyst a high-paying job in Iowa City?
Local pay is 47% above the national median — $135K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Iowa City pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s +47%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $134,850 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,330, and experienced budget analysts can clear $160,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,972/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $962/month, which eats 12.1% 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 City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 91.51 (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 $147,361 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.