Budget Analysts Salary
In Louisiana, budget analysts earn $80,530 at the median, or about $38.72 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $92,266 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Louisiana?
About budget analysts
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for budget analysts in Louisiana runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $92K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 23% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Louisiana can be a reasonable trade-off for budget analystss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Budget Analysts salary by metro in Louisiana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $82K | +2% | 80 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $81K | +1% | 50 |
| Baton Rouge | $75K | -6% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track budget analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a budget analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 23% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,214/month. At HUD’s $1,191/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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $81K here vs. $92K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Louisiana pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Louisiana?
The median is $80,530 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,560, and experienced budget analysts can clear $122,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,183/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 23% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $92,266 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.