Budget Analysts Salary
In Pennsylvania, budget analysts earn $84,240 at the median, or about $40.5 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $88,702 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Pennsylvania?
About budget analysts
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Budget analysts pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $92K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 24.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Budget Analysts salary by metro in Pennsylvania
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $94K | +11% | 700 |
| York-Hanover | $91K | +8% | 30 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $87K | +4% | 40 |
| Pittsburgh | $85K | +0% | 300 |
| Reading | $84K | -1% | 30 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $80K | -4% | 370 |
| State College | $78K | -7% | 40 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $71K | -15% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track budget analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a budget analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 24.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,313/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $92K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Pennsylvania pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — below the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $84,240 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,220, and experienced budget analysts can clear $124,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,422/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 24.9% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $88,702 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.