Budget Analysts Salary
In Tennessee, budget analysts earn $86,570 at the median, or about $41.62 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $96,425 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 21% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in Tennessee?
About budget analysts
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Budget analysts pay in Tennessee 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 $1,215/month, 21% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Budget Analysts salary by metro in Tennessee
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $93K | +8% | 220 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $87K | -0% | 440 |
| Clarksville | $86K | -1% | 50 |
| Chattanooga | $82K | -5% | 90 |
| Knoxville | $81K | -7% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track budget analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a budget analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 21% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,835/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $87K locally vs. $92K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Tennessee pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Tennessee?
The median is $86,570 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,920, and experienced budget analysts can clear $133,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,774/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 21% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $96,425 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.