Budget Analysts Salary
In Virginia, budget analysts earn $105,470 at the median, or about $50.71 an hour. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $157K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $111,267 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 24.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $105K get you in Virginia?
About budget analysts
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for budget analysts, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $92K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (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, Virginia
Entry-level budget analysts (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $157K or more, a $86K spread from bottom to top.
Budget Analysts salary by metro in Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $93K | -12% | 420 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $90K | -15% | 440 |
| Charlottesville | $86K | -18% | 50 |
| Roanoke | $77K | -27% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track budget analysts salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a budget analyst afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 25.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for budget analysts in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new budget analysts typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,237/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Virginia?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $105K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for budget analysts?
Virginia pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $111K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do budget analysts make in Virginia?
The median is $105,470 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,610, and experienced budget analysts can clear $156,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,420/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 25.6% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $111,267 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.