Budget Analysts vs Financial Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $73,770 more per year than Budget Analysts professionals — that's 83.9% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Budget Analysts$60,510 – $134,640
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
$60,510$134,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Budget Analysts | Financial Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $60,510 | $86,490 | $-25,980 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,240 | $118,360 | $-46,120 |
| Median (50th) | $87,930 | $161,700 | $-73,770 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,380 | $214,210 | $-103,830 |
| 90th Percentile | $134,640 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $93,920 | $180,470 | $-86,550 |
Employment Numbers
Budget Analysts
47,170
employed nationwide
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Budget Analysts
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $141,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $125,170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $121,890 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,970 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $103,960 |
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Budget Analysts or Financial Managers?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $73,770 (83.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Budget Analysts?
Budget Analysts salaries range from $60,510 (10th percentile) to $134,640 (90th percentile), with a median of $87,930.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
How many Budget Analysts and Financial Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 47,170 Budget Analysts positions and 818,620 Financial Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Managers to Budget Analysts?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Budget Analysts has a median salary of $87,930 while Financial Managers earns $161,700. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS