Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between budget analysts and project accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a budget analyst and a project accountant. Additionally, a project accountant has an average salary of $60,467, which is higher than the $56,598 average annual salary of a budget analyst.
The top three skills for a budget analyst include financial management, budget analysis and financial reports. The most important skills for a project accountant are reconciliations, project management, and contract terms.
| Budget Analyst | Project Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $56,598 | $60,467 |
| Hourly rate | $27.21 | $29.07 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 50,081 | 43,672 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A budget analyst supports organizations and businesses by organizing their financial resources to develop and execute budgets for them. A budget analyst is also responsible for evaluating budget proposals, analyzing data, extra funds redistribution, recommending spending cuts, preparing reports annually, and estimating spending requirements in the future. A budget analyst explores alternative funding methods and uses cost-benefit analyses. In addition, budget analysts also look at past budgets and research any financial developments that could affect income and expenditures.
A project accountant is primarily in charge of overseeing the budget and expenditures allocated for various projects within a company. Their responsibilities revolve around reviewing financial data and work plans, managing billing and financial reports, monitoring the flow of revenue, filing purchase orders and invoices, and processing payments to subcontractors, suppliers, and more. It is also vital to coordinate with all managing personnel to prepare necessary reports such as costs and taxes. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain data and records of all transactions, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Budget analysts and project accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Budget Analyst | Project Accountant | |
| Average salary | $56,598 | $60,467 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $76,000 | Between $46,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Shenzhen Capital Group | Perficient |
| Best paying industry | Government | Professional |
There are a few differences between a budget analyst and a project accountant in terms of educational background:
| Budget Analyst | Project Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between budget analysts' and project accountants' demographics:
| Budget Analyst | Project Accountant | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.7% Female, 54.3% | Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 8.9% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 12.3% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 7% |