Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a budget and policy analyst
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to budget and policy analyst jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Our research shows that District of Columbia is the best state in the country for budget and policy analysts.
The median salary for budget and policy analysts in District of Columbia is $115,340. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $46,725, which ranked worst for budget and policy analysts, and you can see how your location is important for your career.District of Columbia is the best state, and South Portland is the city with the highest pay for budget and policy analysts.
10 best states for budget and policy analysts in 2026
1. District of Columbia
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 259 Average annual salary: $115,340 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 6.34
2. Vermont
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $83,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
3. Massachusetts
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 233 Average annual salary: $85,532 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
4. Connecticut
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 77 Average annual salary: $84,302 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. Virginia
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 601 Average annual salary: $76,350 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 2.62
6. West Virginia
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $86,346 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
7. Maine
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $87,355 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 0.62
8. Delaware
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $74,214 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
9. Colorado
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $75,371 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
10. New York
Total budget and policy analyst jobs: 366 Average annual salary: $76,957 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
Budget and policy analyst jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a budget and policy analyst
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a budget and policy analyst
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $115,340 | $77,000 | 693,972 | 259 |
| 2 | Vermont | $83,309 | $57,000 | 623,657 | 18 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $85,532 | $58,000 | 6,859,819 | 233 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $84,302 | $57,000 | 3,588,184 | 77 |
| 5 | Virginia | $76,350 | $51,000 | 8,470,020 | 601 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $86,346 | $57,000 | 1,815,857 | 26 |
| 7 | Maine | $87,355 | $59,000 | 1,335,907 | 20 |
| 8 | Delaware | $74,214 | $50,000 | 961,939 | 42 |
| 9 | Colorado | $75,371 | $51,000 | 5,607,154 | 189 |
| 10 | New York | $76,957 | $52,000 | 19,849,399 | 366 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $77,465 | $53,000 | 1,059,639 | 22 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $77,854 | $53,000 | 9,005,644 | 158 |
| 13 | California | $78,294 | $52,000 | 39,536,653 | 682 |
| 14 | Michigan | $74,415 | $50,000 | 9,962,311 | 149 |
| 15 | Texas | $75,150 | $48,000 | 28,304,596 | 391 |
| 16 | Washington | $77,624 | $53,000 | 7,405,743 | 137 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $76,494 | $52,000 | 12,805,537 | 171 |
| 18 | Ohio | $74,092 | $50,000 | 11,658,609 | 167 |
| 19 | Alabama | $65,969 | $43,000 | 4,874,747 | 146 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $67,151 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 27 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $72,668 | $49,000 | 1,342,795 | 34 |
| 22 | Missouri | $71,137 | $48,000 | 6,113,532 | 126 |
| 23 | Indiana | $72,366 | $48,000 | 6,666,818 | 124 |
| 24 | Maryland | $69,999 | $47,000 | 6,052,177 | 387 |
| 25 | Alaska | $67,243 | $50,000 | 739,795 | 31 |
| 26 | Nevada | $65,426 | $43,000 | 2,998,039 | 58 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $67,928 | $46,000 | 5,795,483 | 88 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $64,633 | $42,000 | 2,984,100 | 41 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $62,915 | $43,000 | 579,315 | 13 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $67,121 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 116 |
| 31 | Arizona | $61,870 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 178 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $63,025 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 46 |
| 33 | Utah | $65,185 | $44,000 | 3,101,833 | 61 |
| 34 | Florida | $63,619 | $41,000 | 20,984,400 | 339 |
| 35 | Illinois | $63,618 | $43,000 | 12,802,023 | 272 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $67,071 | $43,000 | 5,024,369 | 50 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $59,978 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 43 |
| 38 | Idaho | $60,628 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 46 |
| 39 | Kansas | $61,998 | $42,000 | 2,913,123 | 60 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $62,834 | $42,000 | 4,454,189 | 63 |
| 41 | Oregon | $65,842 | $45,000 | 4,142,776 | 70 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $63,684 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 42 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $57,699 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 216 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $58,136 | $40,000 | 1,920,076 | 46 |
| 45 | Iowa | $59,854 | $41,000 | 3,145,711 | 59 |
| 46 | Montana | $50,327 | $35,000 | 1,050,493 | 32 |
| 47 | Georgia | $53,079 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 230 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $57,195 | $37,000 | 6,715,984 | 92 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $55,087 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 42 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $52,376 | $36,000 | 869,666 | 17 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $46,725 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 45 |
Highest paying states for budget and policy analysts
| Rank | State | Avg. Budget And Policy Analyst Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $115,340 |
| 2 | Vermont | $83,309 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $85,532 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $84,302 |
| 5 | Virginia | $76,350 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $86,346 |
| 7 | Maine | $87,355 |
| 8 | Delaware | $74,214 |
| 9 | Colorado | $75,371 |
| 10 | New York | $76,957 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $77,465 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $77,854 |
| 13 | California | $78,294 |
| 14 | Michigan | $74,415 |
| 15 | Texas | $75,150 |
| 16 | Washington | $77,624 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $76,494 |
| 18 | Ohio | $74,092 |
| 19 | Alabama | $65,969 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $67,151 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $72,668 |
| 22 | Missouri | $71,137 |
| 23 | Indiana | $72,366 |
| 24 | Maryland | $69,999 |
| 25 | Alaska | $67,243 |
| 26 | Nevada | $65,426 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $67,928 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $64,633 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $62,915 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $67,121 |
| 31 | Arizona | $61,870 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $63,025 |
| 33 | Utah | $65,185 |
| 34 | Florida | $63,619 |
| 35 | Illinois | $63,618 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $67,071 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $59,978 |
| 38 | Idaho | $60,628 |
| 39 | Kansas | $61,998 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $62,834 |
| 41 | Oregon | $65,842 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $63,684 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $57,699 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $58,136 |
| 45 | Iowa | $59,854 |
| 46 | Montana | $50,327 |
| 47 | Georgia | $53,079 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $57,195 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $55,087 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $52,376 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $46,725 |
Budget and policy analyst best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
Search for budget and policy analyst jobs
Updated January 8, 2025