Best states for a budget/finance analyst

Q: What is the best state for budget/finance analysts?

The best state to be a budget/finance analyst is District of Columbia based on budget/finance analyst salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for budget/finance analysts?

The highest paying state for budget/finance analysts is Arkansas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for budget/finance analysts?

The worst state for budget/finance analysts is Montana, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Connel Fullenkamp Ph.D.

Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for budget/finance analysts in the United States. Budget/finance analyst positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for budget/finance analysts.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of budget/finance analysts in America is $80,000.

We figured that the best places for budget/finance analyst jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that District of Columbia is the best state for budget/finance analyst jobs, whereas Montana is the worst.

10 best states for budget/finance analysts in 2026

1. District of Columbia
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 644
Average annual salary: $76,958
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000
Location Quotient:
2.34
Budget/finance analyst jobs in District of Columbia
2. Virginia
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 2,262
Average annual salary: $64,555
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000
Location Quotient:
1.46
Budget/finance analyst jobs in Virginia
3. Connecticut
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 600
Average annual salary: $64,883
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Budget/finance analyst jobs in Connecticut
4. Massachusetts
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 1,638
Average annual salary: $64,792
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
1.09
Budget/finance analyst jobs in Massachusetts
5. Maryland
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 1,379
Average annual salary: $65,676
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Budget/finance analyst jobs in Maryland
6. New Jersey
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 1,323
Average annual salary: $65,219
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Budget/finance analyst jobs in New Jersey
7. New York
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 3,033
Average annual salary: $63,417
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
1.44
Budget/finance analyst jobs in New York
8. North Dakota
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 183
Average annual salary: $58,518
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
1.2
Budget/finance analyst jobs in North Dakota
9. West Virginia
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 143
Average annual salary: $68,726
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Location Quotient:
0.57
Budget/finance analyst jobs in West Virginia
10. Vermont
Total budget/finance analyst jobs: 114
Average annual salary: $62,426
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Budget/finance analyst jobs in Vermont

Budget/finance analyst jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a budget/finance analyst

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a budget/finance analyst

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	District of Columbia	$76,958	$55,000	693,972	644
2	Virginia	$64,555	$46,000	8,470,020	2,262
3	Connecticut	$64,883	$47,000	3,588,184	600
4	Massachusetts	$64,792	$47,000	6,859,819	1,638
5	Maryland	$65,676	$47,000	6,052,177	1,379
6	New Jersey	$65,219	$47,000	9,005,644	1,323
7	New York	$63,417	$46,000	19,849,399	3,033
8	North Dakota	$58,518	$44,000	755,393	183
9	West Virginia	$68,726	$49,000	1,815,857	143
10	Vermont	$62,426	$46,000	623,657	114
11	Maine	$65,294	$48,000	1,335,907	154
12	Colorado	$61,222	$45,000	5,607,154	1,034
13	California	$65,218	$46,000	39,536,653	5,029
14	Michigan	$59,568	$43,000	9,962,311	1,107
15	Missouri	$60,630	$44,000	6,113,532	800
16	Rhode Island	$59,065	$43,000	1,059,639	192
17	Pennsylvania	$59,733	$43,000	12,805,537	1,553
18	Ohio	$59,271	$43,000	11,658,609	1,320
19	Delaware	$58,050	$42,000	961,939	263
20	Alaska	$62,316	$54,000	739,795	127
21	Utah	$55,942	$40,000	3,101,833	655
22	Wyoming	$55,329	$41,000	579,315	118
23	Indiana	$59,063	$43,000	6,666,818	751
24	Alabama	$55,719	$39,000	4,874,747	669
25	Wisconsin	$55,301	$40,000	5,795,483	930
26	Kansas	$53,306	$39,000	2,913,123	704
27	Minnesota	$56,499	$41,000	5,576,606	1,062
28	Texas	$54,796	$38,000	28,304,596	3,252
29	Hawaii	$56,801	$44,000	1,427,538	190
30	Washington	$55,864	$41,000	7,405,743	1,280
31	Mississippi	$54,371	$38,000	2,984,100	260
32	Oregon	$56,003	$41,000	4,142,776	574
33	South Carolina	$55,107	$39,000	5,024,369	441
34	Nevada	$53,831	$38,000	2,998,039	289
35	Illinois	$52,598	$38,000	12,802,023	2,122
36	New Hampshire	$54,718	$40,000	1,342,795	219
37	Florida	$52,113	$35,000	20,984,400	2,480
38	Idaho	$52,704	$38,000	1,716,943	227
39	Oklahoma	$46,521	$33,000	3,930,864	909
40	Louisiana	$52,903	$37,000	4,684,333	335
41	Kentucky	$51,687	$37,000	4,454,189	360
42	Arizona	$50,807	$36,000	7,016,270	900
43	Nebraska	$50,346	$37,000	1,920,076	300
44	New Mexico	$51,492	$37,000	2,088,070	222
45	Tennessee	$48,210	$34,000	6,715,984	806
46	Iowa	$50,810	$37,000	3,145,711	378
47	North Carolina	$47,562	$34,000	10,273,419	1,447
48	Georgia	$46,521	$33,000	10,429,379	1,462
49	South Dakota	$45,414	$33,000	869,666	140
50	Arkansas	$39,711	$28,000	3,004,279	305
51	Montana	$44,568	$33,000	1,050,493	101

Highest paying states for budget/finance analysts

Rank	State	Avg. Budget/Finance Analyst Salary
1	District of Columbia	$76,958
2	Virginia	$64,555
3	Connecticut	$64,883
4	Massachusetts	$64,792
5	Maryland	$65,676
6	New Jersey	$65,219
7	New York	$63,417
8	North Dakota	$58,518
9	West Virginia	$68,726
10	Vermont	$62,426
11	Maine	$65,294
12	Colorado	$61,222
13	California	$65,218
14	Michigan	$59,568
15	Missouri	$60,630
16	Rhode Island	$59,065
17	Pennsylvania	$59,733
18	Ohio	$59,271
19	Delaware	$58,050
20	Alaska	$62,316
21	Utah	$55,942
22	Wyoming	$55,329
23	Indiana	$59,063
24	Alabama	$55,719
25	Wisconsin	$55,301
26	Kansas	$53,306
27	Minnesota	$56,499
28	Texas	$54,796
29	Hawaii	$56,801
30	Washington	$55,864
31	Mississippi	$54,371
32	Oregon	$56,003
33	South Carolina	$55,107
34	Nevada	$53,831
35	Illinois	$52,598
36	New Hampshire	$54,718
37	Florida	$52,113
38	Idaho	$52,704
39	Oklahoma	$46,521
40	Louisiana	$52,903
41	Kentucky	$51,687
42	Arizona	$50,807
43	Nebraska	$50,346
44	New Mexico	$51,492
45	Tennessee	$48,210
46	Iowa	$50,810
47	North Carolina	$47,562
48	Georgia	$46,521
49	South Dakota	$45,414
50	Arkansas	$39,711
51	Montana	$44,568

Expert opinions on the best states for budget/finance analysts

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for budget/finance analysts to find work opportunities?
Connel Fullenkamp Ph.D.
Professor of the Practice of Economics, Duke Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Generally, cities with their clusters of companies and expertise have been the best places to find work. But students shouldn't overlook smaller cities that have good colleges and universities in them, because they also have similar clusters of knowledge and opportunity.

Budget/finance analyst best states FAQs

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Search for budget/finance analyst jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs

Total budget/finance analyst jobs:	644
Average annual salary:	$76,958
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$55,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$106,000
Location Quotient:	2.34

Best states for a budget/finance analyst

10 best states for budget/finance analysts in 2026

1. District of Columbia

2. Virginia

3. Connecticut

4. Massachusetts

5. Maryland

6. New Jersey

7. New York

8. North Dakota

9. West Virginia

10. Vermont