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Senior budget analyst job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior budget analyst job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 1,400 new jobs for senior budget analysts are projected over the next decade.
Senior budget analyst salaries have increased 7% for senior budget analysts in the last 5 years.
There are over 25,657 senior budget analysts currently employed in the United States.
There are 43,424 active senior budget analyst job openings in the US.
The average senior budget analyst salary is $69,249.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,657 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 26,641 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 27,831 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 28,561 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 29,502 | 0.01% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $69,249 | $33.29 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $67,118 | $32.27 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | $66,837 | $32.13 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $65,978 | $31.72 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $64,750 | $31.13 | +3.1% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 328 | 47% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 974 | 11% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 531 | 9% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 553 | 8% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 502 | 7% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 413 | 7% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 66 | 7% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 41 | 6% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,007 | 5% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 690 | 5% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 516 | 5% |
| 12 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 347 | 5% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 296 | 5% |
| 14 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 236 | 5% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 188 | 5% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 177 | 5% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 50 | 5% |
| 18 | New York | 19,849,399 | 810 | 4% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 337 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 28 | 4% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax | 1 | 4% | $81,563 |
| 2 | Bethesda | 2 | 3% | $77,969 |
| 3 | Amherst | 1 | 3% | $79,833 |
| 4 | Nashua | 2 | 2% | $68,027 |
| 5 | Elkhart | 1 | 2% | $70,459 |
| 6 | Washington | 8 | 1% | $91,583 |
| 7 | Arlington | 2 | 1% | $81,737 |
| 8 | Huntsville | 1 | 1% | $62,786 |
| 9 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $53,999 |
| 10 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $78,512 |
| 11 | Chandler | 1 | 0% | $53,842 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $63,977 |
| 13 | Columbus | 1 | 0% | $69,849 |
| 14 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $57,392 |
Manhattan College
Fairfield University
Siena College
Lynn University
Ferrum College
University of Oregon
American University
Cedar Falls
Pacific Lutheran University

Valdosta State University

Eastern Mennonite University

Texas A&M University–Central Texas

NYU Stern School of Business

University of Texas at El Paso
Keith Kerr Prof.: There are two basic ways that most people in the US find financial success: Either find a job that pays a high salary, or find a career that you love, regardless of the salary, and make a habit of saving and investing part of your income each month starting with your first paycheck.
If you invest only $90 a month starting at 21 and ending at retirement, you would have a bit over 1 million dollars (assuming a 10% annual gain). Wait just 5 years and start doing this at 26 and your 5 years of time will have cost you $400,000 by retirement. This is the power of compounding. Start early and even with a lower salary, you still can find financial success while pursuing careers that are meaningful to you.
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: First, learn everything about the company you just started working for - its historical path, management, the way it's dealt with crises, etc. Second, learn everything about the specific industry the company belongs to and see how the company has developed relative to the development of the industry domestically and internationally. Third, always be extremely alert to notice new opportunities and be prepared to take calculated risks. That is, actively look for opportunities to complete as many and diverse tasks as possible, and volunteer to complete any type of work regardless of whether it seems relevant to your assigned job or not. Opportunities to learn, grow, and improve and thus to maximize your income, will only come up if you are exposed to diverse situations.
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: Be open minded. Finance is the broad definition of an industry which provides opportunities for careers in financial consultancy, financial analysis, stock brokerage, foreign investment, modeling, exchange rate forecasts, and many more. While most of those careers are attributed to the banking industry, you can find those and others in other sectors of the economy, such as insurance, technology, health care/medical, government, and so on. So, be open and look beyond the banking sector, examine the current and predicted trends in the economy to hunt for exciting career options.
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: Skills in research, programming, and modeling. Research skills are difficult to develop and many students don't have the patience or even the desire to acquire them. But they are critical for careers in finance and remain a top set of skills for employers. Programming and modeling helps with decision making by reducing (potentially) the degree of economic and market uncertainties as well as with forecasts. So definitely invest time in learning and continuously developing research and programming skills in the career niche you are pursuing.
John McDermott Ph.D.: To maximize your salary potential, keep learning, investing in your human capital, and expanding your capabilities. Learn as much as you can about your new position and industry, work with a variety of people at your firm, and seek opportunities outside your comfort zone. Your salary potential will increase as you are recognized as a capable and hard working colleague.
Siena College
Finance And Financial Management Services
Feng Dong: As an entry level job, a junior finance analyst’s work primarily involves supporting senior analysts and managers through various tasks. This includes gathering and organizing financial data from multiple sources, conducting preliminary analyses based on the financial tools and software, and preparing the reports and presenting them to the senior analysts. Meanwhile, the job also requires some administrative tasks such as organizing financial documents and routine works such as maintaining some basic financial models. The main purpose of this position is to help the junior analysts develop their knowledge and skills within some specific industries/areas, get familiar with the financial regulations and market trends, and generate enough practical experiences.
David Spohn DBA, MBA, MJUR, CWM®: Likes:
- Intellectual Stimulation: Many finance analysts enjoy the challenge of solving complex financial puzzles and deriving insights from data. The role often requires staying updated with the latest economic trends and financial theories, providing continuous learning opportunities.
- Impact on Decision-making: Analysts often take pride in the fact that their work directly influences strategic business decisions. This can be highly rewarding, especially when their recommendations lead to successful outcomes.
- Career Opportunities: The field offers numerous pathways for career advancement. Analysts can ascend to roles in senior management, specialize in particular sectors such as fintech or healthcare, or move into investment roles.
Dislikes:
- High Pressure: The role can be highly stressful, with tight deadlines and significant implications tied to their analyses and recommendations. Financial markets are dynamic, and the pressure to provide accurate, timely insights can be intense.
- Monotony in Initial Stages: New entrants might find the work initially repetitive as they learn the ropes of data collection and basic analysis techniques. The intellectual rewards and more engaging tasks often come with increased responsibility.
- Work-Life Balance: Depending on the employer and the state of the market, long hours can be common, especially during financial reporting periods or significant market changes, which can impact work-life balance.
Clemens Kownatzki PhD, MBA: As a beginner in any field, it pays to listen more than to talk. Be humble, pay attention, be nice to folks and probably most helpful is having a mentor who can guide you along and show you some best practices for navigating your career. You should take advantage of your education, not just to show a piece of paper that says you graduated but think of every single project, essay or paper that you write as part of a portfolio that demonstrates your skill sets. Especially in finance where we can sometimes be enamored with the beauty of a mathematical model, think about how any model should be applied in the real world. In some cases that might mean that you have to “get your hands on the wheel and learn how to drive.” I am not suggesting that you should put all your savings at risk and buy the next iteration of the latest cryptocurrency, but If you’re interested in a career in investing, put a small amount of money at risk and trade a stock, or if you must trade a few dollars’ worth of Bitcoin or Ether – as much as you would risk for a movie ticket seems reasonable. There are lots of virtual trading apps where you can trade with paper money, but there’s nothing like understanding risk when your own dollars are at stake, even if it’s just a few dollars. You should also absorb all the workshops, seminars and resources available out there. Follow Prof. Aswath Damodaran who has a YouTube Channel and hundreds of spreadsheets with financial models, all for free! Also follow some good content providers on various channels to get additional insights – in the field of finance, you need to be up-to-date on all events because those influence markets and the economy. Be ready to continue learning and update your skills and understanding while you’re working. Education doesn’t end after you finish your degree. All successful people are life-long learners.
Timothy Egan M.S. Marketing: -Understanding finance and how it impacts the operations of where you work, can help you have great insight into new opportunities or see the writing on the wall in tough times. -Don't be afraid to learn new technologies, especially ones that collect data. Enhance your tech-based skills as that will increase your value to the organization where you work and the business community at large. -Learn Spanish. While globalization may have you think about learning an Asian language, the Spanish speaking market is the faster growing in the US and has been since 2010.
Timothy Egan M.S. Marketing: -Under promise and over deliver. -Know your value, self-assess your skills, your knowledge and your role. Understand when and when not a company can give increases. -Build an internal support system. Make sure you have people who will go to bat for you when you want to move up internally. -After succeeding don't be afraid to ask for an increase. -And remember, stay humble. The minute you think you know everything; you haven't learned anything.
Ferrum College
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
Dr. Karen Carpenter: This field is wide open. Decide the population you want to work with and what space you want to be in. Certifications are very valuable to get employed immediately virtually anywhere in the country. Our discipline has the power to save lives. It is an extremely rewarding profession.
University of Oregon
Finance And Financial Management Services
Z. Jay Wang: Students who have a history of doing work in the field outside the classroom either through internships, industry projects, or school-sponsored clubs managing financial decisions are better poised to maximize starting salary potential. Starting early to secure internships with top companies will also position students well for higher earning potential. Most top banks and firms will post internships from April/May to August, and close by the end of September for the following summer. They are also rolling, so may fill the roles by as early as June of the sophomore year for the following summer after junior year. Finally, networking with industry and alumni professionals in the companies, firms, banks prior to applying for an internship or full-time position will have an impact. The candidate will learn more about the opportunity and company culture for their resume and potential interview, and most top companies in finance will have a referral program. If the candidate impresses the internal connection with excellent questions and strategic answers, they may get a referral that moves them up in the stacks of applicants.
American University
Finance And Financial Management Services
Octavian Ionici PhD: The finance profession is lucrative, rewarding and very competitive. Graduates should do their research about the organization they are interviewing with and be able to discuss how their skills can contribute to the business. They should also know if they would rather interact with people and clients or if they are drawn to intellectual pursuits such as analysis. Do they value power, prestige status, risk, or something else? Ultimately our core values, personal goals, interests, aptitudes, and personality will shape our career paths.
Being able to articulate what sparked their interest in the financial field and why they are interested in a chosen role will be an advantage during the hiring process. While still in college, students should join a professional association like the Financial Management Association to give them more access to that broad network, as well as access to career development resources that can set them apart from the crowd.
It's also critical to get an internship (paid or unpaid) in order to show some real-life experience. They can do this while they are still in college, during the summers, or even afterwards, to get a foot in the door.
Reading the WSJ and FT daily, and listening to Bloomberg, or other financial programs as a regular practice will help them to have fluency in the language of our profession. Because the finance sector is heavily regulated and changes occur due to changing economic and political conditions, they will need to stay updated with those changes. Financial media sources will help bring them that context to stay up to date on all of these moving parts.
Octavian Ionici PhD: Try to understand what your boss or your company needs, then see if you can fill that gap with your skill set and work ethic. Finance constantly evolves. A career with lifelong learning will help keep you employable. Investing in continuous learning and skill development can increase your income potential down the road.
Plus, don't underestimate the power of a positive attitude and strong work ethic. You may not be an expert at the beginning, but you can take on every challenge given to you, work hard and try to turn it into a success for your organization. Each win will build your reputation and your portfolio of skills which you will then bring with you to your next job. As you do this, you will inevitably acquire specialized skills.
Noah Alatza: Prior to graduation, gain as much relevant experience as possible through internships. Having multiple internships where you've proven yourself to be successful and hardworking is essential to getting the best offers for full-time roles. In the early years of your career, take note of the qualifications of your next promotion and proactively take steps to ensure that you achieve those qualifications. Finally, make sure to do your research on salary levels for similar positions and don't be afraid to ask for an increase when your work performance and data support that request.
Dr. Kimberly Gaither: Maximize your salary potential by asking questions and learning as quickly as possible. Be a good communicator with those above and below you as well as your peers. Be dependable. Persons who show up early and work hard will be valued and rewarded.
Cedar Falls
Finance And Financial Management Services
Brett Olsen: Every business, every institution, every family, and every fund deals with cash flows. Being able to evaluate, understand, quantify, analyze, compute, and communicate the flows of cash is necessary and cannot be avoided. This is a good profession at any point in time. The use of cash is ubiquitous.
Brett Olsen: To succeed as a Finance Analyst, one needs to be interested in math, willing to solve problems, and driven by both. Those who dislike math or problem-solving may find the career challenging.
Pacific Lutheran University
Finance And Financial Management Services
Fang Lin: Proficiency in coding and statistical modeling is essential. At a minimum, individuals should be able to understand basic financial models. Ideally, they should be able to code or at least interpret code in languages such as Python and R. Additionally, soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking will continue to be invaluable.
Fang Lin: Don't be afraid to negotiate your starting salary. Young journalists have a lot to offer newsrooms through social media skills and a willingness to adapt to new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Technology skills have value and should not be undersold. Also, young journalism students should not discount the value of their student media and internship experiences. Young journalists must use everything on their resumes to show how they bring value to their position and ask to be compensated fairly for the work they will contribute to the newsroom's success.
Dhruba Banjade: i. The industry technology is changing fast. Specific skills will be more critical in the finance field in the next 3-5 years. Some of these are:
ii. Data analysis/ data mining skills. Knowledge of Excel, R, Python, data visualization, Tableau, RapidMiner, machine learning, and financial modeling skills are essential in finance and business.
iii. Skills and knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning will give more opportunities and help career development.
iv. Network security and cybersecurity are essential to protect financial transactions and digital data.
v. Knowledge of financial regulations and risk management will be in high demand in the next 3-5 years.
vi. Soft skills such as politeness, ability to work in a diverse group, good communication, learning attitude, etc, are also necessary.
vii. Many industry and business companies today focus on sustainable development and environmental, social, and governance activities. Knowledge of sustainability and ESG measures is also helpful.
viii. Broad knowledge of global financial markets, international finance, global economy, etc., will be valuable in the next 3-5 years.

Valdosta State University
Department of Mathematics
Shaun Van Ault Ph.D.: Above all, a budget analyst needs to demonstrate attention to detail and the ability to focus for long periods on a large set of data. Experience working with spreadsheets is a must. All of these skills are developed as part of a mathematics degree.
Shaun Van Ault Ph.D.: Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate numerical/budget data into plain English.
Shaun Van Ault Ph.D.: Good number sense, familiarity with computers, spreadsheets, databases, etc.
Shaun Van Ault Ph.D.: A combination of analytical skills and strong leadership qualities.

Eastern Mennonite University
Mathematics and Computer Science Department
Stefano Colafranceschi Ph.D.: Quantitative and technical skills like coding, knowledge of complex hardware and/or software systems, and the ability to perform quick and dirty calculations are of utmost importance. Depending on the context, specific skills might be required by the job, however, handling any type of computer language/framework plus a math-oriented mindset often is a winning mix.
Stefano Colafranceschi Ph.D.: Being flexible and adaptive to learn new things is probably the most versatile/good thing to have. Every job has its requirements but being proactive, and with a can-do attitude, ready to attack pending problems is an efficient way that will boost your career.
Stefano Colafranceschi Ph.D.: In my opinion, logic and organization are the two most essential soft skills. Logic drives the analysis process to make it efficient, complete, and effective. An organized and logical work enables further optimization and tuning to understand the implications of the strategies about to be implemented.
Stefano Colafranceschi Ph.D.: Definitively a team working attitude and communication skills. Nowadays, everything is accomplished within the realm of a team, so functioning well in that dynamic, diverse context is crucial. No matter your role in the team, use your capacity to contribute to the shared goal.
Of course, translating and abstracting your work to a larger audience should also be the focus of your activity.

Dr. Rebecca McPherson Ph.D.: Currently, one of the biggest trends I see is the elimination of many entry-level positions. These employers are supplementing the loss of entry-level positions by shifting part of the workload to mid-level career professionals and adding interns. This means there are a lot more internship opportunities available. However, not all internships are good internships. Some internships are replacing the entry-level position without providing learning opportunities or skill development. Rather, it is low-skill, low-wage labor that is free or low cost to the employer but does not add to students' qualifications. So, when considering internship opportunities, especially those that are virtual, make sure the internship opportunity is supporting skill development in your aspiring career.
As mentioned, there is an increase in the number of virtual opportunities, especially virtual internships. Some entry-level positions have moved to virtual positions or virtual support positions that are part-time or project based. These opportunities are great for students seeking skills in their aspiring career field. However, this also means you are competing on a national scale with other entry-level applicants. Many organizations are overwhelmed with the number of individuals applying for these virtual or entry-level positions. Here are some suggestions to improve your chances of being selected for one of these positions.
First, a timely application for these highly sought positions is critical. An organization that has 300+ applicants per position will not look at every application. Even if the job is open for two weeks, they may only look at the first 50 applicants to obtain the number of qualified individuals they were looking for in the selection process. Therefore, it is essential to ensure you are quick to apply for the position. I recently sent a notice to students from an alumnus about multiple career opportunities. Within three days, they were no longer accepting resumes. Those students who were slow to respond missed out on this opportunity.
Second, to have a quick application, you need to ensure your resume is up to date and appropriate for your career field. Have your resume reviewed by at least three professionals who hire individuals in the career you are pursuing. Utilize their feedback to improve your resume and expand your network for job searching. You can find these individuals at the local Chamber of Commerce or professional organizations related to your career field. Experienced professionals love to give advice; you just need to be proactive and ask. Be gracious about criticisms of your resume because, again, you are seeking to expand your network, and leaving a good impression is important. Within the HR profession, more than half of the jobs found by HR professionals are found through networking. This means students aspiring to careers in human resource management need to be part of the professional organization in their local community related to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Most SHRM professional organizations are meeting virtually and actively help their members locate opportunities. Not being a member of your SHRM professional organization means missed opportunities in a tight job market.
Third, make sure your resume and social media are consistent. You need to ensure the materials you are providing as an applicant, including your resume, job application, and professional social media, offer the same story about your career direction and career past. Inconsistencies between these sources of information will lead the HR professional to believe you are, at best, lacking attention to detail and, at worst, disingenuous or lying about something in your background or future direction. I encourage all of our HR students to ensure their resumes are up to date, reviewed by local HR professionals, and their social media, in particular, LinkedIn is up to date and consistent with their resume. Then, connect with alumni from your institution who are currently holding jobs in the career you are pursuing.
Fourth, be diligent and proactive about searching for opportunities. It is taking longer for recent graduates and other job seekers to receive offers in their career field. If you failed to plan ahead and you did not have an internship or skill development during your academic career, you may need to seek out post-graduation internships and stretch opportunities with temporary agencies to increase your options. When there are more jobs and fewer applicants in the job market, having relevant skills in addition to your degree may not be as critical to obtaining the opportunity you are seeking. However, in this current economic situation, being one of the most prepared and qualified applicants is vital. If you are unprepared upon graduation, you need to investigate and understand the most marketable skills in your career field and actively seek out relevant opportunities, whether they are paid or unpaid. For aspiring HR professionals, entry-level marketable skills include forecasting labor needs, conducting a labor market analysis, sourcing and recruiting talent, interviewing and selecting talent, creating employment contracts and negotiating, onboarding new employees, HRIS experience and statistical reporting, people problem sensitivity, and problem-solving, legal compliance especially ADA, EEO, and Affirmative Actions, and policy compliance and changes. For those students who were proactive in seeking skill development during their academic program, they will have less difficulty finding and receiving a job offer.
Finally, when considering some of the most highly desirable attributes from the hiring manager's perspective, these include a strong work ethic, demonstration of critical thinking skills, strong communication skills, being collaborative, soft skills, and adaptability. Consider your resume and your social media presence; how are these representations of you as an aspiring professional demonstrating these highly desirable attributes? To what degree can you display these attributes in your accomplishments? For aspiring HR professionals, highly desirable qualities also include diplomacy, persuasion, cultural acuity, and consensus-building.
Dr. Rebecca McPherson Ph.D.: Professional services are a large segment of the job market encompassing multiple career domains, including business, commerce, accounting, marketing, human resource management, just to name a few. Understanding the most sought-after industry certifications is important to demonstrating professional identity, career commitment, and understanding of your chosen career field. Certifications and licenses can also demonstrate a specific level of knowledge or ability when it is widely recognized by employers. For example, in the human resource management field, SHRM offers the SHRM-CP, and the Human Resource Certification Institute offers the PHR. Both certifications are widely recognized in the human resource management profession. The preferences for these certifications can be found in multiple job announcements for entry-level and mid-career professional opportunities. Investigating job announcements to understand and pursue the certifications and licenses that are in demand will help position you as one of the most qualified applicants.
When considering which courses will have the most impact on job prospects, consider those courses that include applied or experiential learning. These courses allow you to take the knowledge and practice that knowledge on a project or in a setting. This will enable you to discuss the application of critical thinking to a specific skill with a particular outcome that translates as a potential accomplishment on your resume. Again, check out the job postings for your desired career to ensure that the types of courses you are pursuing are desirable by the organizations offering jobs in your career field.

Haran Segram Ph.D.: Concentrations in economics/finance and data sciences will keep the graduates in good stead. Foundations of Fintech broadly and classes in Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence specifically should be an essential part of the curriculum.

Dr. Frank Cabano Ph.D.: I think these days something that really stands out on a resume is data analytic skills. Given the large amounts of data that companies have access to nowadays, employers are often looking for employees who have the knowledge and skills to be able to manage, analyze, and draw insights from that data. Therefore, knowledge of advanced statistics and being able to use different statistical packages to analyze large data sets, and then being able to offer evidence-based insights from this data, are important skills to have on today's job market. In addition, and related to the importance of having data analytic skills, is being able to demonstrate one's communication skills. Both written and oral communication skills are critical, and pairing these "soft" skills with the "hard" skills of data analytics, where one can effectively communicate practical implications from data analyses, should be great assets for a candidate currently on the job market.