Budget Analyst Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Budget Analysts in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $96,870 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,939 take-home, or $5,912 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median budget analyst salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,481
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,006
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,405
- California income tax$4,779
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,259
- Take-home pay$70,939
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Budget Analyst pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,930 | $31.22 | $51,525 | $4,294 |
| 25th percentile | $79,520 | $38.23 | $60,573 | $5,048 |
| Median (50th) | $96,870 | $46.57 | $70,939 | $5,912 |
| 75th percentile | $121,210 | $58.27 | $85,483 | $7,124 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $141,050 | $67.81 | $96,952 | $8,079 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,870 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median budget analyst's $70,939 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,465 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Budget Analyst jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.56), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for budget analysts, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #25 of 26 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville, AL | $113,400 | $83,202 | $89,395 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $125,050 | $89,077 | $81,809 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $98,330 | $78,005 | $79,089 |
| 4 | Tampa, FL | $99,370 | $78,737 | $78,042 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $92,000 | $73,552 | $77,655 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $102,080 | $76,556 | $76,328 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $99,880 | $74,535 | $74,491 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $104,090 | $82,057 | $73,837 |
| 25 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,870 | $70,939 | $62,465 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 26 metros →
Budget Analyst salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $117,360
- Sacramento, CA — $95,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a budget analyst make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median budget analyst salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $96,870 a year, or about $46.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,520 and $121,210.
What is a budget analyst’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $96,870 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $70,939 a year ($5,912 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,039 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a budget analyst?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $91,640. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,465 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #25 of 26 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a budget analyst afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median budget analyst’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Personal Financial Advisor — $124,490
- Financial Risk Specialist — $113,230
- Project Management Specialist — $108,310
- Financial Examiner — $106,000
- Management Analyst — $104,930
- Labor Relations Specialist — $102,980
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $102,260
- Insurance Underwriter — $97,870
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes — $97,750
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents — $97,680
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists — $97,310
- Credit Analyst — $95,640