Philadelphia · Occupational wage benchmark
Budget Analysts Salary in Philadelphia
What Budget Analysts actually earn in the Philadelphia metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro estimates for SOC 13-2031; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $93,600
- Budget Analysts in Philadelphia
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $91,269
- Philadelphia price level 102.6 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #16 of 21
- #13 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 700
- in metro Philadelphia
What Budget Analysts earn in Philadelphia, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Philadelphia moves up 3 places — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
| Metro | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $125,050 | $114,847 |
| San Francisco | $117,360 | $101,511 |
| Seattle | $104,090 | $93,663 |
| Detroit | $102,080 | $101,777 |
| Denver | $100,720 | $95,215 |
| Atlanta | $99,880 | $99,822 |
| Tampa | $99,370 | $98,493 |
| Boston | $98,330 | $90,823 |
| Houston | $98,330 | $99,697 |
| Los Angeles | $96,870 | $85,298 |
| Portland | $96,430 | $91,471 |
| New York | $96,340 | $85,588 |
| Baltimore | $96,150 | $92,021 |
| Sacramento | $95,620 | $89,641 |
| Hartford | $95,400 | $92,850 |
| Philadelphia | $93,600 | $91,269 |
| San Antonio | $92,000 | $97,132 |
| Miami | $86,610 | $75,871 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $82,790 | $80,308 |
| Austin | $81,720 | $83,332 |
Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.
The national pay range for Budget Analysts
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.
| Percentile (national) | Annual wage | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $62,250 | Entry / early-career end |
| 25th percentile | $75,320 | |
| Median (50th) | $91,640 | |
| 75th percentile | $114,220 | |
| 90th percentile | $136,660 | Senior / top-market end |
Other MBA-relevant roles in Philadelphia
How to read the Philadelphia number
The $93,600 median means half of Budget Analysts in the Philadelphia area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 700 people in this role in the Philadelphia area. To compare against the state and national picture, see Budget Analysts nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Budget Analysts make in Philadelphia?
Budget Analysts in the Philadelphia metro area earn a median of $93,600 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +2.1% vs national, ranking Philadelphia #16 of 21 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $93,600 a good salary in Philadelphia?
It depends on local prices. The Philadelphia area price level is 102.6 against a U.S. average of 100, so $93,600 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $91,269 nationally — about $2,331 less than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Philadelphia moves up 3 places — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
Do Budget Analysts in Philadelphia need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. Budget Analysts is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in Philadelphia would not be supported by this data.
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