Budget Analysts build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and management of financial resources skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Treasurers and Controllers (94%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Treasurers and Controllers | 94% | $166,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Financial Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 2 | Financial Managers | 88% | $166,570 | +82% | None |
| 3 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 86% | $149,230 | +63% | None |
| 4 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | 85% | $78,210 | −15% | None |
| 5 | Management Analysts | 83% | $101,860 | +11% | None |
| 6 | Actuaries | 83% | $130,000 | +42% | None |
| 7 | Fundraising Managers | 82% | $125,470 | +37% | None |
| 8 | Project Management Specialists | 82% | $102,320 | +12% | None |
| 9 | Investment Fund Managers | 80% | $166,570Pay for the broader BLS group “Financial Managers” | Not compared | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Document Management Specialists | 79% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
Compared with Budget Analysts, median $91,640. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as budget analysts (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
94% skill match · $166,570 (broader BLS group)
Systems Evaluation · Management of Personnel Resources · Management of Financial Resources
88% skill match · $166,570 · +82% pay
Management of Personnel Resources · Service Orientation · Quality Control Analysis
86% skill match · $149,230 · +63% pay
Management of Personnel Resources · Service Orientation · Time Management
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Treasurers and Controllers (94% skill match, median $166,570), Financial Managers (88% skill match, median $166,570) and Compensation and Benefits Managers (86% skill match, median $149,230), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 10 pay more than budget analysts at the median. The biggest increases: Computer and Information Systems Managers (+91%, $175,140), Financial Managers (+82%, $166,570) and Compensation and Benefits Managers (+63%, $149,230).
24 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. One usually needs a graduate degree: Investment Fund Managers.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.