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Boston Career Explorer

Business and Financial Operations

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

Also called: Budget Analyst, Budget and Policy Analyst, Budget Coordinator, Budget Officer, Budget Planning Analyst, Cost Analyst

Median pay in Greater Boston
$98,330
$47.27/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
930
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+3.7%
80 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$72,500$82,340$98,330$117,080$134,600

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Analyze monthly department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls.
  • Provide advice and technical assistance with cost analysis, fiscal allocation, and budget preparation.
  • Review operating budgets to analyze trends affecting budget needs.
  • Compile and analyze accounting records and other data to determine the financial resources required to implement a program.
  • Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations.
  • Summarize budgets and submit recommendations for the approval or disapproval of funds requests.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure94 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 99
  • Language-model AIOE 87
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 96

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

Budget analysis has higher AI exposure, and some AI use is already seen in this work. AI tools can help with reading financial reports, spotting trends, and checking budget numbers. Giving advice, working with departments, and deciding how money should be used still rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Reviewing budget and accounting reports
  • Spotting trends in spending data

Still relies on people

  • Advising departments on budget choices
  • Judging what a program really needs

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Compliance Officers

    Checking records and following rules carry over. This job offers somewhat higher pay, and its AI exposure is lower than budget analysis.

    Pay difference
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    To get started
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  • Project Management Specialists

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  • Administrative Services Managers

    Preparing and checking reports for accuracy carries over. This management role offers higher median pay and 3.8% projected growth.

    Pay difference
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    AI exposure
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    MA growth
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    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

48 programs near Boston (plus 21 graduate)

Related occupations

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