Budget Analysts pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,920 or more. The middle half of budget analysts in Columbia earn between $72,270 and $103,380.
- $64K10th
- $72K25th
- $83KMedian
- $103K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,570 | $7,298 | $42.10 |
| Median | $82,980 | $6,915 | $39.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,270 | $6,022 | $34.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,380 | $8,615 | $49.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Budget Analysts pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Budget analysts in Columbia earn 4% less than the South Carolina average ($90,850) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($96,370). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $91,640.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $87,570 | $82,980 | $63,770 | $115,920 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $90,850 | $86,260 | $62,870 | $125,860 | 470 |
| United States | $96,370 | $91,640 | $62,250 | $136,660 | 47,160 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Budget Analysts salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $87,570, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $66,945 a year, or $5,579 a month and $2,575 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for budget analysts? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $87,570 buys what about $93,496 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Budget Analysts salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($89,420).
- Greenville$89,420
- Columbia$87,570
- Charleston$86,470
Highest-paying cities for budget analysts
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($130,420).
- San Jose, CA$130,420
- Washington, DC$124,390
- Iowa City, IA$122,820
- San Francisco, CA$117,830
- Ann Arbor, MI$117,690
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Budget Analysts salary in Columbia: questions
How much do budget analysts make an hour in Columbia?
$42.10 an hour on average, and $39.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level budget analysts salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the budget analysts take-home pay in Columbia?
About $66,945 a year ($5,579 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,570.
Do budget analysts earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($96,370).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2031; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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