To work as a budget analyst, you typically need to:
- have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
- have a bachelor's degree.
Education after high school
Budget analysts must have a bachelor's degree. The majors most closely related to this occupation are accounting, finance, business, and public administration. Other good choices are economics, statistics, and sociology. You may need a bachelor's degree in engineering to work in construction or manufacturing. Completing a master's degree in the area you want to work in is excellent preparation for this career.
You need strong math and communication skills to succeed in this occupation. Regardless of your college major, you should take courses in statistics, accounting, and English composition. You also need word processing and computer skills.
Budget analysts take courses throughout their careers to learn about changes in law and technology.
Work experience
Consider completing an internship while you are in college. It can provide you with valuable experience and contacts.
Many budget analysts begin their careers by working in accounting or cost estimation jobs. After a few years' experience in these fields, they can move to an analyst position.
On-the-job training
On-the-job training is common for beginning budget analysts. The length of training varies by employer and position. Many budget analysts receive up to three months of training. Almost half receive up to one year of training.
As a beginning budget analyst you start by helping experienced analysts with research. You gather and enter data on costs and funding sources. As you gain experience, you advance to tasks, such as writing budget estimates and analyzing budget requests.
Military training
Some branches of the military train people to be finance and accounting managers, which includes budget analysis. Training lasts two to 16 weeks. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses. You must have a degree in accounting, finance, or a related field to enter this military occupation.