Budget Analysts vs Lawyers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Lawyers professionals earn $63,230 more per year than Budget Analysts professionals — that's 71.9% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Budget Analysts$60,510 – $134,640
Lawyers$72,780 – N/A
$60,510$134,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Budget Analysts | Lawyers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $60,510 | $72,780 | $-12,270 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,240 | $99,760 | $-27,520 |
| Median (50th) | $87,930 | $151,160 | $-63,230 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,380 | $215,420 | $-105,040 |
| 90th Percentile | $134,640 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $93,920 | $182,760 | $-88,840 |
Employment Numbers
Budget Analysts
47,170
employed nationwide
Lawyers
747,750
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Budget Analysts
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $141,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $125,170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $121,890 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,970 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $103,960 |
Best Cities for Lawyers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $215,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $205,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $203,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $194,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $191,880 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Budget Analysts or Lawyers?
Lawyers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $63,230 (71.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Budget Analysts?
Budget Analysts salaries range from $60,510 (10th percentile) to $134,640 (90th percentile), with a median of $87,930.
What is the salary range for Lawyers?
Lawyers salaries range from $72,780 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $151,160.
How many Budget Analysts and Lawyers jobs are there?
There are approximately 47,170 Budget Analysts positions and 747,750 Lawyers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Lawyers to Budget Analysts?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Budget Analysts has a median salary of $87,930 while Lawyers earns $151,160. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS