Program Analyst (federal): Pay & Requirements

Overview

Sourced

Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

O*NET definition of Management Analysts (SOC 13-1111) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.

195,110

in government (SOC 13-1111)

22%

of this occupation works for government

$96,570

median pay in government

Federal

levels of government

Occupation figures cover every job classified under SOC 13-1111, including Policy / Management Analyst.

Titles employers use

Business AnalystBusiness ConsultantManagement AnalystManagement ConsultantAdministrative AnalystEmployment Programs AnalystOrganizational Development ConsultantPerformance Management AnalystProgram Management Analyst

How people usually get in Editorial

USAJOBS. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Requirements

Sourced

Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 13-1111)

Education needed to enter: Bachelor's degree
Related work experience: Less than 5 years
On-the-job training: None

Education workers say the job requires

Some College Courses

10%

Bachelor's Degree

57%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

10%

Master's Degree

24%

Share of surveyed workers in Management Analysts (SOC 13-1111) naming each level as required to be hired, 21 respondents, O*NET survey August 2022. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

How to get hired

Sourced

Management analysts typically need at least a bachelor's degree and several years of related work experience.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Management Analysts”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Academy and training

Sourced

Training to become competent (BLS)

SOC 13-1111: None

Preparation level (O*NET)

Job zone: Considerable Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Federal grade and step: federal grade × step (GS/FWS/agency bands: FAA ATC, TSA SV, VA nurse, LEO special rates). Typical structure for a federal general schedule; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

GS-5/7 entry (Pathways / recent grad)
Career-ladder promotions to full-performance level (GS-9/11/12/13)
GS-14/15 (competitive)
Senior Executive Service
within-grade steps 1–10 (steps 2–4 yearly, 5–7 every 2 yrs, 8–10 every 3 yrs)
special rates: LEO (LEAP 25%), FAA ATC AT-bands, TSA SV bands, VA Nurse I–V

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

Pay

Sourced

Federal

$115,920

State

$78,630

Local

$100,830

All government

$96,570

Private sector

$102,940

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer type	Workers	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Federal	76,910	$77,540	$95,560	$115,920	$134,080	$152,730
State	80,350	$54,080	$64,790	$78,630	$95,600	$113,940
Local	37,850	$64,090	$79,660	$100,830	$121,530	$135,330
All government	195,110	$61,480	$76,000	$96,570	$120,580	$139,480
Private sector	703,170	$60,260	$78,540	$102,940	$137,950	$178,490

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Schedule

Sourced

Work schedule

Regular

62%

Irregular

38%

Seasonal

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

14%

40 hours

52%

More than 40 hours

33%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2022). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Day-to-day work

Sourced

Gather and organize information on problems or procedures.4.5
Confer with personnel concerned to ensure successful functioning of newly implemented systems or procedures.4.5
Analyze data gathered and develop solutions or alternative methods of proceeding.4.5
Document findings of study and prepare recommendations for implementation of new systems, procedures, or organizational changes.4.2
Interview personnel and conduct on-site observation to ascertain unit functions, work performed, and methods, equipment, and personnel used.4.1
Plan study of work problems and procedures, such as organizational change, communications, information flow, integrated production methods, inventory control, or cost analysis.4.1
Prepare manuals and train workers in use of new forms, reports, procedures or equipment, according to organizational policy.3.8
Review forms and reports and confer with management and users about format, distribution, and purpose, identifying problems and improvements.3.7
Develop and implement records management program for filing, protection, and retrieval of records, and assure compliance with program.3.6
Design, evaluate, recommend, and approve changes of forms and reports.3.2

The 10 most important of 10 core tasks for Management Analysts, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2022.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Management Analysts (SOC 13-1111) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

State	Workers	10th pct.	Median	90th pct.
Massachusetts	30,060	$82,490	$134,720	$216,940
District of Columbia	19,000	$84,590	$126,140	$178,070
Maryland	19,170	$73,030	$121,680	$162,090
Virginia	59,620	$66,140	$117,580	$174,700
New York	69,150	$64,900	$112,250	$209,440
Washington	24,760	$72,910	$109,170	$194,090
Alabama	4,900	$63,400	$108,040	$193,370
Vermont	730	$67,750	$107,520	$157,130
New Jersey	22,080	$56,820	$105,820	$175,670
Connecticut	8,000	$64,700	$104,960	$177,740
Colorado	14,360	$41,050	$104,750	$204,240
Illinois	45,820	$57,610	$104,270	$175,360
New Hampshire	2,670	$66,550	$104,270	$162,000
Oregon	10,840	$73,300	$101,840	$135,380
Hawaii	2,920	$66,060	$101,750	$156,000
California	137,280	$61,360	$101,460	$174,970
Texas	50,990	$62,730	$101,400	$168,420
Minnesota	20,700	$64,480	$100,790	$162,160
South Carolina	12,340	$54,720	$100,660	$169,620
Alaska	460	$48,920	$100,190	$146,870
Rhode Island	4,100	$69,640	$99,640	$208,000
Georgia	38,390	$61,010	$99,600	$172,850
Delaware	4,120	$59,540	$99,480	$165,050
Oklahoma	5,760	$49,260	$99,420	$153,860
Tennessee	13,700	$63,280	$99,260	$172,170
Wisconsin	11,670	$64,120	$98,780	$157,620
North Carolina	22,200	$49,990	$98,560	$163,950
Wyoming	390	$67,940	$98,540	$180,950
Montana	1,590	$37,300	$97,470	$145,660
West Virginia	1,740	$57,830	$97,470	$143,420
Missouri	10,030	$60,690	$97,270	$153,300
Kentucky	4,550	$58,660	$95,630	$139,180
Indiana	11,770	$55,160	$95,560	$158,820
Louisiana	4,760	$57,590	$95,540	$167,980
Ohio	25,120	$61,600	$94,270	$146,740
Pennsylvania	34,420	$51,250	$93,830	$161,770
Michigan	13,010	$56,400	$93,640	$156,320
Arizona	17,190	$52,510	$93,310	$161,400
New Mexico	3,910	$58,890	$93,180	$139,480
North Dakota	Not published	$49,260	$90,220	$127,380
Idaho	3,700	$48,360	$88,710	$149,140
Florida	71,060	$51,520	$88,610	$161,810
Iowa	4,150	$51,370	$85,530	$134,600
South Dakota	2,980	$59,070	$83,620	$147,210
Utah	5,670	$41,450	$83,530	$132,620
Nevada	4,550	$58,270	$81,600	$130,000
Kansas	5,280	$49,260	$81,210	$134,300
Maine	2,910	$61,980	$75,530	$126,450
Nebraska	2,740	$49,820	$75,360	$131,270
Arkansas	6,250	$47,260	$72,950	$141,800
Mississippi	3,160	$43,370	$69,390	$131,810

51 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

05 Probation
Probation length and what ends it
Not yet collected
09 Benefits and pension
Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
Not yet collected
10 Union contracts
Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
Not yet collected
11 Transfers and lateral entry
Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
Not yet collected
14 Exam practice
Named exams → OpenExamPrep practice
Not yet collected
15 Employer directory
L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
Not yet collected

Program Analyst (federal)

Overview

Titles employers use

Requirements

Education workers say the job requires

How to get hired

Academy and training

Promotion ladder

Pay

Schedule

Day-to-day work

Related jobs

By state

Not yet collected