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Cost Analyst Salary in the United States

How much does a Cost Analyst make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cost Analyst in the United States is $85,558 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

However, a Cost Analyst's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $99,664
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $79,042 to $92,941
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $73,111
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Cost Analyst Salaries

A Cost Analyst's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Cost Analyst Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Cost Analysts. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $94,729.
  • California: $94,370.
  • Massachusetts: $93,112.

Top Paying Cities for Cost Analysts

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $107,914
  • San Francisco: $106,732
  • Oakland: $104,483

What Skills Can Increase a Cost Analyst's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 16.82% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 16.82%
Microsoft Office 2.26%
Economics 1.27%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Cost Analyst's salary.

  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Financial Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coordination $88,980
4%
Innovation $88,980
4%
Financial Management $88,980
4%
Get Latest Data

Cost Analyst Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Cost Analyst roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Cost Analyst positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cost Analyst as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Cost Analyst

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$119,780$58.040%
Biotechnology$115,503$56.035%
Energy & Utilities$111,225$53.030%
Insurance$106,947$51.025%
Internet$104,380$50.022%

How Education impacts a Cost Analyst's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Cost Analysts enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Cost Analyst with a Bachelor's Degree is between $77,761 and $83,170).

Cost Analyst Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cost Analyst
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.0%
High School 4.0%
Associates 4.0%
Bachelors 66.7%
Masters 25.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Cost Analyst Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cost Analyst's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$79,042
Average $85,558/year
$92,941
$6,587
Average $7,130/month
$7,745
$1,520
Average $1,645/week
$1,787
$38
Average $41/hour
$45
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $92,941 $7,745 $1,787 $45
Average $85,558 $7,130 $1,645 $41
25th Percentile $79,042 $6,587 $1,520 $38

Most common benefits for Cost Analyst

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Cost Analyst

Here are companies hiring for Cost Analyst and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Cost Analyst

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Cost Analyst?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Cost Analyst roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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