Budget Analyst Job in Silver Spring, MD (NOAA) 2026

⏰ 12 min read

Job Overview

Financial professionals who enjoy budget planning and analysis for a scientific mission may want to take a look at this opening. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), within its National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), is accepting applications for a Budget Analyst, with the specific vacancy being filled in Silver Spring, Maryland.

This role centers on preparing and analyzing budget estimates, tracking Congressional appropriations, and coordinating budget execution across NESDIS offices. It offers telework eligibility as determined by agency policy, though it is not a fully remote position.

The ideal applicant enjoys working with complex financial data, is comfortable interpreting Congressional legislation and OMB policy, and can clearly communicate budgetary recommendations to program managers and leadership.

📱 Download NaukriPatra App

Important: this position is also announced separately under a Status Candidates vacancy (NESDIS-26-13023719-ST); if you want to be considered under both, you must apply to both announcements.

About the Employer

NOAA operates under the Department of Commerce and is responsible for weather forecasting, ocean and atmospheric research, and satellite data services. This position sits within NESDIS, the division that manages the nation’s environmental satellite systems, specifically in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer’s Data Analysis and Systems Integration Branch.

The agency has not publicly detailed extensive background beyond what is shared in the official announcement, so readers are encouraged to visit NOAA’s official careers resources directly for a fuller picture of the agency’s mission and culture.

Position Summary

Here is a quick snapshot of the basics for this opening, straight from the official announcement:

This is a permanent, full-time position with one vacancy specifically being filled in Silver Spring, MD, though the announcement may be used to fill other equivalent positions.

Key Responsibilities

As a Budget Analyst, your work would include leading preparation of annual budget estimates, balancing appropriated and cost-share funds against overhead and projected costs. You would conduct special studies and trend analysis to identify variances in spending, and recommend strategic actions to better leverage funding, including cost analysis and shortfall/trade-off assessments.

You would analyze accounting transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements, examining documents for proper classification, authorization, and payment type. Compiling, processing, and reconciling complex transactions and accounts is a regular part of the role.

You would also develop proposed language supporting new or revised budgetary requirements, track appropriations progress through Congress, and provide long-range analysis of budgetary actions’ potential effects on national, economic, and political objectives. Coordinating with Bureau and Program Office budget analysts, Business Managers, and the Line Office Budget Execution Division Chief to execute the budget is another key duty, along with advising managers on appropriate budgetary actions.

Required Qualifications

There is no positive education requirement for this position. To qualify at the ZA-4 (equivalent to GS-13) level, you must have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-3 (GS-12) level, which must include all of the following:

• Planning, organizing, or applying budget policies and procedures: Understanding how budget processes work within an organization.
• Reviewing, analyzing, or reconciling project budgets or financial data: Ensuring compliance with organizational policies or guidelines.
• Presenting budgetary findings and providing guidance to management: Communicating financial insights clearly to decision-makers.

Note that substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy, so candidates must qualify based on experience.

Preferred Qualifications

The employer has not published a separate list of preferred or desired qualifications beyond the specialized experience described above. Meeting the one-year specialized experience requirement at the ZA-3/GS-12 level is what the agency has outlined for this role.

Required Skills

Based on the assessment criteria, the agency evaluates candidates specifically on Budget Administration, Financial Management, Organizational Awareness, and Principles of Accounting through a Job Knowledge Test designed to assess technical and professional expertise directly relevant to the position.

In practice, this means the role rewards someone with strong technical budgeting and accounting knowledge, an understanding of how federal appropriations move through Congress, and the ability to apply that knowledge in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment.

Salary and Compensation

According to the official posting, this position pays between $106,437 and $187,093 per year. The pay scale and grade for this role is listed as ZA 4, which NOAA’s Alternative Personnel System (CAPS) treats as equivalent to GS-13/14, with no further promotion potential noted.

For readers unfamiliar with NOAA’s system, positions under CAPS are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band rather than the standard GS scale. The agency notes that salary ranges will vary based on location, and applicants should check OPM salary charts for location-specific figures.

Eligibility Requirements

Before applying, it is important to confirm that you meet the basic eligibility conditions the agency has set for this role. These conditions come directly from the official job announcement.

Employee Benefits

The employer states that a career with the U.S. government comes with a comprehensive benefits package, giving employees and their families access to a range of benefits designed to support a rewarding federal career. The agency has not published a fully itemized list of benefits within this announcement.

Benefit eligibility depends on the type of position you hold and whether it is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Since this specific role is listed as full-time and permanent, it would generally be expected to carry standard federal employee benefit eligibility.

Work Schedule

This is a full-time position that is telework eligible as determined by agency policy, though it is not classified as a fully remote job. The posting notes that occasional travel of up to 10% may be required for this role.

Work Location

The specific vacancy for this announcement will be filled in Silver Spring, Maryland, and the initial certificate of eligibles will be issued for that location. The announcement also lists several other locations, including Boulder, CO; Fort Collins, CO; College Park, MD; Greenbelt, MD; Lanham, MD; Riverdale, MD; Suitland, MD; Stennis Space Center, MS; Asheville, NC; and Madison, WI, for future vacancies that may be filled throughout the Department of Commerce. The employer specifically states that payment of relocation (PCS) expenses is not authorized.

Hiring Process

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials, your responses to the application questionnaire or a manual assessment process, and a required Job Knowledge Test measuring specialized budget and accounting knowledge. The best-qualified candidates are identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

NOAA uses category rating for this position, sorting candidates into Gold, Silver, and Bronze quality categories. Veterans’ preference eligibles are placed at the top of their category, and those with a service-connected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the Gold category. Candidates in the Gold category are identified first for referral to the hiring manager.

How to Apply

This position can be applied for directly through USAJOBS. Here is how the official process works, according to the employer:

Step 1
Click the blue “Apply Online” button on the official USAJOBS announcement.

Step 2
Create a new USAJOBS account or log into your existing profile.

Step 3
Select a stored resume (no more than two pages) and any supporting documents to attach.

Step 4
Check the certification box and click “Apply for this position now!”

Step 5
Answer the application questions and attach all necessary supporting documentation.

Step 6
Click “Submit Application” prior to 11:59 PM ET on the announcement’s closing date, August 11, 2026.

Keep in mind that you should make your resume and profile searchable, and remember that this announcement is separate from the Status Candidates version, so you must apply to both if you want to be considered under each.

Helpful Tips Before Applying

Since this position also has a parallel Status Candidates announcement, double-check which one applies to you, and apply to both if you want full consideration.

Make sure your resume clearly demonstrates all three required specialized experience areas: budget planning, financial data reconciliation, and presenting budgetary findings to management. If you are claiming veterans’ preference or CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, gather your DD-214, SF-50, or other required documentation well before the deadline.

Finally, prepare for the required Job Knowledge Test, since your placement in the Gold, Silver, or Bronze quality category depends heavily on how well you perform on this assessment alongside your application materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is this a remote position?
No, though it is telework eligible as determined by agency policy.

2. Where is this job located?
This specific vacancy will be filled in Silver Spring, Maryland, though other locations are listed for future vacancies.

3. What is the salary range for this role?
The official salary range is $106,437 to $187,093 per year, at the ZA 4 pay band (equivalent to GS 13/14).

4. Is a degree required?
No. There is no positive education requirement, and education cannot be substituted for the required specialized experience.

5. Will relocation expenses be covered?
No. Payment of relocation (PCS) expenses is not authorized, though relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized in some cases.

6. Is a security clearance required?
No formal clearance is required, but the position requires a Moderate Risk background investigation.

7. When does this announcement close?
It closes on August 11, 2026.

8. Is there a separate announcement for federal employees?
Yes. This position is also announced under vacancy number NESDIS-26-13023719-ST for Status Candidates, and you must apply separately to be considered under both.

9. Is an assessment required?
Yes. A Job Knowledge Test assessing budget administration, financial management, and accounting principles is required.

10. How do I apply?
You apply directly through USAJOBS by clicking “Apply Online” on the official announcement and submitting your resume and required documents.

Final Thoughts

This Budget Analyst opening may appeal to experienced financial professionals who want to apply their budgeting and accounting expertise to NOAA’s satellite and environmental data mission. It could be a strong fit for someone with solid federal or private-sector budget experience who is based in or willing to work in the Silver Spring, Maryland area.

Since this announcement has a companion posting for status candidates, double-check your eligibility path before applying. Readers should always verify the latest information directly through the official USAJOBS announcement before applying.

Official Application Information