Financial Analyst labor category
Financial Analyst is a government contracting labor category with levels I through IV. GSA ceiling rates run about $74–$313/hr depending on level. That's what the government pays the contractor, not your salary.
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Data: GSA CALC+
What a Financial Analyst does
On federal contracts, this role ensures that project spending complies with strict regulatory requirements and that funding is utilized effectively throughout the contract lifecycle. Entry-level analysts typically hold a Bachelor’s degree and manage basic data entry and routine reporting. As professionals advance to mid-level and senior roles, the scope shifts toward strategic forecasting, cost-benefit analysis, and advising program managers on fiscal strategy. Senior-level positions often require deep expertise in federal acquisition regulations and complex project accounting. For transitioning service members, this role values experience in logistics, supply chain management, or administrative budgeting, as it requires the same discipline and attention to detail used in military resource management.
Typical Financial Analyst duties
- Develop and manage project budgets to ensure compliance with federal spending guidelines.
- Perform monthly analysis of actual expenditures versus planned budget baselines to identify variances.
- Prepare comprehensive financial reports and briefings for program managers and government customers.
- Assist in the preparation of funding requests and cost proposals for contract modifications.
- Maintain detailed documentation of financial transactions to support annual government audits.
Financial Analyst levels, requirements, and GSA CALC+ rates
Levels map to years of relevant experience. A degree can substitute for years (about 2 years per step).
| Level | Experience | Most common education | GSA ceiling rate, 25th–75th ($/hr) | GSA ceiling rate, median ($/hr) | Rough salary estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 0–3 yrs | Bachelors | $74/hr – $113/hr | $93/hr | $80k–$107k |
| Level II | 4–7 yrs | Bachelors | $95/hr – $145/hr | $120/hr | $104k–$138k |
| Level III | 8–12 yrs | Bachelors | $128/hr – $183/hr | $153/hr | $133k–$177k |
| Level IV | 13+ yrs | Bachelors | $206/hr – $313/hr | $276/hr | $240k–$319k |
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $74/hr – $113/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $93/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $80k–$107k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $95/hr – $145/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $120/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $104k–$138k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $128/hr – $183/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $153/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $133k–$177k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $206/hr – $313/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $276/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $240k–$319k
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 1,763 rates.
Common certifications: DAWIA Contracting Level III, Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), FAC-C Level III, Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, ITIL Foundation
Clearance for this labor category
About 11% of Financial Analyst GSA rates require a clearance. Put your clearance on the very first line of your resume, under your name and contact info. Level and status only. Never list program names, SCI caveats, or classified details. Use the free Clearance Formatter.
Military codes that map to Financial Analyst
Sample Financial Analyst resume bullets
Public-safe, quantified examples. Replace the numbers with your own.
- Managed a $15M annual program budget across five distinct task orders, achieving 98% accuracy in monthly forecasting.
- Identified $450k in cost savings over two years by streamlining resource allocation processes and renegotiating vendor contracts.
- Provided direct financial oversight for a team of 60+ personnel, ensuring accurate payroll tracking and efficient utilization of project funds.
What level Financial Analyst are you?
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level, the GSA rate range for that level, and what would move you up.
With 0 years of relevant experience and a no degree, your effective experience is about 0 years. Under the common GSA CALC+ rule that a degree step substitutes for roughly 2 years, that maps to Level I. Verify against the specific contract.
Move up · To reach Level II, add about 4 more years of relevant experience, or earn a certification the contract requires (e.g. Security+, PMP) that the contract requires.
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 701 rates.
No account needed. Opens the free translator prefilled with Financial Analyst. Share link encodes only your selections, no names.
Financial Analyst labor category: quick answers
How does my military experience translate to this role?
Military experience in logistics, supply officer roles, or administrative resource management is highly relevant. Emphasize your ability to manage equipment budgets or personnel resources when drafting your resume.
What is the difference between Level I and Level IV analysts?
Level I roles are usually focused on data entry and routine tracking, while Level IV analysts act as strategic advisors who handle complex forecasting, high-level reporting, and multi-million dollar portfolio management.
Is a security clearance required for all financial analyst roles?
Not all roles require a clearance, as indicated by the lower percentage of positions requiring one. However, some contracts supporting specific defense or intelligence offices will mandate that you hold or can obtain a clearance.
What education is typically required for these positions?
A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or Economics is the standard requirement. In some cases, extensive relevant experience in federal budgeting can substitute for a portion of the education requirement.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
More about this roleShow
On federal contracts, this role ensures that project spending complies with strict regulatory requirements and that funding is utilized effectively throughout the contract lifecycle. Entry-level analysts typically hold a Bachelor’s degree and manage basic data entry and routine reporting. As professionals advance to mid-level and senior roles, the scope shifts toward strategic forecasting, cost-benefit analysis, and advising program managers on fiscal strategy. Senior-level positions often require deep expertise in federal acquisition regulations and complex project accounting. For transitioning service members, this role values experience in logistics, supply chain management, or administrative budgeting, as it requires the same discipline and attention to detail used in military resource management.
Each contract defines its own labor categories and levels, so confirm the fit against the posting. Pay figures here are estimates from GSA CALC+ ceiling rates, not a guarantee.
Find your Financial Analyst level
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level and the GSA rate range for it.
Open the Level Calculator