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Financial Analyst

$102,740
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Study financial data and market trends to guide companies and investors on money decisions.

Where you work

Offices or remote; at a desk, much of the day in spreadsheets.

The hours

Full-time; long hours are common in some firms.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$102,740
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~25,100
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+6%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
coming soon

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Finance or economics degree.

License or certification

No license to start; some roles require securities licenses or the CFA.

What it takes

Analytical thinkingMath skillsAttention to detailCommunication

The honest take

Corporate finance's front door — Excel fluency is the real credential.

Standard Occupational Classification 13-2051. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.