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Financial Risk Specialist

$117,330
median / year
$64,820 – $196,110
what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Analyze market, credit, and operational risks and recommend limits or controls to reduce potential losses.

You may also see this posted as: Analyst, Risk Analyst, Risk Specialist, Securities Analyst, Equity Research Analyst, Risk Manager.

Where you work

Banks, investment firms, insurers, consulting firms, and offices.

The hours

Usually full-time; market-driven roles may run longer.

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

  • Analyze areas of potential risk to the assets, earning capacity, or success of organizations.
  • Analyze new legislation to determine impact on risk exposure.
  • Conduct statistical analyses to quantify risk, using statistical analysis software or econometric models.
  • Confer with traders to identify and communicate risks associated with specific trading strategies or positions.
  • Consult financial literature to ensure use of the latest models or statistical techniques.

Good fit if you like…

Conventional

organizing information, following systems, and getting details right

Investigative

solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work

Enterprising

leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action

O*NET job zone 4 of 5

High preparation—usually a four-year degree plus experience—is common.

Work styles that matter most

Intellectual CuriosityAttention to DetailIntegrityCautiousness

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft Power BIMicrosoft PowerPointPythonR

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$117,330
per year
Hourly median
$56.41
per hour
What most earn
$64,820–$196,110
yearly, 10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~4,800
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+6.5%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
63,850
people, nationwide

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.

BLS estimates 4% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, math, or a related field.

Related work experience: None.

On-the-job training: None.

License or certification

No license required to start in most places.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

What it takes

Risk modelingStatisticsFinanceCommunication

The honest take

Measures the chance of financial loss and builds controls for investments, lending, markets, and operations.

Standard Occupational Classification 13-2054. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.