Plan B
Financial analysts
What they do
Financial analysts guide businesses and individuals in decisions about expending money to attain profit. They assess the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments.
Work Enviorments
Financial analysts may work at institutions that are based in large cities.
How to become one
Most entry-level positions for financial analysts require a bachelor’s degree; a common field of degree is business. Some employers prefer to hire job candidates who have a master’s degree.
Pay
The median annual wage for financial and investment analysts was $101,350 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $62,410, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $180,550.
Job outlook
Overall employment of financial analysts is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. About 29,900 openings for financial analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Similar occupations
Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan their finances. Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data. Financial managers create financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.