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Summary

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHBmhFqWdgw.
Quick Facts: Financial Analysts
2025 Median Pay $103,570 per year
$49.79 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2025 443,100
Job Outlook, 2025–35 7% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2025–35 32,000

What Financial Analysts Do

Financial analysts research and evaluate financial data, forecast future trends, and prepare reports containing recommendations for businesses and investors.

Work Environment

Financial analysts typically work in an office setting. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

How to Become a Financial Analyst

Financial analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation.

Pay

The median annual wage for financial and investment analysts was $102,740 in May 2025.

The median annual wage for financial risk specialists was $117,330 in May 2025.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of financial analysts is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 29,500 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.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for financial analysts.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of financial analysts with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about financial analysts by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Financial Analysts Do About this section

Three workers sit at table and review documents.
Financial analysts work in banks, pension funds, insurance companies, and other businesses.

Financial analysts research and evaluate financial data, forecast future trends, and prepare reports containing recommendations for businesses and investors.

Duties

Financial analysts typically do the following:

  • Research and recommend investments
  • Evaluate current and historical financial data
  • Study economic and business trends
  • Examine a company’s financial statements to determine its value and growth prospects
  • Meet with company officials to gain better insight into the company’s prospects
  • Prepare written reports and presentations

Financial analysts generally focus on trends affecting a specific geographical region, industry, or type of product. For example, they may focus on a subject area or a foreign exchange market. They must understand how economic trends, new regulations, policies, and political situations may affect investments.

The following are examples of types of financial analysts:

Financial and investment analysts conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions. They rate and recommend investments based on their analysis of businesses and economic or industry trends. They may use financial modeling to forecast earnings growth or price movements.

Financial risk specialists, also called financial risk analysts, assess and measure exposure to credit and market risk. To quantify risks, they might use statistical analysis software or econometric models. They develop policies and procedures to monitor risk and ensure that companies adhere to regulatory guidelines. They also make recommendations to help limit risk and mitigate losses.

Work Environment About this section

Two female analysts looking at market data on multiple computer screens.
Financial analysts typically work in an office setting.

Financial and investment analysts held about 377,200 jobs in 2025. Some of the largest employers of financial and investment analysts were as follows:

Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities 24%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 14
Credit intermediation and related activities 12
Management of companies and enterprises 11
Insurance carriers and related activities 6

Financial risk specialists held about 66,000 jobs in 2025. Some of the largest employers of financial risk specialists were as follows:

Credit intermediation and related activities 35%
Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities 15
Insurance carriers and related activities 14
Management of companies and enterprises 9
Professional, scientific, and technical services 9

Financial analysts work primarily in offices but may travel to visit companies or clients.

Work Schedules

Most financial analysts work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

How to Become a Financial Analyst About this section

Male analyst using multiple laptops to analyze financial data.
Financial analysts should have strong analytical skills.

Financial analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation.

Education

Financial analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field such as business. Some employers prefer to hire job candidates who have a master’s degree.

Students often benefit from completing internships, which can help them to gain practical experience.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the main licensing organization for the securities industry. Some financial analyst positions may require licensure. Because most of the licenses require sponsorship by an employer, companies do not expect individuals to have these licenses before starting a job.

Although not always required, certification may enhance professional standing. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.

Advancement

As financial analysts gain experience, they may advance to become portfolio or fund managers and select the mix of investments and assets for an investment fund. Having a master’s degree in finance or business administration may improve an analyst’s chances of advancing to one of these positions.

Important Qualities

The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page.

Analytical skills. Financial analysts evaluate a range of information using financial modeling and statistical techniques.

Communication skills. Financial analysts must clearly explain their research and recommendations in writing and through presentations.

Computer skills. Financial analysts evaluate financial data and trends, measure risks, and make forecasts using software.

Decision-making skills. Financial analysts reach conclusions and make a determination on how to rate a security.

Detail oriented. Financial analysts thoroughly examine relevant data and research to identify possible errors or risks.

Math skills. Financial analysts use mathematics and financial modeling to determine the value of financial securities, assess risks, and forecast future growth.

Pay About this section

Financial Analysts

Median annual wages, May 2025

Financial risk specialists

$117,330

Financial analysts

$103,570

Financial and investment analysts

$102,740

Financial specialists

$84,680

Total, all occupations

$50,980

 

The median annual wage for financial and investment analysts was $102,740 in May 2025. 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 $63,720, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $180,860.

The median annual wage for financial risk specialists was $117,330 in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $64,820, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $196,110.

In May 2025, the median annual wages for financial and investment analysts in some of the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities $124,370
Management of companies and enterprises 101,760
Professional, scientific, and technical services 101,540
Credit intermediation and related activities 100,120
Insurance carriers and related activities 95,830

In May 2025, the median annual wages for financial risk specialists in some of the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities $133,070
Professional, scientific, and technical services 119,550
Credit intermediation and related activities 112,060
Management of companies and enterprises 110,090
Insurance carriers and related activities 105,570

Most financial analysts work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

Job Outlook About this section

Financial Analysts

Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35

Financial analysts

7%

Financial and investment analysts

7%

Financial risk specialists

7%

Financial specialists

4%

Total, all occupations

3%

 

Overall employment of financial analysts is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 29,500 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.

Employment

Demand for financial analysts generally increases with overall economic activity. These workers are expected to be needed to evaluate investment opportunities when new businesses are established or as existing businesses expand. In addition, investing has become more global, and some financial analysts specialize in a particular country or world region. Their expertise is expected to be in demand to assess investment strategies in these international markets.

Financial analysts also will be needed to assess growing volumes of data. Their analysis will help businesses manage their finances, identify investment trends, reduce risk, and deliver new products or services to clients.

Employment projections data for financial analysts, 2025–35
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2025 Projected Employment, 2035 Change, 2025–35 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

Note:
Employment subcategories do not necessarily add to higher categories due to rounding.
Employment and projected employment change values are rounded to the nearest 100 or percent.
Data is unavailable for values denoted with a "—".
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Financial analysts

443,100 475,100 7 32,000

Financial and investment analysts

13-2051 377,200 404,300 7 27,100 Get data

Financial risk specialists

13-2054 66,000 70,800 7 4,900 Get data

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at https://projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of financial analysts.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help on Entry-Level Education 2025 MEDIAN PAY Help on Median Pay
Budget analysts Budget Analysts

Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan their finances.

Bachelor's degree $91,640
data-scientists Data Scientists

Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data.

Bachelor's degree $120,230
Financial managers Financial Managers

Financial managers create financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.

Bachelor's degree $166,570
Insurance underwriters Insurance Underwriters

Insurance underwriters evaluate insurance applications and decide whether to approve them.

Bachelor's degree $81,370
Personal financial advisors Personal Financial Advisors

Personal financial advisors provide advice to help individuals manage their money and plan for their financial future.

Bachelor's degree $105,070
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents connect buyers and sellers in financial markets.

Bachelor's degree $78,660
Female compliance officer showing a document to a male colleague Compliance Officers

Compliance officers make sure that people and organizations meet legal and regulatory requirements.

Bachelor's degree $80,730
Financial examiners Financial Examiners

Financial examiners ensure compliance with laws that govern institutions handling monetary transactions.

Bachelor's degree $94,160
Management analysts Management Analysts

Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.

Bachelor's degree $101,860
Market research analysts Market Research Analysts

Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess potential sales of a product or service.

Bachelor's degree $78,760
Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Analysts,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm (visited August 31, 2026).

Last modified date: August 27, 2026

What They Do

The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties.

Work Environment

The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face.

How to Become One

The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.

Pay

The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.

State & Area Data

The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings.

Similar Occupations

The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.

Contacts for More Information

The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

2025 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2025, the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

Work experience in a related occupation

Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education.

Number of Jobs, 2025

The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2025, which is the base year of the 2025–35 employment projections.

Job Outlook, 2025-35

The projected percent change in employment from 2025 to 2035. The average growth rate for all occupations is 3 percent.

Employment Change, 2025-35

The projected numeric change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Employment Change, projected 2025-35

The projected numeric change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

Growth Rate (Projected)

The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2025 to 2035.

Projected Number of New Jobs

The projected numeric change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

Projected Growth Rate

The projected percent change in employment from 2025 to 2035.

2025 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2025, the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.