Country edition: UK Beta
UK · Finance · Investment

Investment banking and investment analysis

You can start as a graduate trainee at an investment bank or stockbroking firm, usually after a 2:1 degree. Trainees must pass an exam recognised by the FCA, which regulates the firms and holds their staff to account.

See the route Pay by region
Typical UK pay (median)£50,330Finance and investment analysts and advisers, full time, per year
ONS
Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 provisional, tables 14 and 15Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Checked
9 Oct 2026

Medians for full-time employee jobs. ONS hides estimates it rates unreliable (CV over 20%).

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Licensed or registered byFCAFinancial Conduct Authority. Regulates firms and the people in them
FCA
Senior Managers and Certification RegimeFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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Top 25% earn over£70,665ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional)
Full-time jobs in the UK178,000Employees, rounded by ONS

How to get there

2 routes. Graduate trainee · Apprenticeship

Graduate trainee FCA

Any degree subject can work; economics, maths, business, accountancy and finance help.

  1. SchoolGCSEs + 2 to 3 A levels

    NCS
    Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  2. DegreeDegree at 2:1 or higher

    A placement year or summer internship gives you an advantage.

    NCS
    Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  3. JobGraduate trainee at an investment bank or stockbroking firm

    NCS
    Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  4. ExamAn FCA-recognised exam

    For example the Investment Management Certificate (CFA Society UK) or the Investment Advice Diploma (CISI).

    NCS
    Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  5. GoalInvestment analyst or banker

    Your firm must be able to show who does what and hold you to the FCA Conduct Rules.

    FCA
    Senior Managers and Certification RegimeFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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Apprenticeship Level 4 / 7

With a bank, regulator or investment company.

  1. Level 4Investment Operations Specialist Higher Apprenticeship

    Up to 2 years, with professional exams.

    NCS
    Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  2. Level 7Senior Investment and Commercial Banking Professional

    For people with more experience; equal to a postgraduate award.

    NCS
    Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  3. GoalProfessional body membership

    You can apply at the end of the apprenticeship.

    NCS
    Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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Degree not in finance?
A postgraduate qualification like an MBA can help.
NCS
Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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At school

GCSEs (Years 10–11) and A levels (Years 12–13), or equivalents.

GCSEs
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English and maths.
NCS
Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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A levels
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree.
NCS
Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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UCAS points
An A* = 56 points. Many courses ask for grades instead of points.
UCAS
The new UCAS Tariff: ten things applicants need to knowUCAS
Checked
9 Oct 2026

An A* at A level is worth 56 Tariff points. Only about a third of courses use Tariff points in their entry requirements; most ask for grades.

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Pay by region

Pay is in pounds (£) per year, before tax, for full-time employees. ASHE counts employees only, so self-employed people (most barristers, many contractors) are not in these figures.

Finance and investment analysts and advisers SOC 2422

  • UK median £50,330
  • Bottom 25% under £36,872
  • Top 25% over £70,665
Finance and investment analysts and advisers: median full-time pay by UK region, highest first
Region (where people work)Median payJobsHow exact
London£64,67271,000Good
Scotland£55,52314,000Good
East£47,8299,000Rough estimate
South West£47,55113,000Rough estimate
Yorkshire and The Humber£46,74210,000Rough estimate
North West£45,06011,000Rough estimate
West Midlands£42,393—Rough estimate
South East£41,44818,000Rough estimate
Wales£31,9879,000Rough estimate

Regions where ONS did not publish a reliable figure are left out. "Rough estimate" = ONS rates it CV 10–20%: use it with care.

ONS
ASHE 2025 provisional, table 15: work region by occupation (4-digit SOC 2020)Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Checked
9 Oct 2026

A region is listed only where ONS published a median for that job.

View source

Starting vs experienced (National Careers Service)

  • Investment analyst: starter £28,000 · experienced £75,000
    NCS
    Investment analyst — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source
Pay: ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), tables 14 and 15, full-time employees. Routes and rules: the official sites linked on each row, checked 23 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not rank universities or recommend paid courses.