Finance
Finance is about managing money: valuing companies, investing, lending, managing risk and planning. Graduates work as financial analysts, personal financial advisors and, with experience, financial managers.
Where Finance can lead
A field of study is not one job. These are the occupations BLS tracks for this pathway, with median annual pay (May 2025) and projected change in employment (2025–35); total U.S. employment is projected to grow 3.5%.
| Occupation | Median pay | Outlook | Openings / year | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial analysts | $103,570 | +7% Much faster than average |
29,500 | Bachelor's degree |
| Personal financial advisors | $105,070 | +1% Slower than average |
17,100 | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial managers | $166,570 | +10% Much faster than average |
65,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Some finance jobs need FINRA licenses, usually sponsored by the employer after hiring.
Median: half of workers earned more, half earned less. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, checked 2026-10-07.
Key numbers to know
What financial and investment analysts earn
Pay varies widely with experience, employer and location. BLS figures for May 2025.
Often new graduates
Half earned more, half less
Often senior or specialized roles
Financial risk specialists: median $117,330; lowest 10% under $64,820, highest 10% over $196,110.
Median pay by industry
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments | 24% | $124,370 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14% | $101,540 |
| Credit intermediation and related activities | 12% | $100,120 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 11% | $101,760 |
| Insurance carriers and related activities | 6% | $95,830 |
Source: BLS, financial analysts (pay and work environment tabs).
What the work is really like
From O*NET, which surveys people working in the job. Most work full time and some more than 40 hours a week, mainly in offices, sometimes traveling to visit companies or clients.
Common tasks
- Advise clients on aspects of capitalization, such as amounts, sources, or timing.
- Analyze financial or operational performance of companies facing financial difficulties to identify or recommend remedies.
- Assess companies as investments for clients by examining company facilities.
- Collaborate on projects with other professionals, such as lawyers, accountants, or public relations experts.
O*NET has not yet published worker survey (work context) data for this occupation.
Technology used on the job
Interests that fit this work (Holland codes): Conventional, Enterprising, Investigative. Source: O*NET OnLine, 13-2051.00, checked 2026-10-07.
How to get there, step by step
A typical route. Many people reach the same job in different ways.
- Step 1
Math and markets
Calculus, statistics and economics.
- Step 2
Bachelor's in finance
Internships matter a lot in this field.
- Step 3
Analyst roles
Financial analyst, credit analyst or advisor trainee.
- Step 4
FINRA if required
Usually sponsored by the employer after hiring.
- Goal
Advance
Portfolio or fund manager, financial manager; an MBA or master's can help.
High school preparation
- Calculus and statistics
- Economics
- Personal finance or business courses
- Investment clubs or competitions
Course suggestions are Margdarshan's guidance; what you can take depends on your school. See the high school guide for GPA, AP and dual enrollment.
Degrees and what you study
A bachelor's degree in finance or a related field; a master's in finance or an MBA can help analysts advance to portfolio or fund manager roles.
Costs and aid: see College & Money. Important qualities BLS lists for financial analysts: analytical skills, communication skills, computer skills, decision-making skills, detail oriented, math skills.
Why demand is changing
BLS ties demand to overall economic activity, new and expanding businesses, more global investing and growing volumes of data to assess.
Much faster than average
Financial analysts
Average over the decade, including replacements
Studying from outside the U.S.? Education and immigration are separate pathways — see the international student guide.
Advice for getting in
Margdarshan's guidance, based on the data above.
- Do internships early — many analyst jobs are filled from summer interns.
- Get very good at Excel and learn SQL or a BI tool; O*NET lists Excel, SQL, Tableau and Power BI as in-demand.
- Don't pay for securities licenses before you have a job: BLS says most require employer sponsorship.
Frequently asked questions
Related career pathways
Where these facts come from
Official sources only, checked on the dates shown.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Financial analysts checked 2026-10-07
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Personal financial advisors checked 2026-10-07
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Financial managers checked 2026-10-07
- O*NET OnLine: 13-2051.00 · U.S. Department of Labor checked 2026-10-07
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates via the BLS Public Data API checked 2026-10-07