BUSINESS Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Credit Analysts

Credit Analysts earn $83,510 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $65,210 and $122,460. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

About Credit Analysts

Analyze credit data and financial statements of individuals or firms to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money. Prepare reports with credit information for use in decisionmaking.


Median Wage
$83,510
Employed Nationally
64K
Openings / Year
3,700
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Also known as:

Commercial Credit Analyst Commercial Credit Manager Credit Administrator Credit Analyst Credit and Collections Analyst

How Much Do Credit Analysts Make?

Credit Analysts earn $83,510 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $65,210 and $122,460. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$83,510
National Median (Annual)

Above the national median for college graduates.

$65K–$122K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

The mean wage for this occupation is $100,850, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.

What Do Credit Analysts Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Credit Analysts roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

  • Analyze credit data and financial statements to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money.
  • Complete loan applications, including credit analyses and summaries of loan requests, and submit to loan committees for approval.
  • Generate financial ratios, using computer programs, to evaluate customers' financial status.
  • Prepare reports that include the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money.
  • Analyze financial data, such as income growth, quality of management, and market share to determine expected profitability of loans.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Critical Thinking Speaking Active Learning Reading Comprehension Active Listening

Who Thrives Here

C
Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

E
Enterprising

Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.

I
Investigative

This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.

Where Do Credit Analysts Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
Moderate

Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.

What Is the Job Outlook for Credit Analysts?

The BLS projects -4.4% employment change for Credit Analysts through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 3,700 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↘ -4.4%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

Declining employment projected.

3,700
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

64K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Credit Analysts professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $83,510 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 New York 7,900 $132,690 +58.9%
2 Texas 6,650 $77,300 -7.4%
3 California 6,400 $88,360 +5.8%
4 Florida 3,510 $76,240 -8.7%
5 North Carolina 2,970 $88,230 +5.7%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Credit Analysts positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 2 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Bachelor's degree
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Accounting 84,760 $76,194 2,112
2 Finance 58,013 $83,343 949

Top Colleges for Aspiring Credit Analysts

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 93 $3,033 $75,971
2 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 93 $6,541 $71,588
3 North Florida College Madison, FL 91 $804 $33,929
4 University of Chicago Chicago, IL 91 $14,860 $91,885
5 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 90 $15,846 $91,565
6 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 90 $11,655 $72,200

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Credit Analysts, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Credit Analysts Pros & Cons

Credit Analysts has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.

PROS
  • Above-average pay At $83,510 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
  • High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $122,460 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
  • Declining employment The BLS projects -4.4% employment change through 2034. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
  • Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $83,510 median while building the experience employers require.

Credit Analysts Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Credit Analysts professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Credit Analysts is $83,510, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $65,210 and $122,460. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Credit Analysts a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -4.4% employment change through 2034. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $83,510 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How long does it take to become a Credit Analysts?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Accounting are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $83,510 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Why are Credit Analysts jobs declining?
The BLS projects -4.4% employment change for Credit Analysts through 2034. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 3,700 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 64K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
Why do Credit Analysts salaries vary so widely?
The $57,250 gap between the 25th ($65,210) and 75th ($122,460) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Credit Analysts professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Credit Analysts roles: Critical Thinking, Speaking, Active Learning, Reading Comprehension, and Active Listening. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.

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