BUSINESS Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Financial Analyst

With a national median of $102,740 and +5.7% projected job growth through 2034, Financial Analyst offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.

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About Financial Analyst

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

Median Wage: $102,740
Employed Nationally: 362K
Openings / Year: 25,100
Entry Education: Bachelor's degree
Job Zone: Zone 4: Considerable Preparation

Also known as:

Accounting Analyst Acquisition Analyst Acquisition Specialist Acquisitions Analyst Acquisitions Consultant

How Much Do Financial Analysts Make?

Financial Analyst earn $102,740 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $79,290 and $133,340. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$102,740

National Median (Annual)

Well above average for college graduates.

$79K–$133K

Middle 50% Range

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

Earnings Range

$79,290 Entry-level

$102,740 Median

$133,340 Experienced

The mean wage for this occupation is $116,800, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.

What Is the Job Outlook for Financial Analysts?

The BLS projects +5.7% employment change for Financial Analyst through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 25,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↗ +5.7%

10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

About as fast as average.

25,100

Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

362K

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 Financial Analyst professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $102,740 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

#	State	Jobs	Median Wage	vs. National
1	New York	47,130	$126,580	+23.2%
2	California	40,570	$111,100	+8.1%
3	Texas	26,940	$92,370	-10.1%
4	Florida	21,690	$83,560	-18.7%
5	Massachusetts	18,020	$107,610	+4.7%

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

How to Get Here

Most Financial Analyst positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 4 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Typical Entry Education Bachelor's degree

Job Zone

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
3	Applied Mathematics	11,635	$91,532	417
4	Data Analytics	7,294	—	292

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Top Colleges for Aspiring Financial 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	Princeton University Princeton, NJ	94	$6,128	$110,066
2	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY	93	$3,033	$75,971
3	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	93	$12,548	$82,511
4	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA	93	$12,470	$84,943
5	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA	93	$13,481	$92,446
6	University of Florida Gainesville, FL	93	$6,541	$71,588

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Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Financial Analyst, 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.

College ROI Calculator

See if the degree that leads to Financial Analyst pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Financial Analyst Pros & Cons

Strong earnings and growing demand make Financial Analyst a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.

PROS

Very high median salary The national median of $102,740 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
Steady job outlook The BLS projects +5.7% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $133,340 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
Wide job market 362K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.

CONS

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 $102,740 median while building the experience employers require.

Financial Analyst Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Financial Analyst professionals earn?

The national median annual wage for Financial Analyst is $102,740, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $79,290 and $133,340. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.

Is Financial Analyst a good career?

Yes, the data is strong. A $102,740 median with +5.7% projected growth through 2034 is a combination most career fields can't match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $79,290, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.

How long does it take to become a Financial Analyst?

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 $102,740 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.

What is the job outlook for Financial Analyst?

The BLS projects +5.7% employment change for Financial Analyst through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 25,100 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 362K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).

Why do Financial Analyst salaries vary so widely?

The $54,050 gap between the 25th ($79,290) and 75th ($133,340) 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.