What is the salary and career path for a credit analyst?
Credit analyst maps exactly to Credit Analysts (SOC 13-2041), its own BLS code; the OEWS May 2025 median is $83,510 a year ($40.15 an hour), from $56,250 at the 10th percentile to $169,230 at the 90th for senior commercial and corporate analysts. BLS projects the code to decline 4.4% over 2024–2034 as automated credit scoring and underwriting absorb routine analysis, with only about 3,700 openings a year, mostly from replacement. The role starts with a finance or accounting degree, and the RMA Credit Risk Certification or the CFA supports advancement.
- Credit Analysts earn a national median $83,510/yr ($40.15/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2041); the top 10% clear $169,230.
- Credit analyst maps exactly to Credit Analysts (SOC 13-2041), with an $83,510 median and a $169,230 top decile for senior commercial analysts.
- BLS projects the code to DECLINE 4.4% through 2034 as automated scoring and underwriting absorb routine analysis, with only ~3,700 openings a year.
- Pay runs from a junior analyst near $56,250 to a credit officer or portfolio manager at the $169,230 top decile, with the RMA CRC or CFA as accelerators.
Career Path
How do you become a credit analyst?
Junior credit analyst
Spreading statements and supporting credit memos, a junior analyst starts near the $56,250 10th percentile.
Credit Analyst
Owning credit analysis and underwriting recommendations earns around the $83,510 median.
Senior credit analyst / underwriter
Handling large commercial credits pushes pay toward the $122,460 75th percentile.
Credit officer / portfolio manager
Owning credit decisions and portfolio risk reaches the $169,230 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays credit analysts the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2041. National median: $83,510. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does credit analyst pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles credit analysts most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: credit analysts rank 3 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected −4.4% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly credit analysts clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2041 (credit analysts) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do credit analysts need?
The standard educational base for spreading statements and analyzing credit. See all state licences →
The Risk Management Association credential focused on commercial credit and lending risk.
The CFA Institute's three-level program valued for corporate credit and fixed-income analysis.
Demonstrated ability to spread statements and model cash flow and ratios.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do credit analysts use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-2041
Salary Levers
How do credit analysts earn above the $83,510 BLS median?
Commercial vs consumer credit
Analyzing complex commercial and corporate credits pays well above the consumer-side $56,250 entry band.
RMA CRC or CFA
Credit-risk or CFA credentials support moving from the median toward the $122,460 upper band.
Move into credit-officer roles
Owning credit decisions and portfolio risk pushes pay toward the $169,230 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a credit analyst worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2041. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Credit Analyst Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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