What is the salary and career path for a financial analyst?
Financial analyst is an exact match to Financial and Investment Analysts (SOC 13-2051), the BLS code for the role; the OEWS May 2025 median is $102,740 a year ($49.40 an hour), from $63,720 at the 10th percentile to $180,860 at the 90th. BLS projects 5.7% growth for the code over 2024–2034, faster than average, with about 25,100 openings a year. Entry runs through a finance, economics or accounting degree, with the CFA program the marquee credential and Series 7/63 licenses where the role involves selling securities.
- Financial Analysts earn a national median $102,740/yr ($49.40/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2051); the top 10% clear $180,860.
- Financial analyst is an exact match to Financial and Investment Analysts (SOC 13-2051); the CFA is the marquee credential and Series 7/63 apply where securities are sold.
- BLS projects 5.7% growth for the code through 2034 — faster than average — with about 25,100 openings a year.
- Pay runs from a junior analyst near $63,720 to a portfolio manager or finance lead at the $180,860 top decile.
Career Path
How do you become a financial analyst?
Junior / research analyst
An entry analyst gathering data and building supporting models starts near the $63,720 10th percentile.
Financial analyst
A full analyst owning models and recommendations earns around the $102,740 median for the code.
Senior financial analyst
Leading coverage and valuation work pushes pay toward the $133,340 75th percentile.
Portfolio manager / finance lead
Managing a portfolio or a corporate finance function reaches the $180,860 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays financial analysts the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2051. National median: $102,740. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does financial analyst pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles financial analysts most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: financial analysts rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +5.7% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly financial 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 13-2051 (financial 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 financial analysts need?
The typical entry degree for analyst roles across banking, asset management and corporates. See all state licences →
The three-level CFA Institute program, the marquee credential for investment analysis.
Securities licenses required where the role involves recommending or selling securities.
Optional modeling credentials that reinforce valuation and Excel skills.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do financial analysts use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-2051
Salary Levers
How do financial analysts earn above the $102,740 BLS median?
CFA charter
Progress through and completion of the CFA program lifts pay above the $102,740 median in investment roles.
Buy-side and specialized coverage
Buy-side, private-markets and specialized-sector work commands premiums toward the upper percentiles.
Portfolio management and leadership
Managing a portfolio or a corporate finance team pushes earnings toward the $180,860 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a financial 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 13-2051. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Financial Analyst Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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