How to Become a Financial Analyst
Assess the performance of stocks, bonds, and other investments to guide business decisions. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $102,740 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$102,740/yr
Middle half
$79,290 to $133,340
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
25,100
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Financial Modeling
- Data Analysis
- Investment Analysis
- Excel
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
- CFP
- Series 7
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
72/100
Work-life balance
62/100
Stress level
55/100
Satisfaction
73/100
Related careers
- Financial Manager$166,570 median
- Actuary$130,000 median
- Financial Risk Specialist$117,330 median
- Personal Financial Advisor$105,070 median
- Management Consultant$101,860 median
- Financial Examiner$94,160 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Financial Analyst make?
The median pay for a Financial Analyst is $102,740 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $79,290 and $133,340 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Financial Analyst?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, and Mathematics.
Is Financial Analyst a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 25,100 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Financial Analyst use most?
Common skills for this role are Financial Modeling, Data Analysis, Investment Analysis, Excel, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).