Financial Analyst
Also known as: Finance Analyst, Investment Analyst
Evaluate investments, analyze market trends, and guide organizations on where to put their money.
Salary Range
The highest-paid specialization or seniority level for financial analysts.
About 1 in 333 reaches this level
About 370K financial analysts per BLS; Investment bank MDs at $600K+ number roughly 1,000-1,500 across top banks.
Salary data based on 2025 BLS, Glassdoor, and industry reports. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
How to Become One
This career typically requires a bachelor's degree. Here are the top colleges for it:
AI Risk Assessment
Ground zero for AI displacement of new grads in finance. Anthropic's Economic Index identifies financial analysts as "among the most exposed" occupations, and global banks are mulling plans to replace up to two-thirds of entry-level analyst positions. Firms expect to automate 60-70% of junior analyst time within the next year, and hiring of workers aged 22-25 in highly exposed occupations has already dropped 14%.
Ratings reflect a 10-year outlook based on 2025-2026 research, weighted toward entry-level impact. Individual outcomes will vary.
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