Business & Banking
Financial Analyst
Analyze financial data to guide investment, budgeting, and corporate decisions. Top performers move to investment banking or PE.
high-payoffice-work
65
ROI · Strong
Investment vs return
Cost · time · demand normalized 0–100
Salary progression
What you'll earn over your career
$68k
$95k
$165k
Entry
Mid-career
Senior
10-yr outlook
+9%
+9% (Faster than avg)
Open positions
32,000
Estimated nationwide
Entry paths
How to get here
Multiple paths lead to this career. Compare time, cost, online vs in-person delivery, and program links.
Degree Hybrid
BS Finance / Economics / Accounting
Time
4 years
Cost
$40,000 – $200,000
Degree is the standard entry. Internships matter.
Fastest ROI
Certification Online
CFA Level I → III
Time
2–4 years (alongside work)
Cost
$3,000 – $6,000
Top programs
Adds on top of degree to unlock senior pay.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the program links above may be affiliate partnerships. If you enroll, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to programs we have actually reviewed against our methodology. See our methodology for how we evaluate schools.
Quick math
If you took the fastest path…
You'd train for
2–4 years (alongside work)
You'd spend (avg)
$4,500
Starting salary
$68,000
Mid-career
$95,000
Read more
Articles & resources
Sources: BLS OOH 2024 · CFA Institute