How much do financial analysts make?
Answer
Financial analysts in the US earned a median of $102,740 a year ($49.40 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $79,290 to $133,340.
- Median annual pay
- $102,740
- Mean $116,800
- Median hourly pay
- $49.40
- Mean $56.15
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $63.7K–$181K
- $63,720 to $180,860
- US jobs
- 361,980
- +7.2% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become a financial analyst: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Wyoming
Financial Analyst pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$63,720
- 25th percentile$79,290
- Median$102,740
- 75th percentile$133,340
- 90th percentile$180,860
Half of all financial analysts earned more than $102,740 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $63,720; the top 10% made over $180,860. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $79,290 to $133,340.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,720 | $30.64 | $5,310 |
| 25th | $79,290 | $38.12 | $6,608 |
| Median (50th) | $102,740 | $49.40 | $8,562 |
| 75th | $133,340 | $64.11 | $11,112 |
| 90th | $180,860 | $86.95 | $15,072 |
| Mean (average) | $116,800 | $56.15 | $9,733 |
Financial Analyst salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. Wyoming $187,090
- 2. New York $127,930
- 3. Oregon $120,590
- 4. Massachusetts $111,040
- 5. Connecticut $109,500
Lowest-paying states
- 51. West Virginia $69,030
- 50. Louisiana $75,680
- 49. North Dakota $78,170
- 48. Mississippi $79,580
- 47. Oklahoma $79,640
Best after cost of living: Wyoming. Its median of $187,090 is worth about $201,843 at national-average prices.
| Alabama | $91,290 | 36 | $102,777 | 15 | $43.89 | 3,410 | 1.61 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $102,240 | 14 | $99,884 | 26 | $49.16 | 190 | 0.59 |
| Arizona | $93,540 | 32 | $92,911 | 37 | $44.97 | 5,940 | 1.83 |
| Arkansas | $81,110 | 46 | $93,297 | 36 | $38.99 | 1,390 | 1.07 |
| California | $109,110 | 6 | $98,546 | 29 | $52.46 | 45,380 | 2.49 |
| Colorado | $103,850 | 11 | $100,774 | 23 | $49.93 | 8,040 | 2.80 |
| Connecticut | $109,500 | 5 | $105,685 | 7 | $52.65 | — | — |
| Delaware | $101,800 | 15 | $101,996 | 17 | $48.94 | 2,290 | 4.71 |
| District of Columbia | $105,780 | 9 | $96,250 | 31 | $50.86 | 3,670 | 5.23 |
| Florida | $94,490 | 29 | $91,371 | 40 | $45.43 | 23,900 | 2.41 |
| Georgia | $99,420 | 20 | $103,247 | 14 | $47.80 | 9,780 | 2.00 |
| Hawaii | $94,640 | 28 | $86,075 | 47 | $45.50 | 600 | 0.95 |
| Idaho | $100,830 | 17 | $105,588 | 8 | $48.48 | 680 | 0.79 |
| Illinois | $101,180 | 16 | $101,223 | 20 | $48.65 | 20,520 | 3.37 |
| Indiana | $81,760 | 44 | $87,604 | 45 | $39.31 | 3,680 | 1.15 |
| Iowa | $92,370 | 34 | $105,251 | 9 | $44.41 | 2,000 | 1.28 |
| Kansas | $84,860 | 40 | $94,218 | 35 | $40.80 | 1,870 | 1.30 |
| Kentucky | $81,660 | 45 | $90,573 | 43 | $39.26 | 2,460 | 1.23 |
| Louisiana | $75,680 | 50 | $85,798 | 48 | $36.38 | 1,450 | 0.75 |
| Maine | $88,320 | 37 | $91,005 | 41 | $42.46 | 710 | 1.11 |
| Maryland | $100,370 | 19 | $95,628 | 32 | $48.26 | 5,360 | 1.94 |
| Massachusetts | $111,040 | 4 | $104,995 | 10 | $53.38 | 14,790 | 4.07 |
| Michigan | $95,420 | 27 | $99,172 | 28 | $45.88 | 7,400 | 1.68 |
| Minnesota | $102,990 | 12 | $104,430 | 12 | $49.52 | 7,450 | 2.53 |
| Mississippi | $79,580 | 48 | $91,521 | 39 | $38.26 | 720 | 0.62 |
| Missouri | $98,420 | 25 | $108,372 | 6 | $47.32 | 4,430 | 1.51 |
| Montana | $99,190 | 21 | $104,802 | 11 | $47.69 | 440 | 0.85 |
| Nebraska | $85,320 | 39 | $94,692 | 34 | $41.02 | — | — |
| Nevada | $83,430 | 42 | $83,448 | 49 | $40.11 | 1,830 | 1.18 |
| New Hampshire | $82,520 | 43 | $79,220 | 50 | $39.67 | 580 | 0.85 |
| New Jersey | $108,610 | 7 | $99,821 | 27 | $52.22 | 10,380 | 2.42 |
| New Mexico | $87,630 | 38 | $95,031 | 33 | $42.13 | 930 | 1.07 |
| New York | $127,930 | 2 | $118,540 | 2 | $61.51 | 52,380 | 5.41 |
| North Carolina | $102,390 | 13 | $108,549 | 5 | $49.22 | 12,710 | 2.57 |
| North Dakota | $78,170 | 49 | $87,872 | 44 | $37.58 | 300 | 0.69 |
| Ohio | $94,280 | 30 | $101,623 | 18 | $45.33 | 9,760 | 1.76 |
| Oklahoma | $79,640 | 47 | $90,662 | 42 | $38.29 | 1,550 | 0.91 |
| Oregon | $120,590 | 3 | $116,669 | 3 | $57.97 | 2,820 | 1.44 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,460 | 41 | $86,562 | 46 | $40.61 | 13,310 | 2.19 |
| Rhode Island | $100,550 | 18 | $98,309 | 30 | $48.34 | 1,790 | 3.57 |
| South Carolina | $93,670 | 31 | $99,916 | 25 | $45.03 | 3,600 | 1.56 |
| South Dakota | $99,150 | 22 | $111,925 | 4 | $47.67 | 820 | 1.80 |
| Tennessee | $92,990 | 33 | $101,219 | 21 | $44.71 | 4,910 | 1.50 |
| Texas | $99,150 | 23 | $102,156 | 16 | $47.67 | 28,820 | 2.05 |
| Utah | $91,370 | 35 | $92,420 | 38 | $43.93 | 4,510 | 2.60 |
| Vermont | $99,090 | 24 | $101,156 | 22 | $47.64 | 230 | 0.75 |
| Virginia | $105,490 | 10 | $104,338 | 13 | $50.72 | 10,410 | 2.53 |
| Washington | $107,210 | 8 | $100,184 | 24 | $51.54 | 8,820 | 2.48 |
| West Virginia | $69,030 | 51 | $77,131 | 51 | $33.19 | 400 | 0.58 |
| Wisconsin | $95,570 | 26 | $101,568 | 19 | $45.95 | 5,430 | 1.85 |
| Wyoming | $187,090 | 1 | $201,843 | 1 | $89.95 | 190 | 0.67 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure. State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for financial analysts
319 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $158,310 | $148,142 | 2,550 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $144,910 | $131,232 | 3,880 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $135,680 | $138,090 | — |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,520 | $112,894 | 9,910 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $128,930 | $114,540 | 53,870 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $124,790 | $112,289 | 6,170 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $121,530 | $123,568 | 90 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $119,170 | $126,223 | 70 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $117,520 | $108,547 | 13,010 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $117,280 | $111,249 | 2,590 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 53,870 | $128,930 | $114,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 19,600 | $102,260 | $90,045 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 17,150 | $101,750 | $98,219 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 13,010 | $117,520 | $108,547 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 11,530 | $100,350 | $97,342 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 10,930 | $108,330 | $99,491 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 10,050 | $95,400 | $93,024 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 9,910 | $130,520 | $112,894 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 7,740 | $100,830 | $100,772 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 6,790 | $106,510 | $109,412 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves financial analyst pay: employers and settings
Industry makes the biggest difference. Analysts in securities, commodity contracts and other investment firms, the largest employer, earn a median of $124,370. Real estate pays $105,720 and corporate headquarters (management of companies) $101,760. Banks and other credit intermediation firms pay $100,700; insurance carriers pay $98,420 and consulting firms $97,190. Investment-side roles at funds and brokerages tend to pay more than budgeting and planning roles inside ordinary companies.
Location is the next lever. Wyoming has the highest median at $187,090, and after adjusting for living costs it is still first at $201,843. Next come New York at $127,930, Oregon at $120,590, Massachusetts at $111,040, and Connecticut at $109,500. The lowest are North Dakota at $78,170, Louisiana at $75,680, and West Virginia at $69,030. New York also has by far the most jobs.
Private employers pay a median of $103,490; that compares with $83,460 in state government and $84,680 in local government. The few federal positions have a median of $118,870.
The full range runs from $63,720, the 10th percentile, to $180,860, the 90th. Bonuses are common at investment firms, and senior titles, sector coverage and a CFA charter all shape where someone lands in that range, not years alone.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | 24.7% | $124,370 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 12.4% | $101,760 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | 9.6% | $100,700 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 6.4% | $97,190 |
| Insurance Carriers | 3.6% | $98,420 |
| Real Estate | 3% | $105,720 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 341,400 | $103,490 |
| Federal government (incl. Postal Service) | 360 | $118,870 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 12,510 | $83,460 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 7,710 | $84,680 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
Financial Analyst pay over time
Median annual pay, 2021–2025
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $91,580 in 2021 to $102,740 in 2025, up 12% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2021 median is worth $109,362 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay fell 6% over the period.
The series starts in 2021 because BLS changed how it defines or publishes this occupation before then, so earlier figures are not comparable.
BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.
What financial analysts do
A financial analyst turns numbers into a recommendation: buy or sell this stock, approve or decline this loan, fund this project or cut that budget. The work splits into two broad camps. Investment analysts at asset managers, banks, brokerages, pension funds and insurers study companies, industries and markets, build valuation models and write research that portfolio managers act on. Corporate finance analysts, often called finance analysts or FP&A analysts, sit inside an ordinary company and build the budget, forecast revenue and costs, and explain to managers why results came in above or below plan.
The official occupation is financial and investment analysts. Nearly a quarter work in the securities and investment industry, and many others work for corporate headquarters, banks, consulting firms and insurance carriers. It is an office job built around spreadsheets, financial databases and presentations, with some travel to visit companies or clients. Analysts usually cover one sector, region or asset type, so a bank analyst might spend years on regional utilities or commercial real estate loans.
A typical day
- Pull financial statements, market prices and economic data into spreadsheet models
- Build forecasts of a company's earnings, cash flow or department budget
- Value a stock, bond, loan or acquisition target and decide whether the price makes sense
- Listen to earnings calls and question company management or internal budget owners
- Write research notes, investment memos or monthly variance reports
- Present findings to portfolio managers, credit committees or senior executives
- Track news, regulations and interest rates that could change a recommendation
Also called: finance analyst, analyst, credit products officer, equity research analyst, investment analyst, planning analyst, portfolio manager, real estate analyst.
How to become a financial analyst
Full guideMost financial analysts need a four-year bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics or business, usually plus an internship. No state license is required, though analysts at broker-dealers must pass FINRA exams after hiring, and many pursue the optional CFA charter over three to four more years.
- Typical time
- 4 to 8 years
- Fastest: 4 years
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business or a quantitative field
- License
- Not licensed by states; FINRA registration required only for certain broker-dealer roles such as research analysts
- Typical training cost
- $42.1K–$46.7K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a financial analyst: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 4 to 8 years
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $42.1K–$46.7K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $102,740
- $51,760 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 41–45%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($51,760 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in less than a year after training ends (4 to 8 years in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for financial analysts
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +7.2%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 377,200
- 404,300 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 24,700
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 2.2%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects financial and investment analyst jobs to grow 7.2% from 2025 to 2035, from 377,200 to 404,300, roughly twice the 3.5% average for all occupations. That means about 24,700 openings a year, most of them created when analysts retire, move into portfolio management or leave for other fields.
BLS ties demand to overall economic activity: new and expanding businesses need investments evaluated, more investing crosses borders, and companies have growing volumes of data to analyze. Entry-level jobs at well-known investment banks and asset managers are competitive and recruit heavily from internships, while corporate finance and bank credit roles are more widely available across the country.
Related careers and their pay
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Accountant$83,680
- Business Analyst$101,860
- Marketing Manager$166,790
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Financial Analyst salary FAQ
How much do financial analysts make an hour?
The median hourly wage for financial analysts was $49.40 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $30.64 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $86.95. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays financial analysts the most?
Wyoming has the highest median pay for financial analysts, $187,090 a year, followed by New York ($127,930) and Oregon ($120,590). After adjusting for each state's price level, Wyoming comes out ahead at about $201,843 in national-average dollars.
Do financial analysts make $200,000 a year?
Few do: based on the BLS percentiles, fewer than 10% of financial analysts earn more than $200,000 a year. The median is $102,740, and the top 10% earn more than $180,860. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
What is the difference between a financial analyst and a financial advisor?
A financial analyst works for an institution, studying investments or company finances and advising portfolio managers, lenders or executives. A financial advisor works with individual clients on retirement, savings and investment plans, and often needs FINRA licenses and state registration to sell products or give advice. Analysts rarely meet the public. Some analysts later move into advising, and the skills overlap, but the daily work is very different.
What does an FP&A analyst do?
FP&A stands for financial planning and analysis. An FP&A analyst works inside a company's finance department building the annual budget, updating monthly forecasts and explaining variances between plan and actual results. They work closely with department heads and report to the controller or CFO. It is one of the most common finance analyst jobs outside Wall Street and usually does not require FINRA licenses.
Do financial analysts work long hours?
Most work full time, and some regularly go past 40 hours a week. Hours peak around quarter-end closes, budget season and corporate earnings releases. Analyst roles at investment banks and some funds are known for very long weeks, while corporate finance and government roles tend to have steadier schedules. Ask about typical hours and busy periods when you interview.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 13-2051
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (13-2051.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Financial Analysts: Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- Financial and Investment Analysts (13-2051.00), O*NET OnLine · checked October 28, 2026
- Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam, FINRA · checked October 28, 2026
- Series 86 and 87 Research Analyst Exams, FINRA · checked October 28, 2026
- CFA Program, CFA Institute · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.