Careers in Finance

Majoring in finance opens a variety of career paths. You could become a financial analyst, investment banker, or financial planner, helping to manage assets and advise clients. There are also corporate finance, risk management, and compliance roles, ensuring companies stay financially healthy. If you’re interested in investments, you might become a portfolio manager, hedge fund manager, or venture capitalist. Specialized areas like actuarial science, quantitative analysis, and real estate finance offer unique opportunities to match your skills and interests.

Career options in finance:

  • Financial Analyst
  • Investment Banker
  • Financial Planner
  • Risk Manager
  • Treasury Analyst
  • Credit Analyst
  • Portfolio Manager
  • Actuary
  • Corporate Finance Officer
  • Hedge Fund Manager
  • Quantitative Analyst (Quant)
  • Financial Consultant
  • Private Equity Analyst
  • Venture Capitalist
  • Financial Auditor
  • Compliance Officer
  • Insurance Underwriter
  • Tax Advisor
  • Real Estate Finance Manager
  • Personal Banker

Pay For Finance Majors

Majoring in finance can lead to impressive earning potential. According to data collected by Comparably, people with a bachelor's degree in finance can expect to earn an average salary of $124,000 per year (Comparably). This high average reflects the significant earnings potential across various finance-related careers.

According to Kiplinger, finance is among the top-paying degrees five years after graduation, second only to engineering fields. Here are some comparative figures:

College majors that pay the most five years after graduation:

Major

Chemical Engineering
Computer Engineering 
Aerospace Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Computer Science
Finance
Industrial Engineering
General Engineering
Miscellaneous Engineering

Median Wage Early Career

$79,000
$80,000
$74,000
$72,000
$70,000
$78,000
$66,000
$71,000
$68,000
$68,000

Median Wage Mid-Career

$133,000
$125,000
$120,000
$112,000
$111,000
$110,000
$104,000
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000

Additionally, specific finance roles offer varying salary ranges:

Job Title

Financial Analyst
Associate Portfolio Manager
Senior Credit Officer
Senior Credit Analyst
Senior Business Analyst
Payroll & Benefits Specialist
Financial Controller
Senior Tax Analyst
Financial Analysis Manager
Disability Case Manager
Data Engineer
Customs Compliance Specialist
Business Process/Management Consultant
Branch Manager, Banking

Range

$46k - $72k
$46k - $70k
$92k - $314k
$67k - $104k
$54k - $88k
$49k - $74k
$82k - $141k
$51k - $76k
$58k - $112k
$39k - $60k
$72k - $127k
$42k - $64k
$72k - $127k
$53k - $86k

Average

$58,213
$57,642
$143,800
$83,881
$69,801
$60,785
$107,830
$64,055
$81,967
$48,236
$96,465
$51,654
$96,881
$68,527


Source: Investopedia

If you need additional details, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers comprehensive information on business and financial occupations. It provides extensive information on salaries and job prospects in various roles within the finance industry. Visit their website for more details: BLS Business and Financial Occupations.

Choosing finance as your major offers diverse career paths and promises substantial financial rewards, making it a compelling choice for students looking to enter a high-paying field.

What is the average salary that a finance major can expect? People who have a bachelor's degree in finance take in $124,000 a year on average, according to data collected by Comparably.1 However, and it becomes apparent just how many finance-related careers pay well above average. Here’s a look at how you can expect to fare in some of the field's more common occupations. 

According to Kiplinger, Engineering degrees took 9 out of the top 10 degrees for pay 5 years after graduation. The only degree in there that is not engineering related, is finance. In other words, finance majors are the highest paid degrees 5 years after graduation other than the engineering field.

College majors that pay the most five years after graduation

Major

Chemical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Computer Science
Finance
Industrial Engineering
General Engineering
Miscellaneous Engineering

Median Wage Early Career

$79.000
$80,000
$74,000
$72,000
$70,000
$78,000
$66,000
$71,000
$68,000
$68,000

Median Wage Mid Career

$133,000
$125,000
$120,000
$112,000
$111,000
$110,000
$104,000
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000

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