Financial and Investment Analysts
SOC code 13-2051 · O*NET-SOC 13-2051.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Business and finance
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Financial and Investment Analysts pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$102,740
a year
Hourly
$49.40
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$116,800
$56.15 per hour
Middle 50%
$79,290 – $133,340
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$63,720 – $180,860
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
361,980
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $63,720
- $30.64/hr
- 25th percentile
- $79,290
- $38.12/hr
- Median percentile
- $102,740
- $49.40/hr
- 75th percentile
- $133,340
- $64.11/hr
- 90th percentile
- $180,860
- $86.95/hr
What do financial and investment analysts do?
Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Advise clients on aspects of capitalization, such as amounts, sources, or timing.
- Analyze financial or operational performance of companies facing financial difficulties to identify or recommend remedies.
- Assess companies as investments for clients by examining company facilities.
- Collaborate on projects with other professionals, such as lawyers, accountants, or public relations experts.
- Collaborate with investment bankers to attract new corporate clients.
- Conduct financial analyses related to investments in green construction or green retrofitting projects.
- Confer with clients to restructure debt, refinance debt, or raise new debt.
- Create client presentations of plan details.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a financial and investment analysts earn?
The national median is $102,740 a year. The full range runs from $63,720 at the 10th percentile to $180,860 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a financial and investment analysts without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.