Financial Risk Specialists
SOC code 13-2054 · O*NET-SOC 13-2054.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Business and finance
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Financial Risk Specialists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$117,330
a year
Hourly
$56.41
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$124,420
$59.82 per hour
Middle 50%
$83,980 – $158,250
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$64,820 – $196,110
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
63,850
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $64,820
- $31.17/hr
- 25th percentile
- $83,980
- $40.37/hr
- Median percentile
- $117,330
- $56.41/hr
- 75th percentile
- $158,250
- $76.08/hr
- 90th percentile
- $196,110
- $94.29/hr
What does a financial risk specialist do?
Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Analyze areas of potential risk to the assets, earning capacity, or success of organizations.
- Analyze new legislation to determine impact on risk exposure.
- Conduct statistical analyses to quantify risk, using statistical analysis software or econometric models.
- Confer with traders to identify and communicate risks associated with specific trading strategies or positions.
- Consult financial literature to ensure use of the latest models or statistical techniques.
- Contribute to development of risk management systems.
- Determine potential environmental impacts of new products or processes on long-term growth and profitability.
- Develop contingency plans to deal with emergencies.
How to become a financial risk specialist
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 risk specialist earn?
The national median is $117,330 a year. The full range runs from $64,820 at the 10th percentile to $196,110 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 risk specialist 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.