Investment Fund Managers
SOC code 11-3031 · O*NET-SOC 11-3031.03 · Extensive preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Investment fund managers decide what a portfolio buys, holds and sells, answering to the fund's strategy and its investors. The typical route runs through analyst roles plus advanced credentials, and compensation — salary plus performance bonuses — places the occupation near the top of the finance pay scale.
Investment Fund Managers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$166,570
a year
Hourly
$80.08
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$186,910
$89.86 per hour
Middle 50%
$125,490 – $219,980
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$94,310 – $323,270
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
841,710
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Financial Managers”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $94,310
- $45.34/hr
- 25th percentile
- $125,490
- $60.33/hr
- Median percentile
- $166,570
- $80.08/hr
- 75th percentile
- $219,980
- $105.76/hr
- 90th percentile
- $323,270
- $155.42/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+15%
Growing much faster than average
868,600
jobs in 2024
997,400
projected for 2034
About 128,800 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does an investment fund manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Manage investment funds to maximize return on client investments.
- Select specific investments or investment mixes for purchase by an investment fund.
- Monitor financial or operational performance of individual investments to ensure portfolios meet risk goals.
- Select or direct the execution of trades.
- Develop or implement fund investment policies or strategies.
- Perform or evaluate research, such as detailed company or industry analyses, to inform financial forecasting, decision making, or valuation.
- Present investment information, such as product risks, fees, or fund performance statistics.
- Develop, implement, or monitor security valuation policies.
How to become an investment fund manager
Most people in this role hold master's degree — 63% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Master's Degree63%
- Bachelor's Degree33%
- Post-Master's Certificate2%
- First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.2%
Common questions
How much does an investment fund manager earn?
The national median is $166,570 a year. The full range runs from $94,310 at the 10th percentile to $323,270 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an investment fund manager without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is investment fund manager in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 15% between 2024 and 2034 — growing much faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Active Learning3.8/5
- Writing3.6/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
Knowledge areas
- Economics and Accounting4.7/5
- English Language4.4/5
- Mathematics4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Law and Government3.1/5
- Computers and Electronics3.1/5
- Sales and Marketing3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving.