Financial and Investment Analysts: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Business and Financial Operations · SOC 13-2051 · O*NET 13-2051.00
Financial and Investment Analysts fall under the Business and Financial Operations category in the U.S. occupational classification. Financial and Investment Analysts earn a median salary of $101,350 per year, ranking in the top 12% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +5.7% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about financial and investment analysts right now
Financial and investment analysts evaluate stocks, bonds, companies, and broader economic trends to guide investment decisions for banks, asset managers, insurance firms, and corporate finance teams. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage was $101,350 in May 2024, with the top 10 percent earning more than $180,550 and the bottom 10 percent earning less than $62,410. BLS projects employment will grow about 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with roughly 29,900 openings each year. The typical starting point is a bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, math, or business, often complemented by progress toward the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential and, for senior roles, an MBA. The defining current trend is generative AI's effect on the analyst job. Goldman Sachs leadership has noted that AI can now draft most of an IPO prospectus in minutes, and employers posted 181,600 finance jobs in 2025, with business and financial analysts making up more than half of those roles. The work is shifting from data gathering and slide formatting toward judgment, scenario analysis, and client communication. Parents can help a teen prepare by encouraging strong math and writing, reading the financial press, joining an investing club, and looking for summer programs at banks or local CFA society events. Comfort with Excel, Python, and SQL adds an early edge.
What do financial and investment analysts earn?
The median annual wage for financial and investment analysts is $101,350. That puts financial and investment analysts at #99 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is financial and investment analysts a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for financial and investment analysts is +5.7%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 368K positions in 2024 to 389K in 2034, a net change of 21K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What education does my child need to become financial and investment analyst?
The standard path into financial and investment analysts begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about financial and investment analysts
What is the median salary for financial and investment analysts?
The median annual salary for financial and investment analysts is $101,350 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is financial and investment analysts a growing career?
BLS projects +5.7% growth for financial and investment analysts from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become financial and investment analyst?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to financial and investment analysts?
Related occupations within the Business and Financial Operations category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.