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If you’re preparing for a career in finance, you should check out seven of the best paying finance jobs in the field. With a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or business, you may even be able to earn a six-figure income.
If you want a job in finance, start your search on ZipRecruiter! Apply for jobs on ZipRecruiter is easy and free! Get started today.
7 Of the Best Paying Finance Jobs
1. Financial Manager
Median National Salary: $134,180
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 681,700
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 17% (much higher than average)
Job Duties: Financial managers direct investment activities, generate financial reports, and develop long-term financial plans for their companies. They work across a variety of industries, including investment firms, insurance companies, banks, and corporations. They also commonly supervise financial employees, and ensure legal requirements are being met by the organization.
Financial managers can include controllers, treasurers and financial officers, credit managers, cash managers, risk managers, and insurance managers.
2. Financial Software Developer
Median National Salary: $110,140
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 1,847,900 (includes all software developers)
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 22% (much higher than the national average)
Job Duties: Software developers are employed in all areas of the economy, including finance. They develop and design computer applications and programs related to the finance industry. This can include software quality assurance and testing to identify problems. Software developers may create entirely new software or develop upgrades for existing programs and systems.
A bachelor’s degree in either computer science or information technology is required.
3. Financial Analysts
Median National Salary: $83,660
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 492,100
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 6% (at the national average)
Job Duties: Financial analysts guide both businesses and individuals in making financial decisions. This includes evaluating specific investments, as well as industry and macroeconomic data, including analyzing financial statements and historical financial data. They may even meet with company management to get better insight on the position of the business. Analysis can be done for the purpose of either buying or selling specific investments.
The entry-level requirement is a bachelor’s degree, typically in accounting, finance, or business. Some may also be required to have a Master’s degree. If the analyst will also sell financial products, they’ll need to be licensed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
4. Financial Examiner
Median National Salary: $81,430
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 70,800
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 18% (well above the national average)
Job Duties: Financial examiners work to ensure compliance with laws governing institutions that handle money. They’ll monitor the condition of financial institutions, like banks, review financial statements, verify loan agreements, and prepare reports on the safety and soundness of the institution. Though many work for federal and state government agencies, positions in the finance and insurance industries are common.
A bachelor’s degree in accounting, business or finance is required, and certain professional certifications are desirable, but not generally required. Some financial examiners are also CPAs.
5. Accountants
Median National Salary: $73,560
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 1,392,200
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 7% (at the national average)
Job Duties: Accountants are a broad category that include certified public accountants, corporate and government accountants, and auditors. They both prepare and examine financial statements for accuracy and legal and regulatory compliance. They may also prepare tax returns, analysis of financial records, and provide guidance on how to reduce costs and improve revenues.
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required for most accounting positions. But certified public accountants (CPAs) are required to pass a rigorous state issued examination and meet experience requirements. This owes to the fact that CPAs provide accounting and tax work for the general public, as well as issue audit opinions on the financial statements and financial positions of business entities.
6. Financial Sales Agents
Median National Salary: $64,770
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 466,300
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 4% (below the national average)
Job Duties: Financial sales agents are a broad category of salespeople who may be engaged in the sale of securities, commodities, or financial services. The occupation involves substantial contact with both buyers and sellers in the financial industry. They may work with either existing clients or in obtaining new ones. They’ll provide advice on the purchase and sale of securities and may also sell those securities directly.
Though a bachelor’s degree is required to enter the field, financial sales agents require ongoing on-the-job training. This process helps them to stay on top of the fast-changing environment of the financial industry, as well as the complex regulatory environment it operates in.
7. Loan Officers
Median National Salary: $63,960
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 322,100
Job Growth 2020 – 2030: 1% (well below average)
Job Duties: Loan officers act as lending institution representatives to businesses and consumers in need of financing. The officer may both actively solicit for new customers, and complete applications and paperwork for loan submissions. The loan officer may also verify borrowers’ financial information, as well as review and even approve loan applications.
Loan officers cover commercial loans, consumer loans, mortgage loans, and even loan collections. A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or business is required.
Where to Find High Paying Finance Jobs
ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter is be the top job board in the industry. Jobseekers can use the site free of charge, post a resume, and create a detailed personal profile that will be more attractive to potential employers than a resume alone. But what we really like is that ZipRecruiter will give you access to more than 100 of the top online job boards in the industry. We recommend it as the go-to job board if you’re looking for finance jobs, or employment in any other field.
For more information, check out our ZipRecruiter review.
Indeed
Indeed is a popular choice among jobseekers because it incorporates job ads from multiple job boards. The site is regularly used by tens of millions of job seekers each month. It’s free to use, and you can upload your resume to the platform to make your candidacy known to potential employers. They also provide employer reviews and email notifications of new job postings that are relevant to your search.
For more information, check out our Indeed review.
CareerBuilder
Careerbuilder is one of the oldest and most respected online job boards. Not only do they provide job openings, but they also offer career advice and even tips and training to help you prepare for your next job.
For more information, check out our CareerBuilder review.
In fact, if you’re an employer looking to fill a finance position, or any other job, check out our list of the Best Free Job Posting Sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do finance majors make the most money?
As you can see from our list of seven of the highest paying finance jobs, the two highest paying categories are finance manager and financial software developer. Each pays a median salary well above $100,000 per year.
Do finance careers pay well?
Based on our list, at least seven finance careers do. You should also keep in mind that each is a relatively broad category that includes multiple applications. For example, a loan officer may offer mortgages, consumer loans, or commercial loans. Loan officers in certain categories can earn even higher pay than the average.
Can you get rich with a finance degree?
Because there are so many different positions within the finance field, it’s impossible to say that you can get rich as a general statement. But it is possible in certain positions, where you can earn a combination of salary, commissions, and bonuses that offer one of the highest compensation packages of any career.
What finance jobs are in demand?
Financial examiners, financial managers and financial software developers are in especially high demand. Each is expected to create more jobs than the average career field over the next decade.
The Bottom Line
Finance is one of the broadest career fields in the entire job market. Any one of the positions listed in this guide are likely to lead to a prosperous future. And because of the general nature of finance, it may be possible to start in one capacity and work up to a higher one. For example, you may start out as a loan officer, but eventually become a financial manager at higher pay.
Find your finance job on ZipRecruiter today!