20+ Popular Careers in Finance

Choosing a career in finance can feel daunting — the financial services and finance industry offers nearly endless ways to specialize and paths to take. 

To help you figure out what jobs in finance might be right for you, we’ve compiled a list of more than 20 careers in finance, ranging from entry-level analyst positions to insurance sales to chief financial officers. We’ve also included salary data (sourced primarily from the BLS) and job descriptions to help you understand what these roles entail.

Accounting and Tax Financial Careers

Accounting and tax roles in finance involve tracking budgets, preparing reports, and reviewing financial data to ensure accuracy. 

Accountant and Auditor

Average salary: $90,780 

Accountants and auditors analyze their company’s finances and prepare financial documents. Within a financial organization, there may be specific titles such as junior accountant, senior accountant, auditor, and tax accountant.

• Junior accountants focus on balancing accounts and preparing reports. Senior accountants may need a master’s degree or a certified public accountant (CPA) license, and they assist in analyzing and maintaining the company’s financial health, in addition to supervising junior accountants. 

• Auditors primarily track accounts and determine if they’re accurately recorded. An auditor must also prepare financial statements, such as balance sheets and audits, and ensure that all operations and documentation meet legal and financial regulatory standards. 

• Tax accountants prepare client tax documents and ensure all tax filings follow local, state, and federal tax regulations. A tax accountant’s daily duties may include preparing tax reports, solving issues and errors with filings, and finding areas where money can be (legally) saved. 

>>MORE: Learn how to choose the right accounting career path for you.

Financial Manager and Controller

Average salary: $174,820

Financial managers work in many different areas and industries, including investment banks, firms, and insurance companies. They primarily handle the creation of financial reports and the development of long-term financial plans for an organization. 

Another type of financial manager is the financial controller, or comptroller. Controllers are the highest ranked person on an accounting team, outside of the chief financial officer. The controller ensures the company stays in good financial health and oversees the work the rest of the accounting team does. 

>>MORE: Explore if finance is the right career path for you.

Financial Analyst

Average salary: $112,950

Financial analysts interpret financial statements and forecast the company’s future financial performance. In addition, analysts compare current financial situations to the initial plans laid out by a financial manager or chief financial officer and assist in creating reports to help the company stay on track with its strategy based on market conditions. 

Budget Analyst

Average salary: $90,880

A budget analyst, sometimes called a cost analyst, looks at the company’s budget and determines ways to make or keep the budget efficient. Budget analysts also help maintain records and decide if funds need to be allocated differently. 

Chief Financial Officer

Average salary: $258,900

A chief financial officer (CFO) is the top-ranked person in a company in regard to the organization’s finances. A CFO has two main roles: overseeing all financial activities within the company, as well as the accounting team members, and being an adviser to the other C-suite executives. 

Advising Financial Careers

In the finance industry, advising careers center on helping others make wise investing and spending decisions. 

Financial Advisers

Average salary: $150,670

A financial adviser, also called a financial consultant or a financial planner, is a broad job title in personal, corporate, and public industries. 

• Financial advisers help their clients understand what services and tools are available to manage and optimize their wealth. Advisers also advise on what decisions to make depending on the individual client’s goals and financial situation. 
• Personal finance advisers do the same sort of work as any other financial adviser, just on a smaller scale. Their clients are people who want to learn how to manage their money better and who want advice on things like investing, college funds, taxes, or estate planning. 
• Registered investment advisers (RIA) must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Investment advisers guide clients through the investment process by assessing the client’s needs and goals and analyzing the current market conditions. 
• Chartered retirement planning counselors (CRPC) are financial planners or advisers who specialize in helping their clients plan for retirement. A CRPC is a certification and job title, and CRPCs work with clients to create a plan that meets their client’s lifestyle preferences and financial capabilities.

Portfolio Manager

Average salary: $174,820

A portfolio manager is a financial manager who specializes in investment management. They work with clients to find the right investment opportunities and maintain a lucrative investment portfolio. Portfolio managers also guide their clients on investing and explain market conditions and economic trends that could affect their client’s investments. 

Financial Technology (FinTech) Careers

FinTech is the exciting intersection of finance and technology. Careers in fintech leverage computer science to manipulate markets, build new tools for financial wellness, and better predict economic changes. 

Financial Software Developer

Average salary: $138,110

The primary role of financial software engineers and developers is designing, developing, and improving software used by the finance industry. Financial software developers work with major banks and finance companies to create everything from educational tools to credit card software. 

Some software developers specialize in certain areas, like blockchain. Blockchain developers work with various organizations to create programs that facilitate secure digital transactions and enable the safe storage of blockchain data. Blockchain developers also make applications and interfaces using blockchain technology to help keep their company’s data safe.

Compliance Expert

Average salary: $98,140

Compliance experts are sometimes called financial examiners or regulatory compliance specialists. While compliance experts work in many facets of the finance industry, they are crucial for FinTech, as digital transactions have strict regulations — compliance experts ensure everything aligns with state, local, and federal laws, regulations, and policies. 

Data Scientist

Average salary: $119,040

Data scientists work in practically every field,  analyzing data sets to find meaningful insights and communicate their findings. In the finance industry, data scientists play a crucial role in making predictions based on data, identifying trends, detecting fraud, and creating programs to help their company better serve its customers. 

Quantitative Analyst

Average salary: $112,950

Quantitative analysts are specialized financial analysts who use statistical techniques to solve risk management, valuation, market regulation, and trading problems. Additionally, quantitative analysts may develop tools that improve how companies create models and analyze strategies. 

Cybersecurity Specialist

Average salary: $124,740

Cybersecurity specialists, or information security analysts, keep finance company systems safe from malware, viruses, and hackers. FinTech is all about digital information, so cybersecurity specialists also focus on data encryption to help business customers feel more secure using technology to access their financial information. 

Investing Careers in Finance

In an investing career, you’ll focus on finding ways to spend money to make money. Some investing careers deal with securities, like stocks and bonds, while others handle more tangible assets, like real estate.

Investment Banker

Average salary: $112,950

Investment bankers are a special type of financial analyst, but investment banking has many specific roles analysts can take on: 

• Investment bankers focus on raising capital for their clients by selling equity and issuing debt. Investment bankers also assist in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and create financial models to predict financial performance. 
• Investment strategists analyze economic trends and give clients or portfolio managers insight on how to combat potential risks with strategic trading and asset allocation. 
• Private equity associates are investment bankers with a bit more experience overseeing deals from sourcing to closing. Private equity associates focus on raising capital and acquiring, improving, and selling companies. 

>>MORE: Explore the differences between private equity vs. investment banking.

Stockbroker or Securities Trader

Average salary: $109,710

Stockbrokers act as a broker, or middle-man, for clients looking to buy and sell securities like stocks, bonds, or options. Sometimes, a stockbroker may also provide financial advice and investment management services. 

A securities trader has a similar job as a stockbroker: find, buy, and sell securities. However, traders typically buy and sell securities using their own company’s assets. In addition, traders often work for large investment management firms or banks and make trades under the direction of a portfolio manager.

Venture Capitalist

Average salary: $150,830 to $250,377 (estimate from Salary.com)  

A venture capitalist (VC) sources investment opportunities for their clients by analyzing emerging businesses’ growth and risk potential. VCs receive equity in these early-stage companies in exchange for the capital they provide. 

>>MORE: Learn more about the world of venture capital.

Risk Management Careers

Risk management jobs in financial services help businesses and consumers understand what risks they assume by taking certain actions, like investing, offering insurance policies, or changing business practices.

Underwriter

Average salary: $85,610

Underwriters work in various financial industries but are typically involved in banking and insurance. Underwriters are responsible for determining the potential risk of a person applying for insurance or a loan and then deciding whether that person can be approved based on the risk assessment. 

Insurance Broker, Agent, or Adviser

Average salary: $79,700

Insurance brokers or agents are salespeople who sell insurance products directly to consumers. Brokers typically sell products from a variety of insurance companies, while agents often work for one specific company. The products they sell include life insurance, personal auto insurance, and homeowners insurance. 

A similar role to an insurance broker is an insurance adviser. These advisers often work as part of a larger financial planning team and help give insight on other financial products or services, like investments and estate planning.

Claims Adjuster

Average salary: $75,770

After an incident, a claims adjuster will look at the details of an insurance claim and determine who is liable. Claims adjusters talk with the people involved in the claim, interview witnesses, and examine the damage, if necessary, to figure out who needs to pay and how much. 

Actuary 

Average salary: $132,500

Actuaries use math, statistics, and theory to analyze risk-associated costs. Actuaries can sometimes be called actuarial analysts, and their analysis helps companies understand how potentially successful decisions can be and how unpredictable disasters would impact the business financially. 

>>MORE: Learn the difference between actuaries and underwriters.

Financial Law Careers

Average salary: $176,470

Becoming a financial lawyer is the same as any other law career path. Lawyers can specialize in various financial aspects, such as tax law, trade finance, and debt finance. Additionally, many financial organizations hire general counsel for M&A or securities trading, and with the rise of FinTech, lawyers who understand cryptocurrency compliance law and virtual assets are in great demand. 

>>MORE: Explore 13 careers in law that don’t require becoming a lawyer.

How Many Jobs Are Available in Finance?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that there will be an average of 911,400 business and financial occupation job openings each year from 2022 to 2032 — faster growth than the average for all occupations.

BLS data suggests that the U.S. job market will add around 4.7 million roles between 2022 and 2032, with business and financial services being one of the fastest growing sectors behind health care, information technology, and transportation.

Financial Job Growth and Employment Details

Occupation	Number of Jobs in 2022	Projected Growth Rate 2022 to 2032
Accountants and Auditors	1,538,400	4%
Actuaries	30,000	23%
Budget Analysts	51,600	3%
Claims Adjusters	342,600	-3%
Data Scientists	168,900	35%
Financial Advisers	327,600	13%
Financial Analysts	376,100	8%
Financial Examiners and Compliance Experts	65,600	20%
Financial Managers and Controllers	792,600	16%
Information Security Analysts and Cybersecurity Specialists	168,900	32%
Insurance Agents	536,800	8%
Insurance Underwriters	125,500	-2%
Lawyers	826,300	8%
Stockbrokers and Securities Traders	482,200	7%

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