What Does it Take to Be a Financial Analyst?
Position Description Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programs of public or private institutions.
What Do Financial Analysts Do On a Daily Basis?
- Determine the financial viability of alternative energy generation or fuel production systems, based on power source or feedstock quality, financing costs, potential revenue, and total project costs.
- Present oral or written reports on general economic trends, individual corporations, and entire industries.
- Evaluate and compare the relative quality of various securities in a given industry.
- Determine the prices at which securities should be syndicated and offered to the public.
- Conduct financial analyses related to investments in green construction or green retrofitting projects.
- Evaluate financial viability and potential environmental benefits of cleantech innovations to secure capital investments from sources such as venture capital firms and government green fund grants.
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Financial Analyst Skills
Financial Analysts state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Securities Research Analyst
- Renewable Energy System Finance Specialist
- Corporate Financial Analyst
- Bond Analyst
- Credit Products Officer
Job Opportunities for Financial Analysts
In the United States, there were 296,100 jobs for Financial Analyst in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 32,100 new jobs for Financial Analyst by 2026. There will be an estimated 29,000 positions for Financial Analyst per year.
The states with the most job growth for Financial Analyst are Utah, Arizona, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Financial Analyst Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Financial Analysts is somewhere between $52,540 and $167,420.
Financial Analysts who work in New York, California, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Financial Analysts make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $88,350 |
Alaska | $101,720 |
Arizona | $78,650 |
Arkansas | $78,050 |
California | $109,640 |
Colorado | $109,120 |
Connecticut | $105,950 |
Delaware | $93,740 |
District of Columbia | $102,510 |
Florida | $78,280 |
Georgia | $84,350 |
Hawaii | $78,800 |
Idaho | $75,280 |
Illinois | $88,760 |
Indiana | $78,290 |
Iowa | $83,230 |
Kansas | $77,130 |
Kentucky | $69,830 |
Louisiana | $75,630 |
Maine | $79,610 |
Maryland | $92,800 |
Massachusetts | $105,540 |
Michigan | $84,410 |
Minnesota | $93,160 |
Mississippi | $74,230 |
Missouri | $91,800 |
Montana | $99,630 |
Nebraska | $70,740 |
Nevada | $83,370 |
New Hampshire | $94,680 |
New Jersey | $106,100 |
New Mexico | $103,040 |
New York | $137,270 |
North Carolina | $89,020 |
North Dakota | $82,770 |
Ohio | $80,060 |
Oklahoma | $70,300 |
Oregon | $92,640 |
Pennsylvania | $93,870 |
Rhode Island | $80,650 |
South Carolina | $80,690 |
South Dakota | $73,870 |
Tennessee | $74,870 |
Texas | $94,980 |
Utah | $78,510 |
Vermont | $84,300 |
Virginia | $97,990 |
Washington | $87,590 |
West Virginia | $75,290 |
Wisconsin | $81,000 |
Wyoming | $139,660 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Financial Analysts
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Financial Analysts may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Data visualization software
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Microsoft Dynamics
- SAS
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Google Docs
- FileMaker Pro
Becoming a Financial Analyst
Education needed to be a Financial Analyst:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Financial Analysts Are Employed
Financial Analysts work in the following industries:
References:
Image Credit: Dave Dugdale via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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