Financial and Investment Analysts: Job Description
Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.
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What Do Financial and Investment Analysts Take On?
The core tasks performed by financial and investment analysts span:
- Advise clients on aspects of capitalization, such as amounts, sources, or timing.
- Analyze financial or operational performance of companies facing financial difficulties to identify or recommend remedies.
- Assess companies as investments for clients by examining company facilities.
- Collaborate on projects with other professionals, such as lawyers, accountants, or public relations experts.
- Collaborate with investment bankers to attract new corporate clients.
- Conduct financial analyses related to investments in green construction or green retrofitting projects.
- Confer with clients to restructure debt, refinance debt, or raise new debt.
- Create client presentations of plan details.
Types of Financial and Investment Analysts Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Accounting Analyst
- Acquisition Analyst
- Acquisition Specialist
- Acquisitions Analyst
- Acquisitions Consultant
- Alternative Financing Specialist
- Analyst
- Bank Analyst
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 72,056 financial and investment analysts working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +6.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Financial and Investment Analysts Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $82,666 |
| Hourly median | $39.74 |
| 10th percentile | $47,529 |
| 25th percentile | $65,097 |
| 75th percentile | $100,234 |
| 90th percentile | $117,802 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Financial and Investment Analysts Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $213,940 |
| New York | $126,580 |
| California | $111,100 |
| New Jersey | $109,380 |
| Oregon | $107,680 |
| Massachusetts | $107,610 |
| District of Columbia | $106,840 |
| Connecticut | $106,250 |
| Virginia | $104,030 |
| Minnesota | $102,800 |
| Washington | $102,370 |
| North Carolina | $102,220 |
| Illinois | $101,400 |
| Colorado | $99,200 |
| Delaware | $99,170 |
| Maryland | $98,890 |
| Vermont | $96,260 |
| Montana | $95,990 |
| Georgia | $95,180 |
| Alabama | $94,660 |
| Alaska | $94,480 |
| Ohio | $93,690 |
| Texas | $92,370 |
| Maine | $91,840 |
| Utah | $91,280 |
| New Hampshire | $91,150 |
| Michigan | $90,400 |
| South Carolina | $89,850 |
| Iowa | $88,940 |
| Idaho | $88,730 |
| Missouri | $88,400 |
| Wisconsin | $88,230 |
| Arizona | $88,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,360 |
| Tennessee | $86,580 |
| Hawaii | $86,100 |
| Rhode Island | $84,800 |
| Florida | $83,560 |
| Nebraska | $82,700 |
| Kansas | $82,070 |
| Nevada | $81,060 |
| Indiana | $80,420 |
| Oklahoma | $80,210 |
| New Mexico | $79,150 |
| Arkansas | $78,840 |
| Mississippi | $77,520 |
| Kentucky | $75,260 |
| North Dakota | $75,000 |
| West Virginia | $72,550 |
| Virgin Islands | $69,990 |
| Louisiana | $60,870 |
| Puerto Rico | $60,220 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for financial and investment analysts shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $114,577 | 24.5% | 1.85 |
| Far Western US | $108,375 | 15.7% | 0.97 |
| New England | $105,258 | 7.5% | 1.96 |
| Rocky Mountains | $97,986 | 4.4% | 1.24 |
| Great Lakes | $94,707 | 12.7% | 0.99 |
| Southwest | $90,805 | 10.1% | 0.82 |
| Southeast | $90,759 | 19.9% | 0.87 |
| Plains States | $89,563 | 5.1% | 0.79 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne, WY | WY | $158,400 | 40 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $149,480 | 1,920 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | AZ | $146,540 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $134,470 | 4,740 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $128,490 | 49,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $128,470 | 9,580 |
| Bozeman, MT | MT | $124,600 | 90 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | ID | $114,990 | 70 |
Which Industries Hire Financial and Investment Analysts
The bulk of financial and investment analysts are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Insurance | 150,630 | $106,740 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 49,110 | $100,960 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 45,100 | $99,760 |
| Manufacturing | 15,980 | $101,670 |
| Information | 11,700 | $105,240 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 9,670 | $91,500 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 9,670 | $86,420 |
| Educational Services | 9,340 | $83,940 |
Below are examples of industries where financial and investment analysts work:
Tech Stack
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Alteryx software (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hive (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Sales and marketing software: Marketo Marketing Automation (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Microsoft Power BI (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
How to Become Financial and Investment Analysts
This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Financial Managers (Primary-Long)
- Investment Fund Managers (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (Supplemental)
- Accountants and Auditors (Supplemental)
- Credit Analysts (Primary-Long)
- Personal Financial Advisors (Primary-Short)
- Financial Risk Specialists (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future financial and investment analysts often complete programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
7 programs across 2 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 13-2051.00 (Financial and Investment Analysts).