A career in finance is a great choice that offers a great variety of career opportunities with excellent salaries and bonuses.
If you choose your career right, you can earn six or seven figures a year.
In this article, you will find a list of the highest-paying jobs in finance, their brief job descriptions, corresponding salaries, and responsibilities.
1. Investment Banker
Why Become an Investment Banker?
An investment banker is a professional who works with individuals, governments, and companies to help them raise their capital.
Investment bankers provide financial advice during such critical and important transactions like acquisitions and mergers.
The average salary is $94,000 a year.
The benefits of becoming an investment banker are the following:
- Great salary
- Good benefits (healthcare, vision, dental, and prescription-drug benefits are usually available)
- An opportunity to build a strong business network
| Investment Banker Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 9.6% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Investment Banker
2. Financial Analyst
Why Become a Financial Analyst?
A financial analyst is a professional, who collects, analyzes, and interprets financial data.
A financial specialist is also responsible for preparing reports, presentations, models, and recommendations for business leaders and clients.
In order to become a financial analyst, you must be good with numbers and have a strong understanding of accounting.
The average salary is $94,000.
If you are thinking of becoming a financial analyst, you should consider the following benefits of this job:
- High salary and compensation
- Access to senior management
- An opportunity to work in various industries
- Decent job prospects
| Financial Analyst Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 10.8% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Financial Analyst
3. Accountant
Why Become an Accountant?
An accountant is a financial professional who keeps and interprets financial records.
Usually, an accountant is responsible for various finance-related tasks that include performing financial analysis, preparing financial statements and reports, handling the bookkeeping, and others.
An average salary of an accountant is about $79,000 a year.
- Job security
- A clear career path
- Stable and growing job field
- Opportunity for advancement
- Opportunity to open your own business
- A great network
| Accountant Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $83,980 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $40.37 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 10% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Accountant
4. Loan Officer
Why Become a Loan Officer?
A loan officer is a professional who works at credit unions, banks, mortgage companies, and other financial institutions, and helps potential borrowers with applying for a loan.
The responsibilities of a loan officer include reviewing, approving, and rejecting applications for loans, including mortgages, car loans, student loans, and other types of loans.
The primary task of a loan officer is to determine the ability and willingness of applicants to repay the loan.
An average salary of a loan officer is $76,000 per year.
Being a loan officer is associated with a number of benefits, including the following:
- High earning potential
- Flexible job and an opportunity of a work-life balance.
- Meaningful career
- Possibility to establish a strong network
- Comprehensive benefits packages
- Goof job security
- Low barrier to enter (you do not have to have a Bachelor’s degree).
| Loan Officer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $80,570 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $38.74 |
| Education | 2-4 Years |
| Outlook | 11.4% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Loan Officer
5. Economist
Why Become An Economist?
An economist is a professional working in the field of economics.
Economists analyze the relationship between society, and how people use the available resources.
The duties of an economist include researching existing economic issues, conducting surveys and collecting data, presenting research results in tables, reports, and charts, and interpreting and forecasting market trends.
The average pay is $116,000 per year.
This job has a number of benefits, including the following:
- Possibility to work in multiple industries
- Good pay
- Social influence
- Good benefits (healthcare, vision, dental, and prescription-drug benefits are usually available)
- Good career path
| Economist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $120,830 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $58.09 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 6.1% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become An Economist
6. Actuary
Why Become an Actuary?
An actuary is a business professional who specializes in evaluating financial risk.
This job is a combination of a financier, business executive, investment manager, sociologist, and mathematician.
By using statistics, financial theory, and mathematics, they study uncertain future risks that are usually concern to pension and insurance programs.
Actuaries work in banks, hospitals, investment companies, and any other businesses that need risk management.
An average yearly salary of an actuary is about $94,000.
This job has the following benefits you should know about:
- Interesting work
- Great salary
- Good earning potential
- Job security
- Vast of opportunities
| Actuary Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $120,830 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $58.09 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 22.5% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Actuary
