How long does the training take?

Typically about four years for the degree. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do financial and investment analysts make?

The US median is $102,740 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train for this work?

934 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

🎓 My University View

Home › Careers › Financial and investment analysts

Financial and investment analysts: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Business & finance · SOC 13-2051

$102,740US median pay, 2025

+7.2%Projected growth, 2025–35

24,700Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Bachelor's degree
Work in: financial and investment analysts

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Finance, General	CIP 52.0801	733
Accounting and Finance	CIP 52.0304	129
Financial Mathematics	CIP 27.0305	120
Accounting and Business/Management	CIP 52.0305	92
Investments and Securities	CIP 52.0807	21
Financial Analytics	CIP 30.7104	15
International Finance	CIP 52.0806	6
Public Finance	CIP 52.0808	6
Financial Risk Management	CIP 52.0810	0

See the 934 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically about four years for the degree. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do financial and investment analysts make?: The US median is $102,740 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train for this work?: 934 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

Related careers in Business & finance

Accountants and auditors · Business operations specialists, all other · Management analysts · Market research analysts and marketing specialists · Project management specialists · Human resources specialists · Buyers and purchasing agents · Training and development specialists