How long does it take to become a financial risk specialist?

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 risk specialists make?

The US median is $117,330 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree to become a financial risk specialist?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train to become a financial risk specialist?

1,560 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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How to become a financial risk specialist

Business & finance · SOC 13-2054

$117,330US median pay, 2025

+7.4%Projected growth, 2025–35

4,800Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Bachelor's degree
Work as a financial risk specialist

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
Accounting	CIP 52.0301	1,355
Finance, General	CIP 52.0801	733
Business/Managerial Economics	CIP 52.0601	206
Accounting and Finance	CIP 52.0304	129
Financial Mathematics	CIP 27.0305	120
Actuarial Science	CIP 52.1304	119
Accounting and Business/Management	CIP 52.0305	92
Investments and Securities	CIP 52.0807	21
Risk Management	CIP 52.0215	10
International Finance	CIP 52.0806	6
Public Finance	CIP 52.0808	6
Financial Risk Management	CIP 52.0810	0

See the 1,560 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a financial risk specialist?: 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 risk specialists make?: The US median is $117,330 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become a financial risk specialist?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train to become a financial risk specialist?: 1,560 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.

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