Business & Finance

How much does a financial analyst make?

The median financial analyst in the United States earns $102,740 per year, about $49.40 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all financial analysts earn more, and half earn less.

Median annual salary
$102,740
Median hourly wage
$49.40 /hr
Employed in the U.S.
361,980

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 13-2051.

Financial analyst salary range

Pay for financial analysts spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $63,720 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $180,860. The average (mean) wage of $116,800 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th percentile $63,720 $30.64 Lowest paid
25th percentile $79,290 $38.12
Median (50th) $102,740 $49.40 Midpoint
75th percentile $133,340 $64.11
90th percentile $180,860 $86.95 Highest paid

Figures are national wage estimates for financial and investment analysts (SOC 13-2051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.

Financial analyst salary by state

Where you work changes the paycheck. Financial analysts earn the most in Wyoming at $187,090 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $69,030. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.

State Median annual Employed
Wyoming $187,090 190
New York $127,930 52,380
Oregon $120,590 2,820
Massachusetts $111,040 14,790
Connecticut $109,500 N/A
California $109,110 45,380
New Jersey $108,610 10,380
Washington $107,210 8,820
District of Columbia $105,780 3,670
Virginia $105,490 10,410
Colorado $103,850 8,040
Minnesota $102,990 7,450
North Carolina $102,390 12,710
Alaska $102,240 190
Delaware $101,800 2,290
Illinois $101,180 20,520
Idaho $100,830 680
Rhode Island $100,550 1,790
Maryland $100,370 5,360
Georgia $99,420 9,780
Montana $99,190 440
South Dakota $99,150 820
Texas $99,150 28,820
Vermont $99,090 230
Missouri $98,420 4,430
Wisconsin $95,570 5,430
Michigan $95,420 7,400
Hawaii $94,640 600
Florida $94,490 23,900
Ohio $94,280 9,760
South Carolina $93,670 3,600
Arizona $93,540 5,940
Tennessee $92,990 4,910
Iowa $92,370 2,000
Utah $91,370 4,510
Alabama $91,290 3,410
Maine $88,320 710
New Mexico $87,630 930
Nebraska $85,320 N/A
Kansas $84,860 1,870
Pennsylvania $84,460 13,310
Nevada $83,430 1,830
New Hampshire $82,520 580
Indiana $81,760 3,680
Kentucky $81,660 2,460
Arkansas $81,110 1,390
Oklahoma $79,640 1,550
Mississippi $79,580 720
North Dakota $78,170 300
Louisiana $75,680 1,450
West Virginia $69,030 400

State median wages for financial and investment analysts (SOC 13-2051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.

Job outlook for financial analysts

The BLS projects employment of financial analysts to grow 7.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 377,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 404,300 by 2035.

Across the decade, the BLS expects about 24,700 openings a year for financial analysts. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).

How to become a financial analyst

The typical entry-level education for financial analysts is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.

Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.

What affects how much a financial analyst earns

Firm size, industry, certifications, and years of experience drive the spread. Large firms and major financial centers pay well above small-town or entry-level roles.

Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Wyoming, $187,090) and the lowest (West Virginia, $69,030) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.

About 361,980 people work as financial analysts in the United States. At $102,740 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.

Financial analyst salary FAQ

How much does a financial analyst make an hour?

The median hourly wage for a financial analyst is $49.40. The middle half of financial analysts earn between $38.12 and $64.11 per hour.

What is the highest financial analyst salary?

The highest paid 10 percent of financial analysts earn more than $180,860 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.

How much does a financial analyst make a year?

The median annual salary for a financial analyst is $102,740. The average (mean) wage of $116,800 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Is being a financial analyst a well paid job?

At $102,740 a year, a financial analyst earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 361,980 people work as financial analysts in the United States.

Which state pays financial analysts the most?

Wyoming has the highest median salary for financial analysts at $187,090 a year. New York ($127,930) and Oregon ($120,590) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.

Is being a financial analyst a good career?

Employment of financial analysts is projected to grow 7.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 24,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.

Do you need a degree to become a financial analyst?

The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for financial analysts as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.

Related salaries

See more in Business & Finance salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.

Sources. National and state wage and employment figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 and the OEWS state files. Growth, openings, education, and training: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2025–2035). Every figure on this page is published by the BLS and is shown without adjustment. View the originals at bls.gov/oes and bls.gov/emp. Last updated 2026-05-15.