≈ $100k/yr
Financial Analyst
Researches companies and numbers to help businesses and investors make decisions.
ExcelResearchPresenting
Finance or economics degree → CFA later
Careers
Get paid to know money
Finance jobs go way beyond Wall Street. Here's what people actually do, roughly what they earn, and how to get there.
≈ $80k/yr
Accountant
Keeps a business's money records accurate, prepares taxes and spots problems early.
Detail-focusedMathOrganization
Accounting degree → CPA license
≈ $100k/yr
Financial Planner
Helps people and families plan for goals like college, homes and retirement.
ListeningTrustPlanning
Finance degree → CFP certification
≈ $120k/yr
Actuary
Uses math and statistics to measure risk for insurance and pension companies.
StatisticsProblem solvingCoding
Math degree → actuarial exams
≈ $130k/yr
Fintech Developer
Builds the apps and systems behind payments, banking and investing.
CodingSecurityProduct sense
Computer science degree or bootcamp
≈ $70k/yr
Loan Officer
Helps people get mortgages, car loans and small-business loans.
People skillsSalesJudgment
Degree or on-the-job training + license
≈ $155k/yr
Financial Manager
Leads a company's money strategy — budgets, investments and big decisions.
LeadershipStrategyAnalysis
Several years as analyst/accountant → manager
≈ $38k/yr
Bank Teller
Handles customer deposits and questions — a great first job in finance.
Customer serviceAccuracyTrust
High school diploma; often hires at 18
Pay shows approximate US median yearly pay from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Starting pay is usually lower.
Start building now
- 1Join or start an investing, business or DECA/FBLA club
- 2Try a free stock market simulator with friends
- 3Learn spreadsheets — budgets are a great first project
- 4Ask a local bank or credit union about job shadowing
- 5Take a statistics, economics or computer science class
Take the careers lesson
A 5-minute walkthrough with a real day-in-the-life example and a quick quiz.