Top 15 Highest Paying Jobs in Finance to Boost Your Career (2024)

The global economy has experienced extreme conditions like market crashes, inflation, and unemployment in the past two years. The finance industry, however, is at its peak today, mainly because of two reasons: digitization/increasing use of fintech (as financial technology is popularly called) and an increase in awareness of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investment. Therefore, this is the ideal time to invest in a finance career because of the umpteen opportunities. This blog lists the 15 highest-paying jobs in finance to help aspiring professionals understand industry trends better.

A Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is undeniably one of the highest-paying jobs in finance globally. The average salary for this role in the U.S. is $425,691 annually. As a CFO, the role includes developing the organization’s finance policies, allocating budgets, and ensuring that all financial activities and decisions are aligned with organizational objectives. Overall, people vying for the job will need at least 10 years of experience.

2. Investment Banker

Investment banking is another lucrative role that makes it to the top of the highest-paying jobs in finance. The average salary of an investment banker in the U.S. is $261,650 per year. Regarding the job’s responsibilities, this position would require helping companies raise capital through debt or equity.

Lastly, a budget analyst with over seven years of experience can expect an average salary of $117,612 per year. The role involves analyzing financial resources, allocating budgets, tracking expenses, and forecasting expenditures using data analytics. Please note: All salary figures have been taken from salary.com.

4. Budget Director

Budget allocation is one of the most critical tasks for project management in any company. This is, hence, one of the highest-paying jobs in finance. The average salary for budget director jobs in the U.S. is $196,611 annually. The position requires framing budgetary policies to achieve the company’s financial goals.

Nearly every company or business hires professionals for tax-saving purposes. Given the demand, it’s easy to see why a tax director is among the highest-paying jobs in finance. It involves implementing financial planning strategies to ensure the company adheres to tax compliance. The average annual salary for this role in the U.S. is $188,568.

6. Tax Director

Nearly every company or business hires professionals for tax-saving purposes. Given the demand, it’s easy to see why a tax director is among the highest-paying jobs in finance. It involves implementing financial planning strategies to ensure the company adheres to tax compliance. The average annual salary for this role in the U.S. is $188,568.

Hedge fund management is one of the highest-paying jobs in finance in the investment domain. The average salary for this role in the U.S. is $136,723 per year. As for the overarching responsibilities, a hedge fund manager oversees the activities of a hedge fund or pooled investment fund to ensure investors get high returns.

8. Investment Portfolio Manager

For finance enthusiasts interested in securities, learning skills for an investment portfolio management job is important. This role mainly requires managing the complete financial assets of a company, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. The average salary of an investment portfolio manager in the U.S. is $138,363 per year. Also, this role demands four to seven years of experience in investment or asset management.

The average salary of a finance manager in the U.S. is $127,938 per year. The roles and responsibilities for this post include budgeting, accounting, tax, and treasury. However, this role requires fewer years of experience, unlike other highest-paying jobs in finance. With the right skills and experience, one can reach a financial manager position in five years.

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10. Treasury Manager

This is one of the best and highest-paying jobs in finance; notably, it requires only two to three years of treasury experience. Treasury managers in the U.S. earn $124,796 on average per year. Furthermore, the role entails managing activities related to a company’s cash flow, capital management, and investment records.

The average annual salary of a financial analyst with over eight years of experience in the U.S. is $115,290. The role of a financial analyst involves analyzing sales, finance, and business trends and creating detailed financial reports. In addition, one must have expert knowledge of working capital, operational efficiency, liquidity, and financial modeling.

12. Investment Specialist

This is one of the highest-paying jobs in finance in the investment sector. The average annual salary for this role in the U.S. is $115,905. An investment specialist’s job entails making investments for the company to attain financial goals. However, this role demands some specialized skills such as private equity, asset management, investment management, and investment strategies.

This is one of the highest-paying jobs in finance because many companies are legally required to appoint internal auditors for compliance purposes. This role involves auditing or inspecting company reports to ensure all compliances are met. Therefore, this role requires a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification. The average annual salary of an internal auditor in the U.S. is $114,035. Additionally, one needs over seven years of experience to earn this figure.

14. Financial Risk Manager

The average annual salary for a financial risk manager job in the U.S. is $101,280. This role, in fact, is similar to that of a financial manager because both focus on the profit maximization of a company. However, as a financial risk manager, the key responsibility would be analyzing and predicting the earning capacity of a product or business. Furthermore, they also have to analyze threats to business assets.

This role is ideal for those interested in statistics, data analysis, and forecasting, and in keeping a close eye on economic trends. It also happens to be among the highest-paying jobs in finance. The average annual salary of an economist in the U.S. is $92,744. The role entails researching market trends and using mathematical models and statistical techniques to predict future demand.

16. Financial Advisor

A financial advisor typically gives expert guidance and tips to organizations and high-net-worth individuals to manage their finances and grow their investments. The average annual salary of a financial in the U.S. is $91,556. Furthermore, one needs at least eight years of experience to suit this role.

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1. What Education and Experience are Needed for High-Paying Finance Jobs?

One must have an undergraduate degree in finance, economics, or accounting. An MBA, a Master’s, or a Ph.D. in Finance or Accounting can also help secure some of the highest-paying jobs in finance. In addition, a minimum of five years of experience is preferred.

2. Which Finance Jobs Have the Best Work-Life Balance?

Financial consultant, financial analyst, personal finance advisor, insurance advisor, and financial planning manager are some of the highest-paying jobs in finance that offer the best work-life balance.

3. What Industries Offer the Highest Salaries for Finance Jobs?

Consumer banking, asset management, investment banking, insurance, and fintech are the most popular industries that offer the highest-paying jobs in finance.In conclusion, finance is a highly lucrative industry with multiple growth opportunities. However, it is also an extremely competitive industry. It is, therefore, essential to learn advanced financial skills and concepts to progress in your career. Emeritus’ finance courses can help you acquire the necessary skills and master the best industry insights.

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