Can finance majors make 6 figures?
Yes, sure you can make around six figures at some of these fortune 500 corporate finance role or be an investment banking analyst making close to $200K a year just a year out of undergrad, but that's not where the real money is made in finance. It's not even close to how much the big players in finance make.
While finance degrees overall may not pay more than other educational tracks, there are plenty of finance-related jobs that are lucrative. Some of the careers that pay the most, such as investment banking, involve long hours, so if you are concerned about work-life balance you might want to consider another career.
- Financial Manager. Salary Potential: $208,000. ...
- Personal Financial Advisor. Salary Potential: $208,000. ...
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Sales Agents. Salary Potential: $208,000. ...
- Actuaries. Salary Potential: $186,110. ...
- Financial Analyst. ...
- Accountant/Auditor. ...
- Budget Analyst. ...
- Cost Estimator.
Key things you should know about finance major salaries
The 2022 median annual pay was $96,220 for financial analysts, $139,790 for financial managers, and $76,850 for business and financial occupations (overall) (BLS, 2023).
You can expect a stable income and many job opportunities in the industry of your choice. Having a career in finance can be both fun and beneficial. The benefits of a finance degree are numerous, be that the high salary that comes with it, the academic growth, and a high number of career advancement opportunities.
Both finance and tech offer lucrative career opportunities, and the highest-paying field between the two can vary depending on various factors such as location, job role, and level of expertise. However, it is generally observed that the tech industry tends to have higher earning potential compared to finance.
Finance degree jobs can provide relatively high pay, stability, opportunities for advancement and consistent demand projections. Careers in finance may also offer flexibility for employees by allowing them to work remotely or in hybrid environments.
Overall, finance students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.1 out of 5.
Finance roles that typically pay the most include positions such as investment banking managing directors, hedge fund managers, or private equity partners. Chief financial officers (CFOs) of large corporations are also highly paid positions.
An individual with a major in finance has many career options in various industries where they can help businesses budget and manage their finances and accounts. They have advanced knowledge regarding financial management and financial risks, which can help qualify them for higher salaries.
How much do people in finance actually make?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $133,726 and as low as $24,673, the majority of salaries within the Finance Degree jobs category currently range between $74,000 (25th percentile) to $107,600 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $133,232 annually in California.
"Six figures"
This typically refers to an amount of money that is in the range of $100,000 to $999,999. It is used to describe a level of income or a financial transaction that is above the range of five figures (between $10,000 and $99,999) but below the range of seven figures (over $1 million).
You don't need an MBA to work in finance, but the field is highly competitive, especially at the entry-level. Internships offer experience, exposure, and a tryout for a full-time gig.
The field of finance offers more career choices but also less predictability. In some cases, careers in finance might offer higher pay. Careers in accounting can offer more predictable and stable work but less pay in many cases.
Wealth managers and Private Bankers are stressful jobs in finance. Finishing near the top on some surveys and further down on others, wealth managers and financial advisors deal with one particular vehicle for stress: they eat only what they kill. Wealth managers get fired nearly as often as they get hired.
Finance is considered to be the most desirable, stable sector to work in among 18-25-year-olds, beating tech, health care and education, according to a new report from the CFA Institute, a non-profit focused on financial education.
If you are looking for a career with high-income potential and plenty of job opportunities, finance can be a rewarding field. Many people who excel in this sector find that it fits perfectly with their interests and skills. “I always loved numbers,” Allec says.
One thing that's for sure is the high amount of math you will need to study. Finance is a mathematical discipline, so if you aren't as comfortable with math as with other ways of thinking, you may find it more challenging. Additionally, finance also makes use of a vast, highly specific vocabulary.
For many professionals, a bachelor's degree in finance is worth it because it is the starting point for a successful and lifelong career. By analyzing data, studying financial markets, and assessing risks, finance professionals help individuals and organizations stay within their budgets and earn competitive salaries.
Finance careers are known for being fast-paced, challenging, and competitive. For many driven professionals, this is an exciting industry to be in. However, the long work days and heavy work loads can be exhausting.
What are the cons of being a finance major?
Cons of getting a finance degree
Long hours: Many finance jobs require long hours, particularly in investment banking and other high-pressure roles. Stressful work environment: The finance industry can be stressful, particularly during economic uncertainty or market volatility.
Finance is a high-stakes industry—individuals and corporations won't trust their financial future to just anyone. That's why getting a finance degree is extremely valuable. Here are five real benefits of getting your finance degree: Master skills that prepare you for real-world job responsibilities.
📈 According to a study by the Myers-Briggs Company, introverts make up 56.8% of financial professionals, while extroverts make up 43.2%. This means that there are plenty of introverted financial professionals out there who have achieved success in their field.
In broader terms, the finance and investment profession has the most millionaires. It also has the most billionaires, with 371.
As a finance major, you study finance-related topics, including math, economics, and statistics. You can expect to take several math classes like accounting, calculus, and business math.
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