Financial Analysts
Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.
Financial Analysts conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses. The role reports a median annual salary of $101,350 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $57,020 and $176,620 and is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows high AI exposure (0.73 on a 0-1 scale) — significant portions of core tasks are already being automated. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Speaking.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £50,330 a year for Finance and investment analysts and advisers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £36,872 to £70,665 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2422). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Financial Analysts, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Certification Pass NISM Series XV (Research Analyst certification)[1]
- 2 · First role Research analyst preparing research reports under the SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations[1]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- NISM — Research Analyst certification (Series XV) (read on 2026-09-27)
Entrance exams on this route — Dates, eligibility and cut-offs for the exams on the way to this career:
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Economics and Accounting
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Law and Government
- Sales and Marketing
A day in the life
You arrive at your desk early to scan pre-market news, earnings reports, and economic indicators before the opening bell, updating your financial models and valuation spreadsheets with the latest data. Your morning is a flurry of reading analyst reports, building discounted-cash-flow models in Excel, and preparing investment memos or pitch books for portfolio managers or corporate clients. Afternoons bring meetings with company management teams during earnings season, calls with traders to discuss positioning, and presentations to investment committees where your recommendations are scrutinized. The rush of getting a call right and seeing your thesis play out in the market is exhilarating, but the pressure of tight deadlines, volatile markets, and the constant need to be right keeps the stakes high.
Illustrative: one typical day. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Advise clients on aspects of capitalization, such as amounts, sources, or timing.
- Analyze financial or operational performance of companies facing financial difficulties to identify or recommend remedies.
- Assess companies as investments for clients by examining company facilities.
- Collaborate on projects with other professionals, such as lawyers, accountants, or public relations experts.
- Collaborate with investment bankers to attract new corporate clients.
- Conduct financial analyses related to investments in green construction or green retrofitting projects.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Financial Analysts do?
Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.
What does a typical day look like in Financial Analysts?
You arrive at your desk early to scan pre-market news, earnings reports, and economic indicators before the opening bell, updating your financial models and valuation spreadsheets with the latest data. Your morning is a flurry of reading analyst reports, building discounted-cash-flow models in Excel, and preparing investment memos or pitch books for portfolio managers or corporate clients.
How much does Financial Analysts earn?
The median annual salary for Financial Analysts in the US is $101,350. The middle 80% of workers earn between $57,020 and $176,620 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $73,350 and $137,310.
What is the job outlook for Financial Analysts?
The role is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 368,500 workers.
How do I become financial analysts?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Financial Analysts need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Financial Analysts?
Our AI-durability model gives Financial Analysts a score of 0.73 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at high AI risk — many core tasks are already being automated by generative AI and workflow tools. Focus on AI-adjacent skills or plan a pivot to an AI-durable adjacent role.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Financial Analysts has very high barrier to entry — very highly gated — extended graduate education, licensure, or years of specialised training are required.