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Investment Banking
Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley
Financial and Investment Analysts
Financial and investment analysts turn balance sheets, market data, and deal assumptions into recommendations about buying securities, raising capital, or fixing a shaky business. The work is distinctive because it sits between hard numbers and persuasion: you have to defend a recommendation to clients or executives, even when the future is uncertain. The tradeoff is strong pay and interesting deal work, but constant pressure to be right and to explain complex risks clearly.
Also known as Investment AnalystEquity Research AnalystCorporate Finance AnalystResearch Analyst, InvestmentsSecurities Analyst
Median Salary
$101,350
Mean $116,490
U.S. Workforce
~341K
25.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.7%
368.5K to 389.6K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Financial and Investment Analysts sits in the Finance category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~341K workers, with a median annual pay of $101,350 and roughly 25.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 368.5 K in 2024 to 389.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting, or business, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Junior Financial Analyst and can progress toward Vice President or Portfolio Manager. High-value skills usually include Excel Financial Modeling & Forecasting, Financial Statement Analysis, and Valuation Methods (DCF, Comparable Companies & Precedent Transactions), paired with soft skills such as Analytical thinking, Attention to detail, and Clear communication.
Core Responsibilities
- Study company financial statements and market data to judge whether a business or investment looks attractive.
- Build forecasts and valuation models to estimate what a company, project, or deal could be worth.
- Review companies that are under financial strain and suggest fixes such as refinancing, restructuring, or new financing.
- Talk with bankers, lawyers, accountants, and other specialists to move a deal or turnaround plan forward.
Keep exploring: more Finance careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Study company financial statements and market data to judge whether a business or investment looks attractive.
02 Build forecasts and valuation models to estimate what a company, project, or deal could be worth.
03 Review companies that are under financial strain and suggest fixes such as refinancing, restructuring, or new financing.
04 Talk with bankers, lawyers, accountants, and other specialists to move a deal or turnaround plan forward.
05 Prepare slides, memos, and client presentations that explain the recommendation in clear, plain language.
06 Analyze special financing projects, including green construction and building retrofit investments.
Industries That Hire
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Asset Management
BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity Investments
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Corporate Finance
Apple, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble
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Private Equity and Venture Capital
Blackstone, KKR, Sequoia Capital
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Real Estate and Infrastructure
Brookfield, CBRE, Hines
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is solid even at the median, with a median annual wage of $101,350 and a mean of $116,490.
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You can enter the field with a bachelor's degree and no required work experience or on-the-job training.
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The occupation has about 25.1 thousand annual openings, so there is steady replacement demand.
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The work is varied, ranging from stock research and capital raising to debt restructuring and turnaround analysis.
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The same core skills can lead to banking, asset management, corporate finance, or private equity roles.
Challenges
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Growth is only 5.7% through 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
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Pay can swing with the market and deal flow, and downturns often slow hiring, bonuses, and promotion opportunities.
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A lot of routine modeling and report drafting is vulnerable to automation and better financial software.
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Advancement can be credential-heavy, so some people hit a ceiling without moving to a bigger firm or earning a CFA or MBA.
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Bad forecasts are visible and costly, which means the job can be stressful and your work gets closely scrutinized by clients and managers.
Career Progression
Junior Financial Analyst
0-2 years
$60K-$84K
Supports modeling, research, and report prep while learning the basics of valuation and client-facing work.
Financial and Investment Analyst
2-5 years
$85K-$124K
Owns more of the analysis, builds recommendations, and explains findings to clients or internal decision-makers.
Senior Analyst THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$125K-$164K
Leads larger analyses, reviews junior work, and handles more complex deals, turnarounds, or investment cases.
Director, Corporate Finance or Investments
8-12 years
$165K-$219K
Runs major projects, manages client relationships, and helps decide which opportunities the firm should pursue.
Vice President or Portfolio Manager
12+ years
$220K-$320K
Sets strategy, approves major recommendations, and carries responsibility for performance, revenue, or capital allocation.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting, or business
This is the typical entry point for the role, and BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the usual requirement.
Master's degree or MBA
A graduate degree can help for more competitive investment or corporate finance roles, especially when employers want stronger modeling or leadership experience.
CFA charter or finance-focused certificate
A certification can help candidates stand out for investment analysis work, especially when paired with strong Excel, valuation, and market research skills.
Key Skills
Technical
Excel Financial Modeling & Forecasting 96%
Financial Statement Analysis 92%
Valuation Methods (DCF, Comparable Companies & Precedent Transactions) 91%
Bloomberg Terminal, FactSet & Capital IQ 88%
Debt & Capital Structure Analysis 86%
PowerPoint Pitch Decks & Client Presentations 82%
Soft Skills
Analytical thinkingAttention to detailClear communicationClient managementJudgment under uncertaintyTeam collaboration Job Outlook and Trends
+5.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
25.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 368.5K to 389.6 K over the next decade, representing 5.7% growth. Around 25.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.