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Job outlook for chartered finance analysts in the United States
Are chartered finance analyst jobs in demand?
Chartered finance analyst job and salary trends over time
Chartered finance analyst jobs over time
Chartered finance analyst job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 103 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 166 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 108 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 104 | 0.00% |
Average chartered finance analyst salary over time
Chartered finance analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $73,157 | $35.17 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $71,285 | $34.27 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $70,116 | $33.71 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $69,002 | $33.17 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | $66,923 | $32.17 | +1.8% |
Chartered finance analyst jobs by state
Most common states for chartered finance analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 290 | 42% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 199 | 21% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,587 | 19% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,195 | 17% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 528 | 17% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 130 | 17% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 99 | 17% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 873 | 16% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,096 | 15% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 853 | 14% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 778 | 14% |
| 12 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 520 | 14% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 103 | 14% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 88 | 14% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 778 | 13% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 140 | 13% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,500 | 12% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 161 | 12% |
| 19 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,412 | 11% |
| 20 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 777 | 11% |
Chartered Finance Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chartered finance analyst experts
Manhattan College
Fairfield University
University of Oregon
American University
Cedar Falls
Pacific Lutheran University
Kean University
James Madison University
University of Washington
California State University - Stanislaus
Duke Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Loyola University Maryland
University of South Alabama
Elmira College
University of La Verne
Western New Mexico University
Campbell School of Business, Berry College
What general advice would you give to a Chartered Finance Analyst?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: First, learn everything about the company you just started working for - its historical path, management, the way it's dealt with crises, etc. Second, learn everything about the specific industry the company belongs to and see how the company has developed relative to the development of the industry domestically and internationally. Third, always be extremely alert to notice new opportunities and be prepared to take calculated risks. That is, actively look for opportunities to complete as many and diverse tasks as possible, and volunteer to complete any type of work regardless of whether it seems relevant to your assigned job or not. Opportunities to learn, grow, and improve and thus to maximize your income, will only come up if you are exposed to diverse situations.
What Chartered Finance Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Natalia Boliari PhD: Be open minded. Finance is the broad definition of an industry which provides opportunities for careers in financial consultancy, financial analysis, stock brokerage, foreign investment, modeling, exchange rate forecasts, and many more. While most of those careers are attributed to the banking industry, you can find those and others in other sectors of the economy, such as insurance, technology, health care/medical, government, and so on. So, be open and look beyond the banking sector, examine the current and predicted trends in the economy to hunt for exciting career options.
What general advice would you give to a Chartered Finance Analyst?
John McDermott Ph.D.: To maximize your salary potential, keep learning, investing in your human capital, and expanding your capabilities. Learn as much as you can about your new position and industry, work with a variety of people at your firm, and seek opportunities outside your comfort zone. Your salary potential will increase as you are recognized as a capable and hard working colleague.
Z. Jay Wang
Department Head, Associate Professor of FinanceUniversity of Oregon
Finance And Financial Management Services
What will help Chartered Finance Analysts increase their earning potential?
Z. Jay Wang: Students who have a history of doing work in the field outside the classroom either through internships, industry projects, or school-sponsored clubs managing financial decisions are better poised to maximize starting salary potential. Starting early to secure internships with top companies will also position students well for higher earning potential. Most top banks and firms will post internships from April/May to August, and close by the end of September for the following summer. They are also rolling, so may fill the roles by as early as June of the sophomore year for the following summer after junior year. Finally, networking with industry and alumni professionals in the companies, firms, banks prior to applying for an internship or full-time position will have an impact. The candidate will learn more about the opportunity and company culture for their resume and potential interview, and most top companies in finance will have a referral program. If the candidate impresses the internal connection with excellent questions and strategic answers, they may get a referral that moves them up in the stacks of applicants.
Octavian Ionici PhD
Sr. Lecturer in FinanceAmerican University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What Chartered Finance Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Octavian Ionici PhD: The finance profession is lucrative, rewarding and very competitive. Graduates should do their research about the organization they are interviewing with and be able to discuss how their skills can contribute to the business. They should also know if they would rather interact with people and clients or if they are drawn to intellectual pursuits such as analysis. Do they value power, prestige status, risk, or something else? Ultimately our core values, personal goals, interests, aptitudes, and personality will shape our career paths.
Being able to articulate what sparked their interest in the financial field and why they are interested in a chosen role will be an advantage during the hiring process. While still in college, students should join a professional association like the Financial Management Association to give them more access to that broad network, as well as access to career development resources that can set them apart from the crowd.
It's also critical to get an internship (paid or unpaid) in order to show some real-life experience. They can do this while they are still in college, during the summers, or even afterwards, to get a foot in the door.
Reading the WSJ and FT daily, and listening to Bloomberg, or other financial programs as a regular practice will help them to have fluency in the language of our profession. Because the finance sector is heavily regulated and changes occur due to changing economic and political conditions, they will need to stay updated with those changes. Financial media sources will help bring them that context to stay up to date on all of these moving parts.
What Chartered Finance Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Noah Alatza: Prior to graduation, gain as much relevant experience as possible through internships. Having multiple internships where you've proven yourself to be successful and hardworking is essential to getting the best offers for full-time roles. In the early years of your career, take note of the qualifications of your next promotion and proactively take steps to ensure that you achieve those qualifications. Finally, make sure to do your research on salary levels for similar positions and don't be afraid to ask for an increase when your work performance and data support that request.
What will help Chartered Finance Analysts increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kimberly Gaither: Maximize your salary potential by asking questions and learning as quickly as possible. Be a good communicator with those above and below you as well as your peers. Be dependable. Persons who show up early and work hard will be valued and rewarded.
Brett Olsen
Department Head and Professor of FinanceCedar Falls
Finance And Financial Management Services
What Chartered Finance Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brett Olsen: Every business, every institution, every family, and every fund deals with cash flows. Being able to evaluate, understand, quantify, analyze, compute, and communicate the flows of cash is necessary and cannot be avoided. This is a good profession at any point in time. The use of cash is ubiquitous.
What will help Chartered Finance Analysts increase their earning potential?
Brett Olsen: To succeed as a Finance Analyst, one needs to be interested in math, willing to solve problems, and driven by both. Those who dislike math or problem-solving may find the career challenging.
Fang Lin
Assistant Professor of FinancePacific Lutheran University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What general advice would you give to a Chartered Finance Analyst?
Fang Lin: Proficiency in coding and statistical modeling is essential. At a minimum, individuals should be able to understand basic financial models. Ideally, they should be able to code or at least interpret code in languages such as Python and R. Additionally, soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking will continue to be invaluable.
What Chartered Finance Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Fang Lin: Don't be afraid to negotiate your starting salary. Young journalists have a lot to offer newsrooms through social media skills and a willingness to adapt to new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Technology skills have value and should not be undersold. Also, young journalism students should not discount the value of their student media and internship experiences. Young journalists must use everything on their resumes to show how they bring value to their position and ask to be compensated fairly for the work they will contribute to the newsroom's success.
Dhruba Banjade
Assistant Professor in Finance & Department Chair of Business AnalysisWhat general advice would you give to a Chartered Finance Analyst?
Dhruba Banjade: i. The industry technology is changing fast. Specific skills will be more critical in the finance field in the next 3-5 years. Some of these are:
ii. Data analysis/ data mining skills. Knowledge of Excel, R, Python, data visualization, Tableau, RapidMiner, machine learning, and financial modeling skills are essential in finance and business.
iii. Skills and knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning will give more opportunities and help career development.
iv. Network security and cybersecurity are essential to protect financial transactions and digital data.
v. Knowledge of financial regulations and risk management will be in high demand in the next 3-5 years.
vi. Soft skills such as politeness, ability to work in a diverse group, good communication, learning attitude, etc, are also necessary.
vii. Many industry and business companies today focus on sustainable development and environmental, social, and governance activities. Knowledge of sustainability and ESG measures is also helpful.
viii. Broad knowledge of global financial markets, international finance, global economy, etc., will be valuable in the next 3-5 years.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Chartered Finance Analysts to find work opportunities?
Dr. Michael Tin Shan Suen: Based on conventional thinking, good places for finance graduates to find work are New York (including the tri-state area), Chicago, and San Francisco. However, big cities in Texas and Florida are showing a growth trend.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Chartered Finance Analysts, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. William Wood Ph.D.: Starting salaries in economics are good -- better than for most college degrees -- and they get better as economics majors advance in their careers. Economics prepares people for leadership, and people with good leadership skills are often drawn to economics. Both effects operate to give us this observation that economics majors do well in their careers.
Jarrad Harford Ph.D.
Professor of FinanceUniversity of Washington
Department of Finance and Business Economics
What Chartered Finance Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jarrad Harford Ph.D.: They should try to enhance the practical skills to complement the foundational knowledge they learned in college. So, this could include spreadsheet modeling, programming in R, expertise with Bloomberg terminals, etc. There are plenty of online courses that can help with these types of practical skills.
Kim Tan Ph.D.
Professor, Accounting, ChairCalifornia State University - Stanislaus
Department of Accounting and Finance
What experience really stands out on Chartered Finance Analyst resumes?
Kim Tan Ph.D.: Membership in student clubs. Leadership position in a student organization. Recipient of scholarship. Some work experience or internship.
What type of skills will young Chartered Finance Analysts need?
Connel Fullenkamp Ph.D.: Quantitative skills, especially data-oriented skills, are becoming an absolute necessity. It's been said that data is the new oil, in terms of being a universal input into the business. But young graduates shouldn't forget communication skills either--if anything, good communication skills will become even more valuable as the work people do becomes more technical.
What type of skills will young Chartered Finance Analysts need?
Karyl Leggio Ph.D.: For the past several years, it is a given that graduates will have strong financial skills. In addition, new employees need to work effectively in teams, be strong critical thinkers, be self-directed, and be able to present their views in a persuasive and well-documented way.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Chartered Finance Analysts to find work opportunities?
Karyl Leggio Ph.D.: Many students think of finance and think of Wall Street. There certainly are opportunities in New York and Chicago, but I urge students to broaden their search. In finding your first career opportunity, treat it as if it is a three-credit course, and put that amount of time into job searching each week. I don't think of job hunting as where to search but of how to search. Develop a strong LinkedIn profile, and post articles to your page; look at firms in your area, consider firms in cities that are growing; access your alumni network; network with family and friends. Don't limit your search to a handful of firms. In this economy, you need to cast a broad net and be open to opportunities that present themselves. Apply broadly, and be open-minded.
What type of skills will young Chartered Finance Analysts need?
Dr. Reid Cummings: As computing systems continue to advance and evolve, and as artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in data analytics, the ability to work with a variety of data manipulation, analysis, and presentation platforms will become increasingly important. Equally, a focus on improving critical thinking and communication skills, and the abilities to present outcomes, analysis, and ideas in a succinct, cogent, and logical fashion, will largely differentiate those who will succeed at a high level from everyone else.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chartered Finance Analysts?
Mariam Khawar Ph.D.: Yes, I think there will be a lasting impact, mainly because the pandemic has accelerated trends that were already beginning to emerge. Students will face a more competitive environment due to globalization and technology, both of which may work in tandem. For example, the rapid shift to remote work means that jobs can be more easily outsourced to individuals across the world, while technology is making it easier and more efficient to work remotely. This means that, in addition to the quantitative skills that economics graduates tend to have already, and what their global competitors can more easily acquire, students will need to gain an advantage in other areas, such as effective communication where there are fewer competitors globally who are proficient in English. Additionally, because economics is a liberal arts discipline, as opposed to a professional one, its graduates are more likely to be creative, critical thinkers, and problem-solvers. These are the types of skills that can give students an edge, even in an increasingly competitive job market. Hence, economics graduates should highlight and use these strengths to the best of their abilities, to mitigate the inevitable effect of the pandemic on the future.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chartered Finance Analysts?
Paul Abbondante: Companies will be cautious about hiring new employees, especially when they have little to no experience. The reason is that companies spend time and money training new employees, and it will be challenging to do this remotely. Graduates will have to demonstrate that they can work without direct supervision.
Miguel Vicens
Associate Dean of School of Business, Associate Professor of FinanceWestern New Mexico University
Finance
What general advice would you give to a Chartered Finance Analyst?
Miguel Vicens: The labor market environment these days is characterized by flexibility, credentials, and ethics. As a Finance major, your job is to help make sense of the critical financial situation in which we find ourselves these days. The Finance job market has changed since the great recession in 2008, to incorporate some of your other courses such as management. Most of the jobs you will find will have a management component, due to the importance of human interactions, strategic management perspectives, and overall long-term orientation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chartered Finance Analysts?
Miguel Vicens: The Coronavirus pandemic has changed our way of living, graduations, birthdays, traveling plans, and personal interactions. But it has also created opportunities for all business majors. The enduring impact of this pandemic is a refocus on America. Finance, economics, and management have never been so outstanding. The epidemic exposed the dangerous disadvantages of outsourcing the US pharmaceutical industry (and other industries). The pandemic has also shed light on the importance of logistics and supply chains. Our country's financial endurance is on a daily headline, and our fellow American citizens are looking to us, as business majors, to save our way of living and pave the way to a stable and economically sound future. This is the time for all business majors, Finance, Accounting, Management, Marketing, etc. to shine and rise to the challenge of rebuilding/restarting America.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Chartered Finance Analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Brian Meehan: If I knew what technologies were going to arise in the next 3-5 years and play an essential part in any industry, I would invest in the companies/individuals producing those technologies. The best way to separate insight from the empty talk is to see if people have skin in the game when they make projections or give investing advice. Skin in the game generates more accountability and insight. So, my empty talk answer is tedious -- I think graduates should become equipped to deal with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangout, and technologies like those, where remote communication and collaboration can occur.