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Job outlook for finance planners in the United States
Finance planner job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected finance planner job growth rate is 15% from 2018-2028.
About 50,900 new jobs for finance planners are projected over the next decade.
Finance planner salaries have increased -1% for finance planners in the last 5 years.
There are over 152,645 finance planners currently employed in the United States.
There are 91,557 active finance planner job openings in the US.
The average finance planner salary is $71,607.
Are finance planner jobs in demand?
Finance planner job and salary trends over time
Finance planner jobs over time
Finance planner job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 152,645 | 0.05% |
| 2020 | 126,542 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 121,980 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 116,218 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 116,601 | 0.04% |
Average finance planner salary over time
Finance planner salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,607 | $34.43 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $70,421 | $33.86 | --1.2% |
| 2023 | $71,254 | $34.26 | --1.9% |
| 2022 | $72,657 | $34.93 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | $72,569 | $34.89 | +1.5% |
Finance planner jobs by state
Most common states for finance planners
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 486 | 46% |
| 2 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 1,199 | 40% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 221 | 32% |
| 4 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 784 | 27% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 981 | 25% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,375 | 20% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 187 | 19% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 145 | 19% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,504 | 18% |
| 10 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 556 | 18% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 955 | 17% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 962 | 16% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 91 | 16% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 815 | 15% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 556 | 15% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 206 | 15% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,809 | 14% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,071 | 14% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 153 | 14% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 85 | 14% |
Most common cities for finance planners
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | 2 | 4% | $72,902 |
| 2 | Baltimore | 4 | 1% | $64,177 |
| 3 | Sacramento | 3 | 1% | $75,647 |
| 4 | Alexandria | 2 | 1% | $89,164 |
| 5 | Plano | 2 | 1% | $60,348 |
| 6 | Richmond | 2 | 1% | $87,701 |
| 7 | Riverside | 2 | 1% | $71,611 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor | 1 | 1% | $74,187 |
| 9 | New York | 4 | 0% | $109,248 |
| 10 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $74,892 |
| 11 | Portland | 3 | 0% | $74,230 |
| 12 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $61,814 |
| 13 | Raleigh | 2 | 0% | $81,624 |
| 14 | Albuquerque | 1 | 0% | $65,333 |
| 15 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $89,218 |
Finance Planner job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of finance planner experts
Manhattan College
Fairfield University
Lynn University
Ferrum College
University of Oregon
King's College
American University
Albion College
Cedar Falls
Southwestern College
Pacific Lutheran University
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Lincoln University
NYU Stern School of Business
Keith Kerr Prof.
What Finance Planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Keith Kerr Prof.: There are two basic ways that most people in the US find financial success: Either find a job that pays a high salary, or find a career that you love, regardless of the salary, and make a habit of saving and investing part of your income each month starting with your first paycheck.
If you invest only $90 a month starting at 21 and ending at retirement, you would have a bit over 1 million dollars (assuming a 10% annual gain). Wait just 5 years and start doing this at 26 and your 5 years of time will have cost you $400,000 by retirement. This is the power of compounding. Start early and even with a lower salary, you still can find financial success while pursuing careers that are meaningful to you.
What general advice would you give to a Finance Planner?
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 Finance Planner 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 Finance Planner?
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.
What Finance Planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John McDermott Ph.D.: Be enthusiastic, work hard, and treat every assignment as a chance to learn and showcase your abilities. Seek out new and exciting opportunities, this will provide you the opportunity to expand your skill set and above all to help your company move forward.
What will help Finance Planners increase their earning potential?
David Spohn DBA, MBA, MJUR, CWM®: Likes:
- Intellectual Stimulation: Many finance analysts enjoy the challenge of solving complex financial puzzles and deriving insights from data. The role often requires staying updated with the latest economic trends and financial theories, providing continuous learning opportunities.
- Impact on Decision-making: Analysts often take pride in the fact that their work directly influences strategic business decisions. This can be highly rewarding, especially when their recommendations lead to successful outcomes.
- Career Opportunities: The field offers numerous pathways for career advancement. Analysts can ascend to roles in senior management, specialize in particular sectors such as fintech or healthcare, or move into investment roles.
Dislikes:
- High Pressure: The role can be highly stressful, with tight deadlines and significant implications tied to their analyses and recommendations. Financial markets are dynamic, and the pressure to provide accurate, timely insights can be intense.
- Monotony in Initial Stages: New entrants might find the work initially repetitive as they learn the ropes of data collection and basic analysis techniques. The intellectual rewards and more engaging tasks often come with increased responsibility.
- Work-Life Balance: Depending on the employer and the state of the market, long hours can be common, especially during financial reporting periods or significant market changes, which can impact work-life balance.
What general advice would you give to a Finance Planner?
Clemens Kownatzki PhD, MBA: To be successful today requires essentially the same basic skills and behaviors that made people successful in the past. It’s a lot about who you know, not what you know. Having some basic skills is a necessary condition but it’s not sufficient. You have to be a good communicator, have to be likeable and be a good team player. And to do those things, you need to be around people enough, develop the most important social skills and remember the important things you learned in kindergarten. Show up on time, do what you say and not say what you do and be nice to people. Essentially the golden rule: “Do unto others…” But there are also some important practical things you should do. Think about getting a CFA license or others like CAIA, CMA, CPA, FRM etc. These professional designations won’t hurt you, they can be a requirement in some jobs or at least a differentiator as you apply for jobs. You can also take the Securities Industry Examination as a precondition to getting the more recognized Series 7, 63, 65 etc. But also consider some very easy things like getting certified with the Bloomberg Market Concepts. If your business school has a Bloomberg terminal (we’re lucky because we have 4 terminals), it’s a self-paced exam that’s free on the Bloomberg terminal. Also think about joining some associations to help with getting to know people in positions. You have to network every day and keep on working that network constantly. Lastly, don’t be afraid to negotiate. Yes, it is a competitive industry and there’s always more than just a handful applying for a position but you should know your worth. While you’re networking and having conversations with executives through your network, find out what reasonable expectations should be for the work being delivered.
Keith Kerr Prof.
What general advice would you give to a Finance Planner?
Keith Kerr Prof.: There are two approaches to maximizing your salary potential, but only one approach that is completely under our control. While we can learn the best ways to approach employers to advocate for raises and promotions, the outcome of this is dependent on many external factors. What you can control, however, is how you manage the money that you do make. Taking the time to make a detailed budget of your income, expenses and debts allows one to find ways to control their spending, thus generating extra cash for saving and investing each month.
What Finance Planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Keith Kerr Prof.: Grant writing is perhaps the most important skill for sociology majors to acquire. Not all sociology programs offer such skills (luckily my department at Quinnipiac does), but all sociology programs offer courses in research methodology. These skills are all skills that are needed to successfully write grants.
More so, with the research skills and practice in grant writing, one is in a position to approach potential employers as a hire that will more than pay for itself in the grant money that the potential employee can bring into the organization.
What will help Finance Planners increase their earning potential?
Keith Kerr Prof.: There are two basic ways that most people in the US find financial success: Either find a job that pays a high salary, or find a career that you love, regardless of the salary, and make a habit of saving and investing part of your income each month starting with your first paycheck.
If you invest only $90 a month starting at 21 and ending at retirement, you would have a bit over 1 million dollars (assuming a 10% annual gain). Wait just 5 years and start doing this at 26 and your 5 years of time will have cost you $400,000 by retirement. This is the power of compounding. Start early and even with a lower salary, you still can find financial success while pursuing careers that are meaningful to you.
What Finance Planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Egan M.S. Marketing: -Understanding finance and how it impacts the operations of where you work, can help you have great insight into new opportunities or see the writing on the wall in tough times. -Don't be afraid to learn new technologies, especially ones that collect data. Enhance your tech-based skills as that will increase your value to the organization where you work and the business community at large. -Learn Spanish. While globalization may have you think about learning an Asian language, the Spanish speaking market is the faster growing in the US and has been since 2010.
What will help Finance Planners increase their earning potential?
Timothy Egan M.S. Marketing: -Under promise and over deliver. -Know your value, self-assess your skills, your knowledge and your role. Understand when and when not a company can give increases. -Build an internal support system. Make sure you have people who will go to bat for you when you want to move up internally. -After succeeding don't be afraid to ask for an increase. -And remember, stay humble. The minute you think you know everything; you haven't learned anything.
Dr. Karen Carpenter
Associate Professor of Health & Human PerformanceFerrum College
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
What Finance Planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Karen Carpenter: Certifications!!!! Depending on the population you want to work with align yourself with a reputable organization. We are educational partners with ACE and NSCA and teach their curriculum as part of our program courses. Certified Strength and Conditioning Coaches are in high demand across the country, if athletes are your target population. If you are working in a fitness or rec club and have both the Personal Training and Group Fitness certifications you will be able to earn at a higher rate teaching and taking clients. Sport Coaching is another option that has tremendous opportunity, our program leans on Internship experiences to assist in introducing promising coaches to potential jobs.
What will help Finance Planners increase their earning potential?
Dr. Karen Carpenter: This field is wide open. Decide the population you want to work with and what space you want to be in. Certifications are very valuable to get employed immediately virtually anywhere in the country. Our discipline has the power to save lives. It is an extremely rewarding profession.
Z. Jay Wang
Department Head, Associate Professor of FinanceUniversity of Oregon
Finance And Financial Management Services
What will help Finance Planners 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.
What general advice would you give to a Finance Planner?
Z. Jay Wang: As you onboard into your first roles in finance, a great work ethic and strong technical skills are obviously important for your long-term success. Moreover, your human skills will be as important as your technical skill. Ensure you practice and develop your communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and project management skills. In terms of technical skills attention to detail, use of data analytics tools, and visualization will be very valuable. Another often overlooked skill is written communication. Many students fail to realize the importance of effective communications.
Peter Ibbott
Associate Professor of EconomicsKing's College
Economics
What will help Finance Planners increase their earning potential?
Peter Ibbott: If you are considering a career in economics or finance, it is best to get an MA in Economics or a Masters in Financial Economics. If you are considering a career in Business or Finance, it is best to develop your experience through work, while seeking additional educational opportunities throughout your career. Many find that accumulating micro-credentials can be useful. A more valuable path is to work towards obtaining a Chartered Financial Analyst designation. For strong students, taking a break later in your career to pursue an MBA or Masters of Finance can be useful in advancing your mid-career prospects.
Octavian Ionici PhD
Sr. Lecturer in FinanceAmerican University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What Finance Planner 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 will help Finance Planners 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.
Dr. Jon Hooks Ph.D., CFA, CFP®
Professor of Economics and ManagementAlbion College
Economics
What general advice would you give to a Finance Planner?
Dr. Jon Hooks Ph.D., CFA, CFP®: Do not underestimate the importance of your GPA. Work hard in every class to get a 4.0. An increasing number of employers are requesting students with at least a 3.7 or 3.8 GPA. Also, set yourself apart. Add some skill that distinguishes you from the huge number of other finance graduates.
Brett Olsen
Department Head and Professor of FinanceCedar Falls
Finance And Financial Management Services
What general advice would you give to a Finance Planner?
Brett Olsen: This question is not as simple as it appears. Companies across different industries have job titles labeled "Finance Analyst," yet the job duties can differ. In other words, this is a very company-specific position. If we take a step back and examine this position from a broader perspective, we could describe the Finance Analyst as one who identifies a problem related to financial cash flows, obtains the data and information to assess the problem, performs quantitative and qualitative analysis, develops a proposed solution to the problem, and communicates the proposed solution to the concerned party. "Financial Cash Flows" could describe internal funds for projects, compensation packages, customer investment funds, taxpayer dollars, etc., that may be historical, current, or future (potential) in nature.
Kevin Alston MBA
Doctoral Candidate DBASouthwestern College
Finance And Financial Management Services
What will help Finance Planners increase their earning potential?
Kevin Alston MBA: Crypto Currency and AI. These two are the most impactful variables associated with the Financial Industry.
What general advice would you give to a Finance Planner?
Kevin Alston MBA: Ensure that you are marketable and are considered a commodity. What that means is the firm that you are interested in joining should consider your skills and knowledge an invaluable commodity. One who stands head and shoulders above the competition.
What Finance Planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kevin Alston MBA: Acquire any many Industry Certifications as possible. Attend seminars and workshops to stay current within our industry.
Fang Lin
Assistant Professor of FinancePacific Lutheran University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What general advice would you give to a Finance Planner?
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 Finance Planner 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 Finance Planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dhruba Banjade: Everyone's career journey is unique and different. As a finance professor, I suggest a few things to graduates beginning their careers.
i. Learning is a continuous process and essential. Even after graduation, learn and enhance new skills. The person must be familiar with the latest industry trends.
ii. Building a good network helps with career development. I suggest attending industry events and connecting with many friends and colleagues on social networks such as LinkedIn.
iii. I further suggest to improve verbal and written communication. It helps in career development.
iv. Understanding basic financial principles is essential. For example, the person must be familiar with economic and income statement analyses, budgeting, profit/loss, and savings.
John Clark Ph.D., CFA, CFP
Chair, Dept. of FinanceUniversity of Nevada - Las Vegas
Geological And Earth Sciences/Geosciences
What general advice would you give to a Finance Planner?
John Clark Ph.D., CFA, CFP: Show you have experience. Doing an internship is a great way to increase your starting salary. I always advocate for doing applied research, this is research that you can show has implications for society - science for the sake of science is not good science! Obtaining an MS degree is also a good way to increase your salary, especially if your MS degree is relevant to your future job.
What will help Finance Planners increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mikhail Brodsky Ph.D.: We teach managers. They need to be experts in the field of work additionally to managerial skills and knowledge.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Finance Planners?
Dr. Mikhail Brodsky Ph.D.: Of course, everybody and everything are negatively influenced by COVID. Quality of education and employment options are down.
What's a good job out of college for Finance Planners?
Dr. Mikhail Brodsky Ph.D.: There is no general answer to this question. We are all different. A good job is the one that a person enjoys.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Finance Planners?
Haran Segram Ph.D.: Concentrations in economics/finance and data sciences will keep the graduates in good stead. Foundations of Fintech broadly and classes in Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence specifically should be an essential part of the curriculum.