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Job outlook for investment associates in the United States
Investment associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected investment associate job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 31,900 new jobs for investment associates are projected over the next decade.
Investment associate salaries have increased 9% for investment associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 23,687 investment associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 39,012 active investment associate job openings in the US.
The average investment associate salary is $127,205.
Are investment associate jobs in demand?
Investment associate job and salary trends over time
Investment associate jobs over time
Investment associate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,687 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 24,429 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 18,223 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 24,628 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 23,625 | 0.01% |
Average investment associate salary over time
Investment associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $127,205 | $61.16 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $123,949 | $59.59 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $121,916 | $58.61 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $119,981 | $57.68 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | $116,366 | $55.95 | +1.8% |
Investment associate jobs by state
Most common states for investment associates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 228 | 33% |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 887 | 23% |
| 3 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 557 | 19% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 86 | 11% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 61 | 11% |
| 6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 304 | 10% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 286 | 10% |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 470 | 8% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 74 | 8% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 614 | 7% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 384 | 7% |
| 12 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,194 | 6% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 762 | 6% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 425 | 6% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 372 | 6% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 332 | 6% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 207 | 6% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 35 | 6% |
| 19 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,784 | 5% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 49 | 5% |
Most common cities for investment associates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park Ridge | 2 | 5% | $108,153 |
| 2 | Beverly Hills | 1 | 3% | $124,846 |
| 3 | Duluth | 1 | 3% | $88,099 |
| 4 | Stamford | 2 | 2% | $114,571 |
| 5 | Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $96,601 |
| 6 | Dublin | 1 | 2% | $133,912 |
| 7 | Clinton | 1 | 1% | $95,389 |
| 8 | Evanston | 1 | 1% | $108,477 |
| 9 | New York | 9 | 0% | $125,294 |
| 10 | Chicago | 5 | 0% | $107,971 |
| 11 | Los Angeles | 5 | 0% | $124,772 |
| 12 | San Francisco | 3 | 0% | $134,501 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $87,786 |
| 14 | Austin | 2 | 0% | $100,628 |
| 15 | Raleigh | 2 | 0% | $109,537 |
| 16 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $112,890 |
| 17 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $87,890 |
| 18 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $117,797 |
| 19 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $95,079 |
Investment Associate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of investment associate experts
Manhattan College
University of Oregon
American University
Albion College
Pacific Lutheran University
Kean University
Campbell School of Business, Berry College
Bay Path University
What general advice would you give to an Investment Associate?
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 Investment Associate 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 will help Investment Associates increase their earning potential?
Clemens Kownatzki PhD, MBA: As a beginner in any field, it pays to listen more than to talk. Be humble, pay attention, be nice to folks and probably most helpful is having a mentor who can guide you along and show you some best practices for navigating your career. You should take advantage of your education, not just to show a piece of paper that says you graduated but think of every single project, essay or paper that you write as part of a portfolio that demonstrates your skill sets. Especially in finance where we can sometimes be enamored with the beauty of a mathematical model, think about how any model should be applied in the real world. In some cases that might mean that you have to “get your hands on the wheel and learn how to drive.” I am not suggesting that you should put all your savings at risk and buy the next iteration of the latest cryptocurrency, but If you’re interested in a career in investing, put a small amount of money at risk and trade a stock, or if you must trade a few dollars’ worth of Bitcoin or Ether – as much as you would risk for a movie ticket seems reasonable. There are lots of virtual trading apps where you can trade with paper money, but there’s nothing like understanding risk when your own dollars are at stake, even if it’s just a few dollars. You should also absorb all the workshops, seminars and resources available out there. Follow Prof. Aswath Damodaran who has a YouTube Channel and hundreds of spreadsheets with financial models, all for free! Also follow some good content providers on various channels to get additional insights – in the field of finance, you need to be up-to-date on all events because those influence markets and the economy. Be ready to continue learning and update your skills and understanding while you’re working. Education doesn’t end after you finish your degree. All successful people are life-long learners.
Z. Jay Wang
Department Head, Associate Professor of FinanceUniversity of Oregon
Finance And Financial Management Services
What will help Investment Associates 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 Investment Associate 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 Investment Associates 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 Investment Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jon Hooks Ph.D., CFA, CFP®: Offer the employer something that helps their company. What can you do for them? I had one successful, recent graduate who has a successful investment banking career who said "learn Excel like you life depended on it". Take something to the table.
Fang Lin
Assistant Professor of FinancePacific Lutheran University
Finance And Financial Management Services
What general advice would you give to an Investment Associate?
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 Investment Associate 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 an Investment Associate?
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 Investment Associates 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.
What general advice would you give to an Investment Associate?
Brian Meehan: My advice would be to apply broadly for jobs and take advantage of the robust set of career opportunities a degree in economics provides. It also gives you a better gauge of the opportunity cost (next best alternative) of accepting a job. Try to determine what that best alternative is. Additional training can also be a good option. Those individuals interested in graduate schools, professional schools, law schools, MBAs, etc. should look into these opportunities. Improving your human capital stock (via training and education), while weathering a recession, and then capitalizing on a healthier job market at the end of this training, is a pretty good route (assuming the recession is short).
Heather Antanavica
Adjunct InstructorBay Path University
Accounting
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Investment Associates?
Heather Antanavica: The coronavirus will have a lasting impact on all of humanity, and everyone's jobs will be affected in one way or another. New graduates will have to navigate the working world in a very different way, for example; virtual interviewing, increased competition (many people will be re-entering the workforce after being laid-off during the spring of 2020), and being flexible with businesses that are adapting to a new way of operating. If you are not tech-savvy, work on that now. Companies will be looking for prospects with tech skills in industries where it wasn't much of a factor before the pandemic hit. Most importantly, develop a self-care routine that speaks to you. Meditation, yoga, exercise, grounding practices, and a healthy diet are great options for tending to your well-being so that you can get out there and start your new career with a healthy mind, body, and spirit!