Financial Analyst: career path and pay in the US
Where a Financial Analyst goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 4 steps, from Junior Financial Analyst to Director of FP&A / CFO.
Also for the United Kingdom: Financial Analyst in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 2 years
Junior Financial Analyst
$50K to $80K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Step 2 · 2 to 5 years
Financial Analyst
$70K to $105K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CFA Level 1 - Global, FMVA - US, CISI (in progress) - UK/EU.
Step 3 · 5 to 10 years
Senior Financial Analyst / FP&A Manager
$80K to $120K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CFA - Global, FP&A Certification - US, CISI - UK/EU, CIMA - UK/EU.
Step 4 · 10+ years
Director of FP&A / CFO
$140K to $210K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CFA - Global, CISI - UK/EU, MBA (preferred).
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
52% → 24%
Falls 28 points. Each step is harder to automate than the last. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$50K to $80K → $140K to $210K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US.
What the work involves
Develop quantitative techniques to inform securities investing, equities investing, pricing, or valuation of financial instruments. Develop mathematical or statistical models for risk management, asset optimization, pricing, or relative value analysis.
O*NET does not rate Financial and Investment Analysts separately; the profile shown is for Financial Quantitative Analysts, the nearest rated occupation.
Skills that matter most
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge areas
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
Education people bring
- Master's Degree: 60%
- Bachelor's Degree: 35%
- Doctoral Degree: 5%
Job Zone 5, job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Other paths from here
More Finance paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Data Scientists, Financial Risk Specialists, Financial and Investment Analysts, Statisticians, Operations Research Analysts.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.