Financial Analyst Salary Figures for 2026

Key takeaways

A financial analyst's salary varies, typically based on years of experience, with more experienced financial analysts earning more annually.

• The median annual salary for a financial analyst in the US is $101,910 [1].

• Financial analysts help companies set budgets to maximize their profits.

• You can become a financial analyst by earning a degree in finance or exploring specialized finance certifications.

Explore more about this role and its earning potential to help you envision if it’s a good match for your career goals. Then, consider enrolling in the Financial Analysis - Skills for Success Specialization. In as little as one month, you can gain a well-rounded knowledge of key financial concepts that will help you apply an analytic mindset to understanding and driving organizational decisions and success. Upon completion, add this shareable credential to your resume or LinkedIn profile.

What is a financial analyst?

A financial analyst works with individuals and companies to create guidelines for how to spend money to earn profits. Typical tasks include reviewing current financial investment trends and historical data to determine where to invest money or how to best build a corporate portfolio. You will also study economic trends and financial statements, review your client’s strengths, and prepare reports for them about how best to spend money for a profit.

Specific positions for financial analysts include fund managers who work with hedge funds and mutual funds or securities analysts who look over securities markets to identify trends.

What does a financial analyst do?

Financial analysts have the responsibility of analyzing data, developing financial models to predict how an investment will perform, and creating budgets based on their analysis. The exact work you do as a financial analyst may vary based on the business you work for or the industry you work in, though analyzing spending and profit data is a typical responsibility for financial analysts.

What is the average salary for a financial analyst?

Various sites show the average yearly pay for financial analysts ranging from $67,318 to $107,000 as of February 2026. The salary ranges given by four different organizations that track financial analyst salaries are [1, 2, 3, 4]:

*Glassdoor salary information represents the median total pay as of February 2026. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Factors that affect a financial analyst salary

Education and experience can boost your potential earnings as a financial analyst. Where you live also has an effect on your salary, including high-cost-of-living areas or cities where financial analysts are in demand. Depending on your interests, some fields or sectors can earn you more than others.

Education

You usually need a bachelor’s degree in a field such as business, accounting, or finance to become a financial analyst. Some employers might also prefer you to have a master’s degree. You’ll also have to pursue credentials such as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification. Requirements for a CFA include a bachelor’s degree, work experience, and passing multiple exams.

Here are the average financial analyst salaries based on education level, according to Zippia [5]:

• Bachelor’s degree: $69,281

• Master’s degree: $79,103

• Doctorate degree: $91,596

Read more: Finance Certifications: Elevate Your Career in the Financial Sector

Experience

Previous experience in financial analysis can potentially boost your income by increasing your annual salary. The following salaries are what you can expect to earn as a financial analyst, based on varying levels of experience, according to information shared by Glassdoor in February 2026 [3]:

• 0–1 year: $89,000

• 1–3 years: $97,000

• 4–6 years: $107,000

• 7–9 years: $111,000

• 10–14 years: $118,000

• 15+ years: $126,000

*All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of February 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Location

Where you live affects your earnings as a financial analyst, as the local cost of living, demand for work, and other factors can all have an impact.

The five top-paying states for financial analysts and their average annual salaries, based on data collected by the BLS, are [6]:

• Wyoming: $205,160

• New York: $147,260

• Massachusetts: $131,500

• California: $128,860

• New Jersey: $126,100

Some cities and areas may have a higher annual income than others, so you could consider relocating to a different location to make more money in a city other than yours.

For example, working in Connecticut cities like Bridgeport, Stamford, or Danbury can earn you $159,130 in average annual income as a financial analyst. In contrast, working in New York City, Newark, or Jersey City can earn you $148,980. Financial analysts in California cities like San Jose, Sunnyvale, or Santa Clara in Silicon Valley can earn $154,610 [6].

Industry

Specific industries can earn more income for financial analysts than others, depending on your particular area. Working with securities, commodities, and other financial investments can earn you a median annual income of $124,050, while working in professional and technical services earns $100,960 in median annual income, according to the BLS [7].

Glassdoor also lists the following five industries as the highest-paying for financial analysts [3]:

• Legal: $95,862

• Financial services: $94,632

• Energy, mining, and utilities: $92,604

• Pharmaceutical & biotechnology: $91,222

• Information technology: $91,093

Related job titles

Other positions in the financial field can help you gain additional experience as a financial analyst, or you can find a job that better fits your interests. You can explore options like a budget analyst and a personal financial advisor below. 

Budget analyst

Median annual salary from BLS: $87,930 [8]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 1 percent [8]

Budget analysts review budgets and advise clients on organizing a budget, managing projections, or developing estimates for future consideration.

Personal financial advisor

Median annual salary from BLS: $102,140 [9]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 10 percent [9]

Personal financial advisors can help individuals manage their finances. You can discuss goals with your clients, recommend investments to help them reach those goals, and research investment opportunities for them. 

Job outlook

The BLS expects positions for financial analysts to increase by 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, growth that’s above the national average for all occupations. Thus, 29,900 openings are expected each year in the field from 2024 to 2034 [1].

Financial analyst positions will continue to increase as new workers are needed to replace retiring workers or those who leave the field. Demand for financial analysts will also increase as economic activity grows due to new business activity or the expansion of current business activity.

No-fluff help for when you’re stuck

Subscribe to our Career Chat newsletter on LinkedIn for industry insights, career tips, and skill-building resources. You can also explore free career resources to learn new topics, analyze emerging industries, and discover new opportunities:

• Watch on YouTube: Why Power BI Skills Are Essential for HR, Finance, and Business Intelligence

• Find a course: Which Finance Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute

• Learn from experts: 8 Questions with an Expert: Google Financial Data Analyst

With Coursera Plus, you can learn and earn credentials at your own pace from over 350 leading companies and universities. With a monthly or annual subscription, you’ll gain access to over 10,000 programs—just check the course page to confirm your selection is included.

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial