Risk analysts: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Risk analysts evaluate the risk in investment decisions and determine how to manage unpredictability and limit potential losses. This job is carried out by making investment decisions such as selecting dissimilar stocks or having a combination of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds in a portfolio.
- Education Required
- Most positions require a bachelors degree. A number of fields of study provide appropriate preparation, including accounting, economics, finance, statistics, and mathematics.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 11% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Advancement
- Financial analysts typically start by specializing in a specific investment field. As they gain experience, they can become portfolio managers and select the mix of investments for a companys portfolio. They can also become fund managers and manage large investment portfolios for individual investors. A masters degree in finance or business administration can improve an analysts chances of advancing to one of these positions.
- Licenses/Certifications
- The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the main licensing organization for the securities industry. A license is generally required to sell financial products, which may apply to some financial analyst positions. Because most of the licenses require sponsorship by an employer, companies do not expect individuals to have these licenses before starting a job.
- Median pay: How much do Financial Analysts make?
- $81,760 Annual Salary
- $39.31 per hour
Careers for Financial Analysts
- Corporate financial analysts
- Corporate securities research analysts
- Corporate statistical financial analysts
- Fund managers
- Institutional commodity analysts
- Portfolio managers
- Ratings analysts
- Securities analysts