Ranked list · 48 careers

48 Finance Jobs, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)

Chief Restructuring Officer tops this list at $213,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +3.2% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 48 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.

Careers on this list: 48From 1,731 in the bank
Median pay on the list: $138,455BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected to grow: 45 of 48BLS EP, 2025–2035
Openings a year: 2,654,300Combined, BLS EP

Method

How we built this list

Careers managing money and risk: analysts, advisors, accountants, actuaries, underwriters, traders and the managers of financial teams. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.

The list

The top 48 finance jobs

100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.

1
1. Chief Restructuring Officer
Specialty within chief executive
Median pay
$213,990median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.2%
Openings / yr
19,100
Education
Bachelor's
An interim executive brought into a struggling company to stabilize cash, restructure debt and lead it through or around bankruptcy.
2
2. Private Equity Operating Partner
Specialty within chief executive
Median pay
$636,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2024 North American Private Equity Operating Professional Compensation Survey
Growth
+3.2%
Openings / yr
19,100
Education
Bachelor's
A former executive who works for a private equity firm to improve the operations of the companies it owns, from pricing to hiring to cost control.
3
3. Public Company Board Director
Specialty within chief executive
Median pay
$336,352typical, Spencer Stuart 2025 US Board Index
Growth
+3.2%
Openings / yr
19,100
Education
Bachelor's
An independent member of a public company's board who oversees management, strategy, risk and executive pay on behalf of shareholders.
4
4. Corporate Development Manager
Specialty within financial manager
Median pay
$166,570median (parent occupation)
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Leads acquisitions, investments and strategic partnerships inside a company, from finding targets to closing the deal.
5
5. Endowment Chief Investment Officer
Specialty within investment fund manager
Median pay
$531,800typical, Binfare and Harris, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis (2025)
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Runs the investment office of a university endowment or foundation, setting asset allocation and choosing the outside managers who invest its money.
6
6. Family Office Director
Specialty within financial manager
Median pay
$500,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 Family Offices Compensation Survey
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Runs the private office that manages a wealthy family's investments, taxes, properties, philanthropy and personal financial affairs.
7
7. Financial Manager
Management
Median pay
$166,570median a year
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
8
8. Fractional CFO
Specialty within financial manager
Median pay
$166,570median (parent occupation)
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Serves as the part-time chief financial officer for several small and growing companies at once.
9
9. Hedge Fund Portfolio Manager
Specialty within investment fund manager
Median pay
$2,100,000typical, eFinancialCareers Compensation & Lifestyle Report
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Runs a book of capital at a hedge fund, deciding what to buy, sell and short, and is paid largely on the profits that book produces.
10
10. Investment Fund Manager
Management
Median pay
$166,570median a year
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.
11
11. Private Credit Investor
Specialty within investment fund manager
Median pay
$582,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North American Private Credit Investment Professional Compensation Survey
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Lends money directly to companies, usually private equity-owned businesses, from a private credit fund instead of through banks or bond markets.
12
12. Private Equity Partner
Specialty within investment fund manager
Median pay
$1,111,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North America Private Equity Investment Professional Compensation Survey
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
A senior leader at a private equity firm who sources and approves buyouts, sits on portfolio company boards and helps raise the firm's funds.
13
13. Private Equity Principal
Specialty within investment fund manager
Median pay
$689,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North America Private Equity Investment Professional Compensation Survey
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
A senior deal leader at a private equity firm, just below partner, who runs transactions and begins sourcing deals and managing board seats.
14
14. Private Equity Vice President
Specialty within investment fund manager
Median pay
$378,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North America Private Equity Investment Professional Compensation Survey
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Runs the day-to-day execution of private equity deals, leading associates through diligence, models and documents for buyouts and growth investments.
15
15. Public Pension Chief Investment Officer
Specialty within investment fund manager
Median pay
$331,000typical, National Association of State Retirement Administrators (via Chief Investment Officer magazine)
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Leads the investment staff of a state or municipal retirement system, managing the assets that pay pensions for teachers, police and public workers.
16
16. Treasurer and Controller
Management
Median pay
$166,570median a year
Growth
+9.7%
Openings / yr
65,600
Education
Bachelor's
Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.
17
17. Chief Revenue Officer
Specialty within sales manager
Median pay
$148,270median (parent occupation)
Growth
+4.5%
Openings / yr
47,300
Education
Bachelor's
Leads all revenue-generating teams, typically sales, marketing, customer success and revenue operations, and owns the company's revenue targets.
18
18. Investor Relations Manager
Specialty within public relations manager
Median pay
$146,910median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.7%
Openings / yr
6,100
Education
Bachelor's
Manages communication between a public company and its shareholders and Wall Street analysts, shaping how investors understand the business.
19
19. Quantitative Developer
Specialty within software developer
Median pay
$192,000typical, Levels.fyi
Growth
+10.2%
Openings / yr
95,300
Education
Bachelor's
Builds the fast, reliable software that runs trading strategies, prices securities and manages risk at hedge funds, trading firms and banks.
20
20. Financial Risk Specialist
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$117,330median a year
Growth
+7.4%
Openings / yr
4,800
Education
Bachelor's
Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization.
21
21. Owner's Representative
Specialty within construction manager
Median pay
$114,990median (parent occupation)
Growth
+9.1%
Openings / yr
49,700
Education
Bachelor's
Manages a construction project on behalf of the building owner, protecting the owner's budget, schedule and quality from design through move-in.
22
22. Preconstruction Manager
Specialty within construction manager
Median pay
$114,990median (parent occupation)
Growth
+9.1%
Openings / yr
49,700
Education
Bachelor's
Leads a contractor's work before construction starts, shaping budgets, design choices and schedules so a project can be built for the price promised.
23
23. Chief of Staff
Specialty within general and operations manager
Median pay
$105,770median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.0%
Openings / yr
285,000
Education
Bachelor's
Works as a senior executive's right hand, running priority projects, leadership meetings and company operations on their behalf.
24
24. Financial Advisor
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$105,070median a year
Growth
+1.4%
Openings / yr
17,100
Education
Bachelor's
Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate.
25
25. Private Banker
Specialty within financial advisor
Median pay
$105,070median (parent occupation)
Growth
+1.4%
Openings / yr
17,100
Education
Bachelor's
Serves wealthy clients at a bank, handling their lending, deposits and banking needs and connecting them with investment and trust services.
26
26. Trust Officer
Specialty within financial advisor
Median pay
$105,070median (parent occupation)
Growth
+1.4%
Openings / yr
17,100
Education
Bachelor's
Manages trusts and estates for families at a bank or trust company, carrying out the terms of the trust and protecting beneficiaries' interests.
27
27. Wealth Manager
Specialty within financial advisor
Median pay
$195,000typical, CFP Board 2026 Compensation Study
Growth
+1.4%
Openings / yr
17,100
Education
Bachelor's
Manages investments, tax planning, estate planning and other financial affairs for high-net-worth individuals and families.
28
28. Financial and Investment Analyst
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$102,740median a year
Growth
+7.2%
Openings / yr
24,700
Education
Bachelor's
Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.
29
29. Financial Planning and Analysis Manager
Specialty within financial and investment analyst
Median pay
$102,740median (parent occupation)
Growth
+7.2%
Openings / yr
24,700
Education
Bachelor's
Leads a company's budgeting, forecasting and performance analysis, advising executives on where money should go.
30
30. Hedge Fund Analyst
Specialty within financial and investment analyst
Median pay
$227,000typical, eFinancialCareers Compensation & Lifestyle Report 2026
Growth
+7.2%
Openings / yr
24,700
Education
Bachelor's
Researches stocks, bonds or other assets for a hedge fund and pitches trade ideas, both long and short, to the portfolio manager.
31
31. Private Equity Associate
Specialty within financial and investment analyst
Median pay
$244,000typical, Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North America Private Equity Investment Professional Compensation Survey
Growth
+7.2%
Openings / yr
24,700
Education
Bachelor's
Evaluates companies for a private equity fund to buy, builds the buyout model, and helps improve portfolio businesses after the deal closes.
32
32. Real Estate Acquisitions Analyst
Specialty within financial and investment analyst
Median pay
$102,740median (parent occupation)
Growth
+7.2%
Openings / yr
24,700
Education
Bachelor's
Evaluates commercial properties for investors, building cash flow models and due diligence that decide whether a building is worth buying and at what price.
33
33. Treasury Manager
Specialty within financial and investment analyst
Median pay
$102,740median (parent occupation)
Growth
+7.2%
Openings / yr
24,700
Education
Bachelor's
Manages a company's cash, bank relationships, borrowing and currency risk so the business always has the money it needs.
34
34. Venture Capitalist
Specialty within financial and investment analyst
Median pay
$130,000typical, Levels.fyi
Growth
+7.2%
Openings / yr
24,700
Education
Bachelor's
Invests a fund's money in early-stage startups, choosing which founders to back and helping those companies grow.
35
35. Management Consulting Partner
Specialty within management analyst
Median pay
$375,000typical, GMAC (mba.com), drawing on Management Consulted's Consulting Salaries Report 2026
Growth
+10.1%
Openings / yr
94,100
Education
Master's
A senior leader at a top strategy consulting firm who wins and leads client engagements for CEOs and boards.
36
36. Merger Integration Manager
Specialty within management analyst
Median pay
$101,860median (parent occupation)
Growth
+10.1%
Openings / yr
94,100
Education
Bachelor's
Combines two companies after a merger or acquisition, planning how people, systems and operations come together.
37
37. Strategy Consultant
Specialty within management analyst
Median pay
$267,000typical, Management Consulted, The Consulting Salaries Report 2026, as reported by Poets&Quants
Growth
+10.1%
Openings / yr
94,100
Education
Bachelor's
Advises executives on major business decisions such as entering new markets, pricing, mergers and cost restructuring.
38
38. Financial Examiner
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$94,160median a year
Growth
+9.3%
Openings / yr
4,500
Education
Bachelor's
Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions.
39
39. Budget Analyst
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$91,640median a year
Growth
+1.9%
Openings / yr
2,900
Education
Bachelor's
Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations.
40
40. Accountant
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$83,680median a year
Growth
+5.0%
Openings / yr
115,300
Education
Bachelor's
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others.
41
41. Forensic Accountant
Specialty within accountant
Median pay
$83,680median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.0%
Openings / yr
115,300
Education
Bachelor's
Investigates financial records to uncover fraud, trace hidden assets, and calculate damages for lawsuits and criminal cases.
42
42. Internal Auditor
Specialty within accountant
Median pay
$83,680median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.0%
Openings / yr
115,300
Education
Bachelor's
Reviews an organization's controls, processes and risks from the inside, reporting to the board on whether things work as they should.
43
43. Transfer Pricing Specialist
Specialty within accountant
Median pay
$83,680median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.0%
Openings / yr
115,300
Education
Bachelor's
Sets and defends the prices multinational companies charge between their own subsidiaries in different countries, a major international tax issue.
44
44. Credit Analyst
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$83,510median a year
Growth
−4.3%
Openings / yr
3,100
Education
Bachelor's
Analyze credit data and financial statements of individuals or firms to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money.
45
45. ESG Analyst
Specialty within sustainability specialist
Median pay
$83,050median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
98,700
Education
Bachelor's
Assesses environmental, social and governance risks for investors or companies, from carbon emissions to board oversight.
46
46. Impact Investment Analyst
Specialty within sustainability specialist
Median pay
$83,050median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
98,700
Education
Bachelor's
Evaluates investments for both financial return and measurable social or environmental results, for impact funds, foundations and development lenders.
47
47. Insurance Underwriter
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$81,370median a year
Growth
−3.8%
Openings / yr
6,800
Education
Bachelor's
Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.
48
48. Reinsurance Underwriter
Specialty within insurance underwriter
Median pay
$81,370median (parent occupation)
Growth
−3.8%
Openings / yr
6,800
Education
Bachelor's
Decides which risks a reinsurer will accept from insurance companies and at what price, often for catastrophe and large liability exposures.

Questions

Finance Jobs: FAQ

What is the top career on the finance jobs list?

Chief Restructuring Officer leads the list with a median wage of $213,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +3.2% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is bachelor's.

How was this list put together?

Careers managing money and risk: analysts, advisors, accountants, actuaries, underwriters, traders and the managers of financial teams. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers managing money and risk: analysts, advisors, accountants, actuaries, underwriters, traders and the managers of financial teams. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.

How much do finance jobs pay?

Across the 48 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $138,455 a year, from $81,370 at the bottom to $2,100,000 at the top (BLS OEWS May 2025 and the industry compensation sources cited on each career page). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.

How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?

None. BLS lists an associate's degree or higher as the typical entry requirement for all 48 careers on this list.