Advises companies on mergers, acquisitions and raising money, building the financial models and pitch materials behind major corporate deals. Levels.fyi puts typical pay at $180,000 a year (2026). BLS does not publish separate figures for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents; it counts them within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent (SOC 41-3031), whose median pay is $78,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 41-3031
- Sales and Related
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Investment Banker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $78,660a year, or $37.82/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $213K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.4%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 35,100531,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025531K
- Projected 2035538.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 531K Projected 2035 538.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school26.8%
- Certificate1.1%
- Some college5.8%
- Bachelor's55.3%
- Post-bacc certificate6%
- Master's3.8%
Highest education held by securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents Segment Value High school 26.8% Certificate 1.1% Some college 5.8% Bachelor's 55.3% Post-bacc certificate 6% Master's 3.8%
Also advertised as: Investment Banking Analyst, Investment Banking Associate, M&A Banker, Coverage Banker, Capital Markets Banker.
Pay
How much do Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents make?
Industry-reported pay
$180,000
Median total compensation (salary, bonus and equity), US investment bankers across all levels, self-reported.
- Entry level
- $125,000
- Top earners
- $310,000
Source: Levels.fyi, 2026 (published compensation survey). This is not a BLS figure: BLS counts securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent, whose pay is shown below. Levels.fyi: Investment Banker salaries · Prospect Rock Partners: 2025 IB Compensation Report
Every investment banker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$78,660
Middle half earn $56,540 to $129,950
- 10th
- $48,040
- 25th
- $56,540
- 75th
- $129,950
- 90th
- $212,880
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,040 |
| 25th | $56,540 |
| Median | $78,660 |
| 75th | $129,950 |
| 90th | $212,880 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $78,660
- Median hourly wage
- $37.82/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $109,150
- People employed
- 489,570
Versus all US occupations
At $78,660, Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents earn 54% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $27,680 a year.
Versus sales and related occupations
Inside the Sales and Related group, where the middle occupation pays $73,220, this is 7% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $212,880 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,040, a gap of 4.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 56% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $168,340, and still leads at $155,984 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $168,340 | $155,984 | 55,630 |
| 2Massachusetts | $100,310 | $94,850 | 14,510 |
| 3Illinois | $99,840 | $99,882 | 27,920 |
| 4Connecticut | $98,560 | $95,126 | 5,730 |
| 5Vermont | $88,280 | $90,120 | 240 |
| 6South Dakota | $86,780 | $97,961 | 730 |
| 7Delaware | $83,750 | $83,911 | 2,300 |
| 8Minnesota | $83,350 | $84,515 | 8,820 |
| 9Nebraska | $82,560 | $91,628 | 2,150 |
| 10New Jersey | $82,420 | $75,750 | 15,230 |
Job outlook
Is Investment Banker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | +1.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents to change 1.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 7,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 35,100 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 531,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Investment Banker
Most bankers start as analysts straight out of a bachelor's program in finance, economics, accounting or a related field, usually after a junior-year summer internship. Others join as associates after an MBA. Recruiting is structured and early, with technical interviews on accounting, valuation and discounted cash flow models.
Bankers at broker-dealers must pass FINRA's Securities Industry Essentials exam and the Series 79 Investment Banking Representative exam, and many also pass Series 63. The firm sponsors these exams. Progression runs from analyst to associate, vice president, director and managing director, with promotion tied to deal execution and, later, to bringing in business.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents.
- Bachelor's Degree55.3%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)26.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate6%
- Some College Courses5.8%
- Master's Degree3.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 55.3% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 26.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 6% |
| Some College Courses | 5.8% |
| Master's Degree | 3.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Investment Banker do?
Investment bankers help companies, governments and investors complete large financial transactions. They advise on selling or buying a business, take companies public, and arrange debt or equity financing. Coverage bankers focus on an industry such as healthcare or technology, while product groups specialize in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance or equity capital markets.
Junior bankers build valuation models, write pitch books and confidential information memorandums, and manage data rooms during due diligence. Senior bankers win mandates, negotiate terms, and guide clients through the deal from first meeting to closing. Much of the work is coordinating lawyers, accountants and buyers on tight timelines.
Day-to-day tasks
- Build financial models to value companies and assess deal structures
- Prepare pitch books and presentations for prospective clients
- Draft offering memorandums and marketing materials for transactions
- Coordinate due diligence with lawyers, accountants and buyers
- Identify potential acquirers or targets for client companies
- Negotiate deal terms on behalf of clients
- Monitor industry trends to generate new transaction ideas
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Investment bankers work in offices in major financial centers, with frequent client meetings and travel for pitches and deal negotiations. Hours are long and unpredictable, especially for analysts and associates, and weekend work is common when a deal is live. The job is high pressure and deadline driven, though some banks have introduced protected weekends for junior staff.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Speaking3.5
- Active Learning3.5
- Writing3.4
- Mathematics3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Persuasion3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Service Orientation3.3
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Time Management3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Investment Banker?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ECI) built on O*NET's Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Investment Banker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.1
- Conventional5.3
- Investigative3.2
- Social3.1
- Artistic1.3
- Realistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Investment Banker
O*NET related occupations
- Sales and Related
Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent
$78,660median a year
Most earn $48K to $213K
+1.4%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
- Office and Administrative Support
- Business and Financial Operations
More sales and related careers
Median annual pay, with securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents highlighted
- Sales Engineer$124,900
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product$104,920
- Investment Banker$78,660
- Real Estate Broker$73,220
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,080
- Insurance Sales Agent$62,280
- Real Estate Agent$52,830
- Travel Agent$50,160
- Cashier$32,880
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sales Engineer | $124,900 |
| Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product | $104,920 |
| Investment Banker | $78,660 |
| Real Estate Broker | $73,220 |
| Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $72,080 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $62,280 |
| Real Estate Agent | $52,830 |
| Travel Agent | $50,160 |
| Cashier | $32,880 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Investment Banker appears on
Questions
Investment Banker: frequently asked questions
How much do Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents make?
Levels.fyi reports $180,000 (median total compensation (salary, bonus and equity), US investment bankers across all levels, self-reported, 2026), with top earners around $310,000. BLS does not publish a separate wage for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents. It counts them within security, commodity, and financial services sales agent, whose median pay is $78,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $56,540 and $129,950, and the top 10% earn $212,880 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Investment Banker?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 55.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Investment Banker a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.4% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 35,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Investment Banker do?
Investment bankers help companies, governments and investors complete large financial transactions. A typical task: build financial models to value companies and assess deal structures. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Customer relationship management CRM software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents the most?
The highest state medians for Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents are New York ($168,340), Massachusetts ($100,310), Illinois ($99,840) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Investment Banker?
O*NET scores Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.