The median pay for Investment Fund Managers is $166,570 a year ($80.08/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 9.7% through 2035, with about 65,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 11-3031
- Management
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Investment Fund Manager in four numbers
- Median pay
- $166,570a year, or $80.08/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $94KTop 10% $323K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +9.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+9.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +9.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 65,600879,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025879.7K
- Projected 2035964.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 879.7K Projected 2035 964.6K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's32.7%
- Master's63.3%
- Post-master’s certificate2%
- Professional degree2%
Highest education held by investment fund managers Segment Value Bachelor's 32.7% Master's 63.3% Post-master’s certificate 2% Professional degree 2%
Also advertised as: Fixed Income Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income Vice President (Fixed Income VP), Investment Analysis Vice President (Investment Analysis VP), Portfolio Manager.
Pay
How much do investment fund managers make?
Investment Fund Managers earn a median of $166,570 a year ($80.08 an hour, or about $13,880 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $94,310 and the top 10% more than $323,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is New York, with a median of $219,880. See Investment fund manager salary in New York and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Bridgeport ($224,990 average): salary in every city.
Every investment fund manager in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$166,570
Middle half earn $125,490 to $219,980
- 10th
- $94,310
- 25th
- $125,490
- 75th
- $219,980
- 90th
- $323,270
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $94,310 |
| 25th | $125,490 |
| Median | $166,570 |
| 75th | $219,980 |
| 90th | $323,270 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $166,570
- Median hourly wage
- $80.08/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $186,910
- People employed
- 841,710
Versus all US occupations
At $166,570, Investment Fund Managers earn 227% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $115,590 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 32% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $323,270 or more while the bottom 10% earn $94,310, a gap of 3.4×. 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 94% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $219,880, and still leads at $203,742 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay investment fund managers 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 | $219,880 | $203,742 | 80,810 |
| 2Massachusetts | $206,760 | $195,505 | 26,150 |
| 3New Jersey | $199,110 | $182,997 | 32,510 |
| 4District of Columbia | $188,880 | $171,864 | 8,930 |
| 5Virginia | $185,220 | $183,197 | 20,850 |
| 6Colorado | $182,690 | $177,279 | 10,640 |
| 7Delaware | $181,580 | $181,929 | 2,810 |
| 8California | $180,770 | $163,268 | 93,310 |
| 9Washington | $174,840 | $163,382 | 12,930 |
| 10Connecticut | $174,830 | $168,739 | 20,040 |
Job outlook
Is investment fund manager a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +9.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Investment Fund Managers | +9.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Investment Fund Managers to change 9.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.8× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 84,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 65,600 openings are projected each year, 7.5% of the 879,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Services provided by financial managers, such as planning, directing, and coordinating investments, are likely to stay in demand as the economy grows. In addition, several specialties within financial management, such as cash management and risk management, are expected to be in high demand over the decade.
There has been an increased emphasis on risk management within the financial industry, and this trend is expected to continue. Banking institutions are expected to emphasize stability and managing risk over profits. This emphasis is expected to lead to employment growth for risk managers.
AI exposure: very high
BLS places this occupation in its very high relative AI exposure category, among the occupations most exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become an investment fund manager
Financial managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and 5 years or more of experience in another business or financial occupation, such as an accountant, securities sales agent, or financial analyst.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Extensive 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 investment fund managers.
- Master's Degree63.3%
- Bachelor's Degree32.7%
- Post-Master's Certificate2%
- First Professional Degree2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 63.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 32.7% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 2% |
| First Professional Degree | 2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an investment fund manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.
Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. They create financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor financial or operational performance of individual investments to ensure portfolios meet risk goals.
- Attend investment briefings or consult financial media to stay abreast of relevant investment markets.
- Present investment information, such as product risks, fees, or fund performance statistics.
- Develop or implement fund investment policies or strategies.
- Manage investment funds to maximize return on client investments.
- Perform or evaluate research, such as detailed company or industry analyses, to inform financial forecasting, decision making, or valuation.
- Develop, implement, or monitor security valuation policies.
- Prepare for and respond to regulatory inquiries.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most financial managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors 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
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. 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.
Where investment fund managers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Finance and insurance32%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services14%
- Management of companies and enterprises10%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals6%
- Manufacturing5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Finance and insurance | 32% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 10% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Writing3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Mathematics3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Mathematics | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Persuasion3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as an investment fund manager?
Women make up 53.7% of investment fund managers, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole.
25.4% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 44.6 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 53.7%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 44.6All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 25.4%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 1,431,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of investment fund managers | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 53.7% | 47.1% |
| White | 78.0% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 9.6% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 10.0% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.3% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 25.4% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 2.5% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an investment fund manager?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Investment Fund Manager |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 7 |
| 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.
- Enterprising7.0
- Conventional5.2
- Investigative3.8
- Social2.7
- Artistic1.6
- Realistic1.5
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 Fund Manager
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- 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
- Management
More management careers
Median annual pay, with investment fund managers highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Investment Fund Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Investment Fund Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within investment fund manager
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Investment Fund Manager appears on
Questions
Investment Fund Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do investment fund managers make?
Investment Fund Managers earn a median of $166,570 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 227% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $80.08/hr. The middle half earn between $125,490 and $219,980. The top 10% earn $323,270 or more.
How much do investment fund managers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for investment fund managers is $80.08 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $166,570 annual median works out to about $13,880 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for an investment fund manager?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of investment fund managers earn less than $94,310 a year and the bottom quarter less than $125,490 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do investment fund managers make $100k?
Yes, more often than not. The median is $166,570, so more than half of investment fund managers earn over $100,000 a year; even the 25th percentile is $125,490 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 51 states the median itself is above $100,000: New York ($219,880), Massachusetts ($206,760), New Jersey ($199,110), District of Columbia ($188,880), and 47 more.
Which states pay investment fund managers the most?
The highest state medians for Investment Fund Managers are New York ($219,880), Massachusetts ($206,760), New Jersey ($199,110) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of investment fund manager earns the most?
BLS does not split investment fund managers' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $323,270, against a median of $166,570 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are New York ($219,880), Massachusetts ($206,760), New Jersey ($199,110). Among the specialty careers inside this occupation, industry sources put typical pay at $2,100,000 for hedge fund portfolio managers (eFinancialCareers Compensation & Lifestyle Report, 2024); $1,111,000 for private equity partners (Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North America Private Equity Investment Professional Compensation Survey, 2024); $689,000 for private equity principals (Heidrick & Struggles 2025 North America Private Equity Investment Professional Compensation Survey, 2024). Those are not BLS figures.
Do you need a degree to become an investment fund manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Investment Fund Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as extensive preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 63.3% hold master's degree.
How long does it take to become an investment fund manager?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for investment fund managers is a bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation. O*NET classes the work as needing extensive preparation.
Is investment fund manager a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 9.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 65,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an investment fund manager do?
Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. A core O*NET task: monitor financial or operational performance of individual investments to ensure portfolios meet risk goals. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software.
Do investment fund managers work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 87% of investment fund managers usually work more than 40 hours a week, 13% work exactly 40 and 0% work fewer. 97% say their schedule is regular and 3% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits an investment fund manager?
O*NET scores Investment Fund Managers 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 the closest types are ESTJ, ENTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of investment fund managers are women?
Women make up 53.7% of investment fund managers, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole. 25.4% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 44.6 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.