Do finance majors pay well?
Salaries in the finance industry
As of Apr 20, 2024, the average annual pay for the Finance Degree jobs category in California is $99,199 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $47.69 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,907/week or $8,266/month.
Finance roles that typically pay the most include positions such as investment banking managing directors, hedge fund managers, or private equity partners. Chief financial officers (CFOs) of large corporations are also highly paid positions.
Finance can be a fiercely competitive field. It's a famously high-paying industry known to deal out six or seven figures in salaries and bonuses for those at the top. Even those on the bottom rung can expect to start at a good wage compared with other fields.
Finance degree jobs can provide relatively high pay, stability, opportunities for advancement and consistent demand projections. Careers in finance may also offer flexibility for employees by allowing them to work remotely or in hybrid environments.
Engineering is the highest-paying college major, with graduates making $65,000-$80,000 immediately after college. Jane Nam is a staff writer for BestColleges' Data Center.
- Chief financial officer (CFO)
- Investment banking.
- Hedge fund manager.
- Private equity associate.
- Actuary.
Finance is a somewhat difficult major. The difficulty with finance comes down to its concepts that students would not have experienced before in their lives, the financial lingo in the field, and the concentration of math in the subject.
It's normal to have these thoughts and it's good to ask these kind of questions before you get into it. Believe it or not, mastery of advanced math skills is not necessary to have a career in finance. With today's technology, all math-related tasks can be done by computers and calculators.
Financial careers often involve high barriers to entry, stiff competition among applicants, and a lot of stress. Still, these jobs offer numerous perks, including a challenging work environment, interaction with highly motivated and intelligent colleagues, opportunities for advancement, and excellent pay.
Does finance pay more than accounting?
Both finance and accounting degrees offer a range of well-paying job prospects. That said, the average starting salary is slightly higher for finance vs accounting degrees.
- Financial analyst. A financial analyst — sometimes called a business analyst — uses financial data to guide business decisions. ...
- Personal financial adviser. ...
- Accountant. ...
- Loan officer. ...
- Insurance sales agent. ...
- Budget analyst. ...
- Auditor. ...
- Tax specialist.
1. | Chemical engineering | $133K |
---|---|---|
2. | Computer engineering | $125K |
3. | Aerospace engineering | $120K |
4. | Electrical engineering | $112K |
5. | Mechanical engineering | $111K |
Cons of getting a finance degree
Long hours: Many finance jobs require long hours, particularly in investment banking and other high-pressure roles. Stressful work environment: The finance industry can be stressful, particularly during economic uncertainty or market volatility.
While finance requires some mathematics training and some knowledge and skills in accounting and economics, it's not necessarily more difficult than any other field of study, particularly for people with an aptitude for math.
A finance degree might be more suitable if you are interested in managing investments, financial planning, or business finance. An economics degree might be more appropriate if you are engaged in economic research, policy analysis, or public service. Ultimately, the decision is yours.
More than half (58 percent) were concentrated in these six fields of study: business (391,400 degrees, or 19 percent); health professions and related programs (268,000 degrees, or 13 percent); social sciences and history (160,800 degrees, or 8 percent);
- Mathematics and Statistics. ...
- Nursing. ...
- Medical Assisting. ...
- Information Technology. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Hospitality. ...
- Engineering. ...
- Architecture.
Job Title | Average Annual Salary (INR)* |
---|---|
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | ₹3.2 Crore |
Pilots | ₹60 L to 1 Crore |
Doctors | ₹1-2 Crores |
Investment Banker | ₹24 L |
1. Investment Banker. Roles in investing banking are highly sought after. For investment bankers, it's often a higher competition to land a role in one of the largest firms.
What is the most common job in finance?
- Accountants and Auditors. Average annual salary: $83,980. ...
- Financial Manager and Controller. Average salary: $153,460. ...
- Financial Analyst. Average salary: $103,020. ...
- Budget Analyst. ...
- Chief Financial Officer. ...
- Financial Advisers. ...
- Portfolio Manager. ...
- Financial Software Developer.
Finance professionals are often responsible for managing large amounts of money, making critical decisions that can have significant financial impact. Additionally, the finance industry can be very competitive, and those with specialized skills and knowledge are often in high demand.
Finance degrees are generally considered to be challenging. In a program like this, students gain exposure to new concepts, from financial lingo to mathematical problems, so there can be a learning curve.
- Business. Interested in an easy major with many career options? ...
- Communications. As a communications major, you'll study mass media, public relations, and journalism. ...
- Criminal Justice. ...
- Education. ...
- English. ...
- General Studies. ...
- Health Science. ...
- Liberal Arts.
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) ...
- Bachelor of Arts in Marketing. ...
- Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship. ...
- Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management. ...
- Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management.