finance major

From business to banking, a finance major is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door of any major company. Beyond providing a solid foundation in financial principles, a finance major degree comes with valuable opportunities to network and launch your career. With your degree, you’ll be prepared for countless jobs in finance, such as accountant, loan officer, tax consultant, and financial advisor.

In this article on finance major careers, we will discuss the finer points of the finance major, finance studies, and different jobs in finance.

In addition to providing a list of careers in finance, we will also be answering questions such as:

  • What are the best colleges for economics and finance majors?
  • What are the requirements for a finance major?
  • What are the differences between the finance major and similar majors like business and accounting?
  • What entry level finance jobs can you get to prepare you for more advanced jobs in finance?
  • How can you leverage your finance major degree to get finance major careers?

Choosing the best major for you is an important decision. However, one way to decide if a major suits you is by looking at the careers within that field. Of course, you’ll also want to consider the courses and subject matter, making sure that they are of interest to you. Now, first things first, let’s dive into the finance major itself. 

Majoring in Finance

If you are considering a finance major, chances are you have your eye on a few jobs in finance–and for good reason. Generally speaking, jobs in finance have high earning potential and plenty of room for career growth. However, your path to these jobs will be easier if you first acquire a finance degree. Indeed, a finance major is an excellent stepping stone towards top finance major jobs, such as the ones on this list from U.S. News, along with careers in a variety of other industries.

The knowledge and skills acquired while earning a finance major are sought after by many companies, affording students plenty of job opportunities after graduating. After all, every company, no matter the industry, relies on people to manage their money and ensure the safety and security of their investments. Individuals also rely on financial advisors to help them navigate the complexities of the stock market and money management. Whether you work for a major financial services corporation, a company in a different industry, or as an independent financial advisor, there are many avenues to a career in finance.

What to expect from a finance major

In short, a finance major studies the management of money. Courses will center around financial planning, banking, and investing. Additionally, students will develop other practical skills such as problem solving and communication. If you can tackle this intricate and nuanced major, then plenty of finance major careers will become available to you.

Students who pursue any kind of finance major should expect to learn analytical and quantitative skills, particularly statistics and economic modeling. These courses are typically entry level and are taken within the first year or two years of enrollment in a finance program.

Knowledge of current financial laws is also a vital component of any finance major, especially for students going into the fields of accounting, auditing, or monetary compliance. Students will also take some courses in business management, banking, and economics depending on which specific finance major jobs they are interested in. 

Exploring finance-related majors

It’s also important to understand that not all finance majors are the same. In fact, many schools offer specialized tracks for finance studies that may not necessarily be deemed a finance major. For instance, majors such as accounting, actuarial studies, economics, and business management are all related to finance majors.

Academically, the finance major is very similar to other top 10 college majors, such as business or economics. However, unlike business or economics, the finance major is more specialized, offering students specific knowledge about financial markets and money management, which is needed for most finance major jobs.

While finance majors may take many courses alongside business majors or economics majors, the finance major track goes deeper into subjects like accounting, venture capital, and financial compliance than either of those tracks do. Graduates with a business major degree and a finance major degree will likely be competing for the same entry level finance jobs, as the coursework in both degree programs will prepare students for similar jobs in finance. Similarly, many of the best colleges for economics also have robust finance programs, such as the ones on U.S. News’ Top Colleges list. 

Accounting majors study financial regulations and how to ethically deal with financial transactions, which is useful for many jobs in finance. And, even though business and economics are more broad than finance majors, they both incorporate financial topics like money management and understanding the economy. Since you’ll still be learning core financial concepts, any of these related majors can help prepare you for top jobs in finance.

What is a Degree in Finance?

finance major

A degree in finance can have many names. But, whether your program is a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A), or Bachelor of Science in Business (B.S.B.), there are some common threads that unite all financial courses.

In order to obtain a finance major degree, you must complete the required finance studies courses at your institution. These include many of the classes listed in the previous section, along with courses in money management, financial regulation, accounting, and more. Courses in a finance major begin by introducing students to theories and economic models. Later on, the courses in a finance major tend to be more practical and hands-on.

Students who are wondering, “Is finance a good major?” should explore finance major colleges and universities in their areas of interest. Not all finance major colleges are the same, and you should investigate which pathways will put you on track for the finance major jobs you want.

For instance, a B.S. program like the one at Boston College allows students to take more rigorous coursework in finance and take on a concentration on top of that. A B.B.A. program like the one at UT Austin provides a more general overview of business practices–finance studies is a smaller part of a larger business curriculum. Finally, a B.S. in Business Administration program like the one at UNC Chapel Hill will include more mathematical and quantitative classes, perfect for someone who wants to go into accounting or statistics.

There are a variety of pathways to a financial degree and each one has its own benefits. The best plan for you will depend on the financial career you are interested in pursuing!

What do you study in a finance major

Some of the courses that all finance majors will take regardless of the program include:

  • Financial Accounting and Reporting
  • Managerial Finance
  • Investment Analysis
  • Corporate Finance

In accounting classes, finance majors learn how to keep business records and manage financial accounts for either individuals or corporations. Investment analysis involves studying markets and using data to predict whether certain stocks will go up or down. Corporate finance is an essential skill for those looking to work for large companies, as handling their financial transactions and investments will be a large part of the job. In summary, these core finance studies courses seek to prepare students for most finance major careers.

Additionally, most core finance courses help students develop analytical skills, quantitative reasoning, and problem solving. These are not only useful life skills, but skills that students will use once they enter into jobs in finance. Finance courses also train students in understanding financial laws and regulations. This is vital as compliance with these regulations is a major part of most jobs in finance. Introductory economics, statistics, and business courses are also common parts of most finance major curriculum.

For more information about the core curriculum for a finance major, you can consult school-specific websites like this one from Ohio State University or this one from the University of Texas. Exact courses will vary depending on the university, so you’ll want to do some research into the best programs for you and your goals. 

Finance Major Concentrations 

Beyond these requirements, many of the best colleges for economics and finance offer concentrations in specific areas within the finance major that students can pursue. Think of these concentrations like minors: they supplement the finance studies courses being taken within the major and build on the general knowledge gained in those more common courses.

These concentrations allow students in a finance major degree program to gain expertise in a particular subfield within finance. Some finance major jobs require experience with niche topics like international trade or hedge fund management, which are covered in some finance concentrations. Students interested in a finance major should look into the concentrations offered at their schools of interest to see if their offerings line up with their career and academic goals.

For example, at the University of Michigan, students can choose to take a concentration in either Financial Management or Financial Services. Both serve as excellent qualifications to enter the banking or financial advising industries. Fordham University offers several concentrations including Fintech, Global Finance, Credit, and Value Investing. Students interested in learning what is fintech or exploring the world of international finance might consider looking into one of these concentrations.

Finance Major Requirements

finance major

Once you have decided to pursue a finance major, you will need to complete the major requirements for your school. Each finance major degree has its own requirements, so be sure to check your school’s course list carefully so you know what you need to take.

It may also be helpful to consult the degree requirements for the list of careers in finance you are interested in to make sure your degree is well suited to employment in those specific jobs in finance. Most finance majors contain several required courses and several electives that students can choose depending on their specific pathway within the finance major.

Ultimately, choosing a concentration within a finance major really depends on what kind of financial career you might want to pursue. Before looking at specific concentrations, you must first ask, “Is finance a good major for you?” After you have made this determination, think about what jobs in finance you are most interested in after you graduate with your finance major. Once you have decided that a career in finance is right for you, you can choose which degree pathway you want to pursue. Most jobs in finance require only a bachelor’s degree in finance, but an additional credential obtained through a concentration or minor can be beneficial in a competitive job market.

Elective courses

In addition to the core curriculum and concentration specific courses, students in a finance major will also enroll in elective courses. These elective courses are more flexible and allow students to explore questions like “what is fintech?” and “what areas of finance do I want to learn more about?” A lot of these elective courses provide practical experience and allow students to do the work of entry level finance jobs while they are still in college.

Other electives allow students in the finance major to take related classes in other departments, like economics and mathematics, to supplement their finance major. You can see examples of elective classes by checking out college websites like those from Indiana University or Rutgers University.

Is Finance a Hard Major?

Before entering into a finance major, students often wonder, “Is finance a good major?” and “Is finance a hard major?” The answers to both these questions greatly depend on the student. For example, if you love math and planning your budget, then that’s a great starting point to explore the finance major and career options. On the other hand, if managing money overwhelms you, you might look for other majors.

Indeed, there are challenges to completing a finance major. Courses center around statistics, economics, and financial regulations. But if you are determined and interested in the subject matter, you can overcome these challenges with guidance and persistence. Of course, any of the top 10 college majors will have their own unique challenges, and finance is no exception. 

Finance major skills

The finance major requires significant quantitative reasoning skills. And, students must have a strong math proficiency in order to succeed. This does not necessarily mean you have to earn all A’s in your high school math classes to prepare for a finance major, but it does help to have a passion and interest in math.

In addition to the mathematical foundations, finance major careers require students to manage large amounts of money and track global trends within a complex and changing stock market. This requires knowledge of economic principles as well as an ability to interpret financial models and theoretical occurrences. Because the stakes in finance are so high, and financial advisors are in charge of managing large sums of money, those with jobs in finance must be carefully trained in how to understand financial trends.

With this in mind, whether a finance major is difficult or not depends almost entirely on how much passion and interest you have in the subject matter. If you are not excited by math or are nervous when the topic of money comes up in conversation, chances are that a finance major will be an extremely challenging major for you. On the other hand, your personal strengths can help make challenging material easier to understand. If you have strong problem solving skills and good mathematical knowledge, you can likely work out solutions to problems that may arise in your upper level finance major courses. 

Accounting vs. Finance Major

finance major

The most common major that is most similar to a finance major degree is accounting. Both the finance major and the accounting major deal specifically with money management either for individuals or for large corporations. Both require similar courses in statistics, financial markets, and asset management.

However, most jobs in finance deal with investing and managing a company’s financial resources, ensuring that the company can make steady profits while meeting their financial goals. This means that finance major jobs are more forward-thinking and require employees to understand the trends of the market, adjusting the company’s financial strategy accordingly. Accountants on the other hand, deal with tracking and analysis of a company’s finances, monitoring spending and ensuring compliance with tax codes and financial regulations.

This means that students who pursue an accounting degree will be well prepared for jobs in corporate accounting, tax auditing, risk management, and fiscal responsibility. To prepare for these jobs, accounting majors will take courses in subjects like cost management, accounting theory, tax assessment, and auditing during their undergraduate degree. Finance majors will often take courses in banking, financial analysis, portfolio management, and investment. Accounting majors may also need to obtain a CPA (Certified Personal Accountant) certification in addition to their degree. In contrast, finance majors do not need this additional credential.

In summary, the accounting major is more specific than a general finance major. While the coursework across both disciplines is very similar, the finance major degree focuses more on managing assets than categorizing and tracking them.    

Is Finance a Good Major?

The question “is finance a good major?” is one that has many different possible answers. A more pertinent question to ask if you are thinking about pursuing a finance major degree is whether finance is a good major for you!

Most finance major jobs require at least an undergraduate degree, preferably in finance, business, or economics. So, if you are looking into finance major careers, then chances are a finance major will be a very good decision for you. You can look up lists of jobs in finance using websites like this one from Handshake, which has a list of careers in finance you might be interested in.

Finance major jobs and salaries

A finance major is also good for someone who wants to enter a growing industry where jobs will continue to be plentiful in the years to come. The financial services industry is a crucial part of the operations of any company. Therefore, we can expect demand for these jobs in finance to continue to grow over the next several years.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the financial sector are expected to grow between 2023 and 2033, especially in emerging sectors like fintech and artificial intelligence. Wondering, “What is fintech?” Check out this article for more information on this emerging industry. 

As we have seen, finance major jobs are plentiful, but they are also high paying. Finance major jobs are some of the most lucrative positions in the corporate world because of how important they are for any company. According to All Business Schools, finance major jobs pay anywhere from $80,000-$150,000 per year. While these numbers do vary based on where you live and how many years of experience you have with certain jobs in finance, they represent some of the highest paid positions in the country. 

So, if earning potential and career expansion are high on your priority list then finance could be the major for you! Of course, don’t get carried away by the salary alone. You want to choose a major and career that excites and interests you. Otherwise, you risk burning out early on. Consider all factors when deciding if a finance major is right for you. Make sure the subject matter truly interests you!

Best Colleges for Finance Majors

Up to now, we’ve explained the basics of the finance major and what it entails. Now that we’ve discussed the finance major degree, let’s look at the 10 best colleges for economics and finance majors. These are based on the U.S. News finance major colleges list, ranked by the quality of their finance major offerings.

10 Best Colleges for Finance Majors

finance major
  1. University of Pennsylvania

With its world-renowned Wharton School of Business, the top school on this list is UPenn. Wharton offers a finance concentration for undergraduates, which prepares students for jobs in finance such as asset management and investment banking.

2. New York University

NYU’s Stern School of Business is another world leader in finance studies. NYU finance majors are on track for prestigious finance jobs all over the world; degree offerings range from bachelor’s to doctorate degrees.

finance major
finance major

3. The University of Texas–Austin

UT Austin’s finance major is a specialty under its Bachelor’s of Business Administration program. It even offers a track in energy finance, law, and science for those who want to tackle intersectional issues. Especially in a resource-rich state like Texas, this major track has clear real-world applications.

4. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Michigan Ross, UM Ann Arbor’s business school, offers a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. While there is no finance specialization, fundamentals of finance studies are covered in the BBA coursework.

finance major
finance major

5. University of California, Berkeley

UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business has a world-famous finance program. Like UMich Ann Arbor, UC Berkeley awards bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, rather than having a finance major degree. Their finance group is more active with graduate and doctoral students, but the undergraduate major program still involves finance coursework.

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

You’ve probably heard MIT is a global leader in engineering and the sciences; it’s no surprise it’s also a finance powerhouse, too. The MIT Sloan School of Management’s Bachelor of Science in Finance includes a broad range of required courses.

finance major
finance major

7. Boston College

At Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, undergraduates can choose the finance concentration. This Jesuit college encourages students to study abroad to gain a global perspective on their studies.

8. Carnegie Mellon University

CMU’s globally recognized computer science department partners with the Tepper School of Business to offer undergraduate degrees in computational finance. While you can also undertake a finance concentration within the business major, computational finance provides another option for more analytical students.

finance major
finance major

9. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

At UNC Chapel Hill, undergraduate students can major in business with up to two areas of emphasis. If you’re interested in finance as well as topics like sustainability or healthcare, this is a great option.

10. Indiana University–Bloomington

At number 10 we have Indiana University–Bloomington, which offers a full finance major degree, not just a concentration. Many IU finance majors also major in accounting, and their policies are made to enable flexibility in double majoring.

finance major

When it comes to finance, the quality of your education is as important as the resources of your university. As some of the best schools to get a finance major degree, it’s no surprise that the above schools also have strong networks in finance. World-class faculty, industry connections, strong alumni networks, and peer groups all help students build valuable connections. These connections are essential for securing internships and opportunities to help jumpstart your career.

Other options for a career in finance

It goes without saying that many of the best colleges for economics and business are also the best for finance studies. Even though Harvard isn’t on this list, a Harvard economics degree will make you highly competitive for any finance job. And remember that jobs in finance don’t always require a finance major degree, just an economics background. While finance major programs are great, more general business or economics programs can give you a wider view of the field.

We’ll cover earning potential later, but a rule of thumb is that higher degrees often lead to higher salaries. If you can’t get a finance major degree or specialization as an undergraduate, consider specializing in finance in graduate school. You may be able to get an MBA with a concentration in finance to support your career goals. A finance major degree can open many doors, no matter when you get it.

Choosing the best college for you

When building your college list, there are a variety of factors to consider, such as location, cost, and alignment with your goals. If your goals include jobs in finance, you’ll want to narrow down your criteria accordingly.

Early relationships help kickstart finance major careers, and landing finance major jobs is often preceded by internships at those companies. Therefore, you should look closely at the location of finance major colleges on your list. Are they in or near financial hubs where you could do internships?

In a similar vein, the reputation of a program is another important consideration. A strong finance major program will have a strong alumni network and industry connections. When you’re researching jobs in finance as graduation nears, these resources will be invaluable. Speaking of resources, you should investigate career services and networking opportunities at your chosen finance major colleges. How do they support students embarking on finance major careers?

Are you already considering certain jobs in finance? That will make it easier to evaluate the specializations and courses around the finance major. Finance major jobs in certain sectors may require basic knowledge or skills that are covered in electives or specialty tracks. Do some research on the typical entry level finance jobs in your field of interest. For instance, if you’re considering jobs in finance and technology, skip schools that only have one “What is Fintech?” elective.

Finally, you should think about the curriculum, degree requirements and flexibility. If you have college goals beyond preparing for finance major jobs, you may need options. Check college registrar pages for degree requirements, study abroad options, and double major and minor policies. You don’t want to get locked into just finance major requirements if you want to double major in art or physics.

Finance Major Jobs

finance major

Finance is a broad field–after all, finance touches nearly every aspect of modern life. This means finance major jobs and finance major careers as a whole cover a wide swath of areas. There are of course jobs that are very clearly connected to finance, like accountant or banker. But other jobs, like sales and relationship management, are also available in the field. 

Generally speaking, there are several subsections of finance major jobs. While some won’t neatly fit into these categories, the majority can be sorted by this list of careers in finance. Here are eight major types of finance jobs, along with some examples of employers and positions in the sector:

8 Types of Finance Jobs

Corporate and Public Finance

This is a general term for finance jobs in public and private entities. These range from payroll at the IRS to investment and investor relations management at a non-profit. 

Banking

These include jobs with banking institutions such as credit unions as well as banking regulatory agencies such as the Federal Reserve. These finance major jobs can involve risk assessment, loan management, and more.

Insurance

Companies that sell insurance and banking institutions are the main employers in this space. They insure essentials from teeth to tailpipes. Insurance jobs in finance include underwriting, sales, and loss control, among others.

Personal Financial Planning

These finance major jobs can involve large brokerage firms all the way down to solo financial advisors. Depending on your employment situation, you may have a specialized role or do everything from sales to everyday advising.

Real Estate

The major players here are often real estate brokers, land developers, and real estate departments of banks and corporations. Finance major careers in real estate may range from appraisals to portfolio and property management.

Investment Banking

There’s a wide variety of positions in this category, with hyper analytical quantitative analysts, suave traders, and more. In addition to investment banks, insurance firms and financial services firms are also active in this area.

Money Management

This industry typically requires years of experience, as you’ll be conducting research and/or managing portfolios or hedge funds. Banks big and small, as well as portfolio management firms, provide many finance major jobs here. It’s not uncommon for people to enter money management roles several years into their career.

Accounting

Is finance a good major? Ask the person with a competent accountant, and they’ll probably give you a resounding “yes.” Accounting is necessary across all types of enterprises; private and public, self-owned and multinational. If you can think of an industry, they probably have accountants somewhere.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of jobs in finance. Indeed, a comprehensive list of careers in finance would probably be as long as you are tall. Moreover, finance major careers may touch on more than one of these categories over time. Many skills gained at one position are transferable to others, so don’t feel like you’re restricted by your finance major degree.

In fact, many careers in finance involve jobs in more than one of the categories above. When a good opportunity arises, or when one sector shows a downward trend, it’s only sensible to take a better deal. Especially today, when it’s common to change jobs and fields often, it’s important to stay open-minded in your career planning.

What does a Finance Major do?

So you’ve graduated from your finance major program and you’re at your first job. What are you doing? Well, finance major jobs vary widely, but there are a few things that are common to many of them. 

Numerous jobs in finance revolve around data analysis. Keeping track of financial data and market trends is crucial to finance major jobs in a variety of fields. Similarly, preparing financial reports is another common theme among jobs in finance. You may be forecasting a bullish week for tech stocks or reporting on a client’s personal spending. Finance studies is about not just analyzing data, but communicating that data and acting on it.

What kind of actions will you take? Analyses usually have some takeaway, like investment recommendations for clients or direction for managing a client portfolio. If you’re self-employed, you may be doing all of these things to some degree. On the other hand, finance majors who end up at larger companies may have just one responsibility.

Many jobs in finance also relate to risk: risk management, risk assessment, risk mitigation. From loans to credit to investment, putting money anywhere involves risk. Consequently, millions of finance major jobs across the globe monitor and advise on risks. 

Exploring jobs in finance–their responsibilities, daily tasks, and value–can help you decide what you want to try. In the end, doing research up front can help make it easier for you to choose finance major colleges. Once you’re in college, take internship and shadowing opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the fields you’re interested in pursuing.

Top 10 Jobs in Finance

There are innumerable finance major jobs out there, so to make it easy for you, here’s a list of the top 10 jobs in finance. Are any of them on your radar? While we offer general overviews here, remember that your daily responsibilities will depend on your industry, workplace, and more. While a job title may be just right for you at one company, it may be a non-starter at another.

This is a list of common job titles, meaning that a functionally identical position may be called something slightly different. But numerous finance jobs, especially entry level finance jobs, are some variation of one of these ten.

Top 10 Finance Jobs

finance major

Financial Analyst

Exactly what it says in the title, financial analysts research and analyze financial data. This is a wide-reaching position that can be for global stock markets or for lone industries.

Personal Financial Adviser

Advisers work one-on-one with clients to assess their finances and help them make decisions about their money. Goals such as paying for college or saving for retirement are common reasons for working with one.

Budget Analyst

Another self explanatory job, budget analysts review budgets for entities and organizations. They may analyze trends in budgets from past years, compare competitors, and offer advice or direction based on their findings. Any organization that needs a budget, whether that’s a university or a government agency, will need budget analysts.

Loan Officer

Loan officers evaluate loan applications from people or businesses. They have to review documents and data from the applicant in order to assess the risk of loaning money to them. Loan officers require licensing in particular industries, so factor that into your career trajectory.

Accountant

Accountants help people and businesses track income and expenses, whether that’s from business purchases, travel, or taxes. Because most accountants must hold some license or certificate, many universities that offer accounting offer support for certification.

Credit Analyst

Credit analysts evaluate credit worthiness of current and potential clients, such as those for a credit card company or loan servicer. Like loan officers, they must review documents and data to assess the risk of individuals and entities.

Insurance Underwriter

If you’ve ever heard of someone’s car insurance costing more after an accident, that’s an insurance underwriter at work. Underwriters assess and analyze the risk of providing insurance to a person or business, thereby setting prices.

Cost Estimator

This title often applies to construction and manufacturing, where various factors influence a project’s final cost. They analyze market conditions, materials, complexity, and other factors to forecast timelines and costs. They may also continuously work on projects to update those projections.

Financial Examiner

With thousands of rules and regulations governing financial transactions, designated financial examiners are needed to ensure compliance. They review business documents and prepare reports assessing compliance and safety. They may be employed by regulatory agencies to audit companies, or they may work within companies themselves.

Investment Banking Analyst

These types of analysts work with data on financial markets, investment portfolios, and more to assess investment risks and guide financial decisions.

You’re probably aware that there are big developments in finance these days, and new companies are popping up every day. What is fungibility? What is fintech? In the near future, top jobs in finance will leverage today’s emerging technologies. Your future career–or the startup where you land your first job–may not even exist yet. Keep your options open when thinking about jobs, since the business of finance is changing faster than ever.

One thing that doesn’t change, however, is the perception of finance as a high-paying field. Is finance a good major if you’re looking to hit it big? Let’s take a closer look at earning potential for finance majors.

How much do finance majors make?

It’s no secret that many jobs in finance pay well; it’s one of the main reasons why finance consistently ranks among the top 10 college majors. We’ve all heard of executives kicking back in their corner office, raking in seven figures per year. Any list of careers in finance will probably posit high average salaries and earning potential as a big benefit. But is it really true? Well, on average, yes.

The long-term earning potential for finance majors is incredibly high. The median salary for business and financial occupations was $79,050 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s over 30% higher than the $48,060 median salary for all jobs. As for top executives in the field, the median pay is $103,840 per year overall. But for chief executives, that number is an eye popping $206,680. It’s clear that there’s lots of money to be made in finance major careers, especially in the C-suite.

Here’s a table of median salaries for business and financial occupations, also from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data is current as of May 2023, and may have changed since then.

Median Salaries for Finance Careers

Job Title2023 Median Pay
Financial Analyst$99,890
Personal Financial Adviser$99,580
Budget Analyst$84,940
Loan Officer$69,990
Accountant$79,880
Credit Analyst$79,420
Insurance Underwriter$77,860
Cost Estimator$74,740
Financial Examiner $84,300
Investment Banking Analyst$118,200

As mentioned above, there are plenty of jobs in finance that are just emerging or don’t exist yet. However, if they follow the trend of other finance major jobs, they’ll likely earn a lot.

As you explore different jobs in finance, you should always do your own research to get the latest facts and figures. After all, averages are just that: averages. The most important number for you will be the actual salary for the job you get. For more facts and figures on salaries for less common jobs in finance not mentioned above, check the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

10 Exciting Careers for Finance Majors – Takeaways

In this article, we discussed the finance major and 10 interesting finance major jobs for you to consider. We talked about a number of sectors and fields that hire finance major graduates, along with popular finance major careers and trajectories.

We also asked, “is finance a hard major?” Like many things, it’s down to your compatibility with the material. Is finance a good major? That’s also up to you; if the jobs in finance we discussed seem interesting, maybe finance studies is for you.

It’s clear to see why finance and business in general are among the top 10 college majors every year. With a wide variety of working environments and high earning potential even for certain entry level finance jobs, there’s something for everyone. If you’re more excited to answer an overheard “What is fintech, anyway?” than to write Excel macros, there’s a job out there for you.

Do your research

The field of finance is far-reaching and constantly developing, with new technologies creating jobs and companies unimaginable just a decade ago. As a result, it’s more important than ever to conduct plenty of research to stay informed of the latest trends and developments. Finance major careers already look rather different now than they did in past years. Who can imagine how the sector will look in the coming decades?

Whether you’re even more interested in finance studies or are now crossing out finance major schools on your list, CollegeAdvisor can help. We have a plethora of resources to aid you in your college search and application process. If you’re looking for personalized support, don’t hesitate to reach out. We can help you find and apply to the best colleges to jumpstart your finance career, whatever that might be!

finance major

This article was written by Alex Baggott-Rowe and Gina Goosby. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.