10 of the Highest-Paying Finance Jobs in 2023
The finance industry is broad and encompasses everything from banking and investments to financial technology, or fintech, as it's commonly known. If you've been thinking about starting a career in finance, it'll be helpful to consider the different roles that are available.
In this article, we take a look at salaries in the finance industry, then 10 of the highest-paying jobs you can pursue as a career in the financial sector.
Related: What Do Finance Majors Do?
Salaries in the finance industry
Many jobs in the finance industry can prove highly lucrative for the job seeker, and the median salary for the industry as a whole is well above the national average. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics, careers in finance pay a median salary of $76,570 — 67% higher than the median salary for all occupations in the nation ($45,760).
The statistics bureau also projects average employment growth for the finance industry in the decade between 2021 and 2031, with approximately 980,200 openings each year during that time. As noted, within the sector, there are many paths you can pursue, from a corporate career to one in advising, fintech, banking and investments, accounting or lending.
Related: Is a Finance Degree Worth It?
Highest-paying finance jobs
Here are the best-paying finance jobs. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, visit indeed.com/salaries:
1. Financial adviser
National average salary: $75,003 per year
Primary duties: These are professionals who help customers identify short- and long-term financial goals and lead them to products that make sense. The duties of an insurance advisor include being knowledgeable of insurance products, working closely with underwriters and people in risk assessment and being a primary point of contact for clients.
Read more: Why Should I Be a Financial Adviser?
2. Senior accountant
National average salary: $78,341 per year
Primary duties: Senior accountants are usually at the top of an accounting hierarchy and are responsible for the day-to-day duties of accounting. They perform tasks like being accountable for sticking to budgets, meeting accounting goals and overseeing corporate expenditures.
National average salary: $84,509 per year
Primary duties: Investment bankers manage the portfolios of businesses and government agencies that invest in a number of different businesses. These professionals help clients raise and invest capital in a way intended to help the business achieve its financial growth goals.
Related: A Day in the Life of an Investment Banker
4. Hedge fund manager
National average salary: $86,544 per year
Primary duties: Hedge fund managers perform similar duties to investment bankers, but work with higher risk and reward portfolios for investors who pool their capital to make investments in hedge funds. Hedge fund managers must monitor markets to protect investors, and for that reason, they are awake early and leave the office late. Hedge fund investing is rarely a career with typical full-time hours.
Read more: How To Become a Hedge Fund Manager
5. Financial analyst
National average salary: $95,570 per year
Primary duties: Financial analysts comb through financial data to help business stakeholders make informed decisions about company finances. They work for financial institutions like banks, funds, insurance companies and more to support the buying decisions and needs of customers all over the country.
Read more: 16 Common Skills for Financial Analysts
6. Information technology auditor
National average salary: $98,026 per year
Primary duties: IT auditors usually work for government agencies or private companies to confirm the technology infrastructure meets compliance needs and other enterprise IT needs. They spend their days conducting audits and should be skilled at doing so, which sometimes requires certification.
Read more: What Is an IT Auditor?
7. Financial software developer
National average salary: $109,117 per year
Primary duties: Financial software developers work in the growing Fintech space, creating programs that meet the needs of financial institutions and end-users.
Related: 12 Finance Tech Jobs
8. Private equity associate
National average salary: $111,388 per year
Primary duties: These professionals network with investors to gain private equity they then apply to business investments that diversify the investors' portfolios.
Read more: How To Become a Private Equity Associate
9. Chief compliance officer
National average salary: $137,271 per year
Primary duties: Chief compliance officers oversee all duties and departments related to meeting requirements of compliance standards. CCOs deal with policy management and compliance monitoring to help businesses operate most efficiently and avoid non-compliance fees.
Read more: How To Become a Chief Compliance Officer
10. Chief financial officer
National average salary: $148,750 per year
Primary duties: The duties of a CFO are vast and include overseeing analysts and budgeting, making cost-related decisions about technology infrastructure and managing financial teams.
Related: COO vs. CFO: Definitions and Differences
