Career HoundFinance Manager - Technology M&A IntegrationMcKesson · Alpharetta, Georgia, United States · Hybrid
Sign in to view Senior$102,800–$171,300 YEARDirect company source
These are selected finance careers, not an exhaustive ranking of the highest-paying finance jobs. The US sample includes on-site, hybrid and remote roles; it is matched by job title and is not filtered by salary.
Career information reviewed . Employer openings use a separate feed check below.
Compare 7 finance careers
BLS figures are US occupational median annual wages from May 2025. Robert Half figures are projected 2027 US starting-salary midpoints. They cover different populations and are not directly comparable rankings, starting-pay guarantees or individual job offers.
| Career | Pay evidence | Entry route to check |
|---|---|---|
| Finance manager | $166,570 a year BLS US median for the broad financial managers occupation, May 2025; not a specialty-specific starting salary. BLS financial manager pay and entry requirements | BLS says financial managers typically need a bachelor's degree and five years or more of experience in a related business or financial occupation. Check the requirements for each employer. |
| Financial analyst | $103,570 a year BLS US median for the broader financial analysts group, May 2025, including financial risk specialists; not a corporate-analyst-specific median. BLS financial analyst pay | BLS says financial analysts typically need a bachelor's degree. Look for the modeling, reporting and industry experience requested in each posting. |
| Investment banking analyst | Compare employer ranges No investment-banking-analyst-specific national median is claimed here. Compare base pay and bonus separately. | Read employer requirements for financial modeling, accounting and relevant experience. Investment banking roles may require securities registration depending on the work. |
| Treasury manager | $123,750 a year Robert Half projected US starting-salary midpoint for 2027; not a national median or guaranteed offer. Robert Half treasury manager salary guide | Compare postings for experience with cash management, treasury systems, banking and financial reporting. Some employers request treasury credentials. |
| Financial advisor | $105,070 a year BLS US median for personal financial advisors, May 2025; individual advisor roles can have different compensation structures. BLS personal financial advisor pay | BLS says personal financial advisors typically need a bachelor's degree. Licensing and registration depend on the products and services offered; check the employer's requirements. |
| Financial risk analyst | $117,330 a year BLS US median for financial risk specialists, May 2025; not a guarantee for any particular posting. BLS financial risk specialist pay | BLS describes financial risk specialists as financial analysts and says analysts typically need a bachelor's degree. Check the specific risk, tools and experience an employer requests. |
| Financial planning and analysis manager | Compare employer ranges No FP&A-manager-specific national median is claimed here. Review advertised salary, bonus and location. | Employers may seek experience in forecasting, financial modeling, accounting and communicating results. Check the education and management requirements in each posting. |
Finance careers and jobs that pay well
Finance spans corporate planning, investments, treasury and advice. Some careers serve companies; others work with individual clients or transactions. Compare the work, required experience and compensation structure before choosing a path.
1. Finance manager
Oversee financial planning, reports or controls and help leaders make business decisions. Responsibilities differ by organization and may include budgets, forecasts and team management.
Pay: $166,570 a year. BLS US median for the broad financial managers occupation, May 2025; not a specialty-specific starting salary.
Getting in: BLS says financial managers typically need a bachelor's degree and five years or more of experience in a related business or financial occupation. Check the requirements for each employer.
Before you apply: Ask about close and budget cycles, people management, business travel and whether the role supports a corporate team or another finance function.
Sources: BLS financial managers
2. Financial analyst
Analyze financial data, develop forecasts or assess investment and business performance. A corporate financial analyst and an investment analyst can have different responsibilities.
Pay: $103,570 a year. BLS US median for the broader financial analysts group, May 2025, including financial risk specialists; not a corporate-analyst-specific median.
Getting in: BLS says financial analysts typically need a bachelor's degree. Look for the modeling, reporting and industry experience requested in each posting.
Before you apply: Check whether the work supports corporate budgeting, investments or another team, and what the busiest reporting periods look like.
Sources: BLS financial analysts
3. Investment banking analyst
Support transactions such as capital raising or mergers and acquisitions through financial analysis, research, presentations and deal preparation.
Pay: Compare employer ranges. No investment-banking-analyst-specific national median is claimed here. Compare base pay and bonus separately.
Getting in: Read employer requirements for financial modeling, accounting and relevant experience. Investment banking roles may require securities registration depending on the work.
Before you apply: Ask about transaction deadlines, expected hours, travel and how compensation is split between base pay and bonus.
4. Treasury manager
Manage aspects of a company's cash, liquidity, banking relationships or funding. The scope can include cash forecasting and financial risk controls.
Pay: $123,750 a year. Robert Half projected US starting-salary midpoint for 2027; not a national median or guaranteed offer.
Getting in: Compare postings for experience with cash management, treasury systems, banking and financial reporting. Some employers request treasury credentials.
Before you apply: Clarify responsibility for cash operations, financing and the timing of daily or month-end work.
Sources: Robert Half treasury manager guide
5. Financial advisor
Help clients consider financial goals, investments, insurance or retirement planning. A particular job may combine advice, client service and sales.
Pay: $105,070 a year. BLS US median for personal financial advisors, May 2025; individual advisor roles can have different compensation structures.
Getting in: BLS says personal financial advisors typically need a bachelor's degree. Licensing and registration depend on the products and services offered; check the employer's requirements.
Before you apply: Ask how clients are acquired, whether evening appointments are expected and how salary, commissions and client assets affect pay.
Sources: BLS personal financial advisors
6. Financial risk analyst
Assess exposure to financial risks such as credit or market risk, using data and models to help organizations monitor potential losses.
Pay: $117,330 a year. BLS US median for financial risk specialists, May 2025; not a guarantee for any particular posting.
Getting in: BLS describes financial risk specialists as financial analysts and says analysts typically need a bachelor's degree. Check the specific risk, tools and experience an employer requests.
Before you apply: Check which risks and regulations the team handles, how models are reviewed and how the role works with compliance and business teams.
Sources: BLS financial risk specialists
7. Financial planning and analysis manager
Lead financial planning and analysis, including budgets, forecasts and explanations of business performance. The role often partners with operational leaders.
Pay: Compare employer ranges. No FP&A-manager-specific national median is claimed here. Review advertised salary, bonus and location.
Getting in: Employers may seek experience in forecasting, financial modeling, accounting and communicating results. Check the education and management requirements in each posting.
Before you apply: Ask about forecast cycles, reporting deadlines, team size and whether the role owns planning or provides analysis to another team.
Sources: Robert Half finance role overview
A sample of current finance openings
Search for finance manager jobs, financial analyst jobs, investment banking analyst jobs, treasury manager jobs, financial advisor jobs, financial risk analyst jobs, financial planning and analysis manager jobs. Use the full title and its aliases when searching.
This sample draws from up to 100 recent US records matching these title families. We remove expired, unrelated and duplicate records, check employer source links, then select up to five openings from different employers. Some careers may not appear in this small sample.
- Validated openings in this selection
- 61
- Distinct employers in this selection
- 52
How to compare high-paying finance jobs
Compare the work and compensation, not only a headline number. Investment banking, corporate finance and client advice can differ in hours, incentive pay, regulatory requirements and advancement. Ask for the base salary, bonus or commission terms, benefits and expected schedule.
A national median describes workers across experience levels; a projected starting-salary midpoint describes a different measure and year. Neither is a promise for a particular job. For listings, confirm whether the amount is hourly or annual and whether the role is temporary or permanent.
To move into finance, build evidence of the skills an employer asks for, such as financial modeling, reporting, analysis or client communication. A portfolio or work sample should remove confidential company or client information.
Finance career paths and qualifications
A career in finance can follow several routes. Corporate finance teams help a company plan budgets and manage financial operations; financial services firms may focus on client advice, investments or transactions. An accountant works with financial statements and reporting, while a financial analyst may use financial modeling to investigate business performance or investment opportunities.
A degree in finance or accounting can be useful, but read each job description: a degree in a related field may also qualify. Entry-level finance careers can build analysis and communication skills before management roles. Moving into a finance manager or chief financial officer position usually requires substantial related experience.
An investment banker may work on deals for financial institutions and other companies. Private equity and hedge fund roles are different investment career paths; job scope and pay vary widely. Ask about base salary, bonus, workload and the skills required before comparing them with corporate finance jobs.
Financial advisors help clients plan for long-term financial goals. A financial planner may hold credentials such as Certified Financial Planner, but certifications and securities licenses are different: check which the employer requires for its services. Risk and compliance roles focus on different questions, from financial risks to whether institutions follow rules.
Which highest paying finance jobs fit your experience?
The highest-paying jobs in finance are not all the same kind of work. A finance director or financial manager may lead a company's financial planning and team, while an investment banker helps clients with transactions. Financial and investment analysts examine financial statements, business performance and financial markets to support decisions. Financial risk specialists focus on potential losses and exposure.
If you like investigating numbers, compare financial analysis, financial planning and analysis, and risk roles. Financial analysts may assess investment opportunities or help a business understand the financial health of a project. In a treasury team, the questions can center on cash flow and funding. The same title can mean different work at different employers, so read the responsibilities as carefully as the salary.
Client-facing finance roles can suit people who enjoy explaining complex decisions and building relationships. Financial advisors help clients with long-term financial goals and may discuss an investment portfolio, retirement or life insurance. Ask whether the position involves finding clients or making investment recommendations, and how the employer pays for that work.
Entry-level finance jobs and career advancement
A financial analyst position can be a route into a job in finance, but an occupational median is not an entry-level offer. Compare junior analyst and finance assistant postings for the education, spreadsheet skills and relevant experience they actually request. A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or another related subject may be accepted depending on the employer; a high school diploma alone will not meet every role's requirements.
For a career path in finance and accounting, practice explaining how a change in revenue or expenses affects a forecast. Show your financial modeling or reporting skills using a class project, internship or a public dataset. A clear explanation of your assumptions and the limits of your analysis can be more useful to a hiring manager than a list of tools.
Finance professionals often advance by taking responsibility for larger decisions, mentoring colleagues or developing specialist knowledge. To move toward financial management, ask what experience your target employers expect in budgets, controls and team leadership. Titles alone do not establish seniority: a manager at one company may have a different scope from a manager elsewhere.
Compare finance salaries, hours and incentives
Salaries in the finance industry depend on experience, employer, location and the job's responsibilities. Some of the highest salaries also involve variable compensation. When comparing finance jobs, request the base salary and ask whether a bonus is discretionary, how commissions are calculated and whether a quoted range includes incentives. Do not treat a possible bonus as guaranteed income.
Hours can vary across the financial sector. Reporting cycles, client appointments and transactions may create different peaks in workload. Especially in investment banking, ask about deal deadlines, expected availability and travel; in other finance careers, ask about month-end close or forecast cycles. A job's actual team and manager matter when comparing work-life balance.
For each opening, check whether the employer requires a license, a certification or a particular degree. Financial technology tools may change how teams analyze data, but employers still need people who can check outputs, explain assumptions and make sound financial decisions. Compare training support and the chance to build a successful career alongside the advertised pay.
How to read pay data for finance jobs
When you see a list of the highest paying finance jobs, check what each salary measures. An annual median is the middle wage for an occupation across workers at different career stages. It does not tell you the starting pay for a new graduate, and it may combine multiple finance roles. Starting-salary projections describe a different population and can change as the market changes.
The highest paying jobs can involve leadership, specialized investment strategies or incentives, but no single figure identifies the best-paying jobs in finance for every applicant. Look at the skills and seniority behind each benchmark. A chief financial officer, investment banker and entry-level financial analyst have very different responsibilities and paths into the work.
Before accepting an offer, ask which financial instruments or customers the role covers, how performance is assessed, and whether any registration or professional training is paid for. Financial institutions, technology companies and other employers can all hire finance professionals, but the financial operations and expectations of each team may differ.
Financial analyst, investment banking and advisor careers
An investment analyst may research securities such as stocks and bonds, compare investment opportunities and explain the risks behind a recommendation. A security is a financial instrument; the specific products and clients depend on the employer. A financial advisor can work with individuals on a broader financial future, including retirement and insurance needs.
A hedge fund or private equity firm may hire people with investing, research or operational experience. Look at the actual responsibilities and the firm's expectations instead of assuming that all employees receive the highest salaries reported for senior investment professionals. Compare the base pay, bonus structure and financial decision-making authority stated in the offer.
In corporate roles, a finance director can help shape a company's financial strategy, while planning teams prepare forecasts for leaders. In the financial sector, financial examiners review compliance and safety at regulated institutions. These business and financial occupations require different combinations of education, judgment and experience.
When searching for new jobs, use several titles that describe the work you want. A finance job title may include a specialty, such as treasury, risk or financial planning. Check whether the employer describes an entry-level position or asks for years of experience, and verify the location and pay directly in the posting.
Questions to ask before choosing a finance career
For corporate finance, ask how a financial manager works with accounting and financial planning teams, what decisions they own and whether the finance manager leads people. For an investment role, ask whether the work involves research, investment recommendations, transactions or ongoing management of an investment portfolio.
Within investment banking, recruitment can focus on analytical skills, financial modeling, accounting and communication. A candidate can prepare by studying the employer's role description and practicing how to explain a valuation or financial analysis. For quantitative finance, ask which mathematical and programming skills the specific opening requires instead of assuming every investment role needs the same background.
Financial examiners and compliance teams may examine financial records and controls, while financial risk specialists analyze financial risks. Those paths can overlap, but they are not interchangeable. If you are exploring the finance industry, compare the day-to-day work as well as the highest paying finance jobs headline.
More finance jobs and salaries to compare
These additional finance careers are comparisons, not part of the seven-role job sample. The salary figures below measure different populations and years, and neither guarantees an individual offer.
Chief financial officer
A chief financial officer oversees accounting and finance functions and may manage financial reporting, strategy and business risk. Robert Half projects a US starting-salary midpoint of $273,250 for 2027; this is not a national occupational median. Robert Half chief financial officer salary guide.
Financial examiner
Financial examiners review institutions for compliance with laws governing financial transactions. BLS reports a $94,160 US median annual wage in May 2025. A bachelor's degree with some accounting coursework is typical, and entry-level examiners receive on-the-job training. BLS financial examiner guide.
Accountant or auditor
Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records. BLS reports a $83,680 US median annual wage in May 2025; a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field is typical. This occupation is included as a career comparison, not a claim that every accounting job is among the highest-paying jobs. BLS accountant and auditor guide.
Financial and investment analyst
Financial and investment analysts examine businesses and investment opportunities. BLS reports a $102,740 US median annual wage for this detailed occupation in May 2025. It is distinct from the broader financial analysts group shown above and is not an entry-level salary. BLS financial analyst pay by occupation.
Compare the offer, not just the headline salary
- Training: Include tuition, prerequisites, relevant experience and any required placements, as well as time before you can work.
- Pay basis: Compare hourly or annual pay for similar hours and experience. Separate overtime, call pay and travel allowances.
- Workplace: Check the location, required credentials and working hours. Read the posting's terms for on-site, hybrid or remote work.
- Availability: Open the employer posting before applying. Listings can close between feed updates.
Compare the whole offer.
Base pay, bonuses and commissions can vary substantially. Check the employer's actual terms, hours, licensing requirements and work location.
finance career questions
Which finance jobs pay the most?
Senior leadership and investment roles can pay well, but pay varies with employer, location, responsibility and incentives. This guide compares seven career paths; it does not rank every finance occupation or predict a specific offer.
How much do financial managers make?
BLS reports a US median annual wage of $166,570 for financial managers in May 2025. The figure covers the occupational group, not the starting salary for every finance manager or specialty.
Can I get a finance job without a finance degree?
Some employers accept degrees in related subjects or other qualifications, but requirements vary. Without a finance major is different from without any degree. The BLS says financial analysts and personal financial advisors typically need a bachelor's degree; check each role before applying.
Do finance jobs require licenses or certifications?
It depends on the work. Some client-facing investment roles require registration or licenses, while employers may prefer certifications for other finance positions. Read the posting and check the relevant regulator or credential body.
Are the sample jobs remote or filtered by salary?
The sample includes US on-site, hybrid and remote jobs and is not filtered by salary. It matches the title families in this guide; not every posting lists pay or represents every career.
Explore another career path
Find the role. Check the source.
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