Is there a high demand for finance?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that business and finance jobs will be in demand from 2022 to 2032, with 911,400 openings on average each year. Certain roles within finance, like financial examiner, are expected to grow over six times faster than the rate for all occupations nationwide.
Finance skills are in high demand, and the sector is expected to continue growing. The median annual wage for business and financial occupations is $46,310 higher than the median annual wage for all occupations.
Salaries in the finance industry
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics (BLS), careers in finance pay a median salary of $76,850 — 66% higher than the median salary for all occupations in the nation ($46,310).
What jobs in finance are in most demand? Investment bankers, hedge fund managers, IT auditors, financial software developers, and financial analysts are some of the highest paying finance jobs in demand.
You don't need an MBA to work in finance, but the field is highly competitive, especially at the entry-level. Internships offer experience, exposure, and a tryout for a full-time gig.
Yes, finance is still a good career path, but it will probably not be as good relative to other careers as it has been over the past few decades. If you are at a top university or business school, have the qualifications, and start early, that's fine.
Overall, finance students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.1 out of 5.
- Chief Executives. Median annual salary: $179,520. ...
- Financial Managers. Median annual salary: $131,710. ...
- Personal Finance Advisers. Median annual salary: $94,170. ...
- Financial Analysts. Median annual salary: $81,410. ...
- Financial Examiners. ...
- Budget Analysts. ...
- Accountants and Auditors. ...
- Insurance Underwriters.
Job security is another factor that makes a finance degree well worth it. Finance professionals enjoy a high level of job security, with hundreds of thousands of positions expected to become available in the coming years. The BLS projects that many areas of employment related to finance will have above-average growth.
- Data Scientist.
- Investment Banker.
- Corporate Lawyer.
- Project Manager.
- Senior Software Engineer.
- Chief Executive Officer.
- Financial Analyst.
- Chartered Accountant.
Is finance a tough major?
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.
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.
As a finance major, you study finance-related topics, including math, economics, and statistics. You can expect to take several math classes like accounting, calculus, and business math.
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. That said, there are some basic math skills that would certainly make you a better candidate in the finance industry.
One thing that's for sure is the high amount of math you will need to study. Finance is a mathematical discipline, so if you aren't as comfortable with math as with other ways of thinking, you may find it more challenging. Additionally, finance also makes use of a vast, highly specific vocabulary.
If you decide on a career in finance, expect to take some challenging courses in statistics, calculus, and corporate finance. However, through this major, you'll learn how to evaluate and report on the profitability and financial health of all types of companies, a skill that will be very valuable to future employers.
2. Stressful work environment: High-paying finance positions often come with high stress due to heavy workloads, tight deadlines, and long hours. Keep in mind that a work-life balance may be difficult to maintain, particularly in the early years of your career.
Not to mention, human financial analysts bring creativity and critical thinking AI doesn't tend to possess. So, it is unlikely that AI will fully replace financial analysts, or at least any time in the near future. Instead, they may work together to improve efficiency and accuracy in decision-making processes.
While both finance and accounting can be difficult majors, accounting is considered more difficult because it requires more discipline and a lot of math. Accounting is more complex because it relies on precise sets of arithmetic principles.
Master skills that prepare you for real-world job responsibilities. Unlike more general degrees, like business administration, finance teaches you in-demand skills in areas including data analytics, risk management, capital allocation, and investment strategy.
Can introverts major in finance?
📈 According to a study by the Myers-Briggs Company, introverts make up 56.8% of financial professionals, while extroverts make up 43.2%. This means that there are plenty of introverted financial professionals out there who have achieved success in their field.
The field of finance offers more career choices but also less predictability. In some cases, careers in finance might offer higher pay. Careers in accounting can offer more predictable and stable work but less pay in many cases.
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.
Increasing Income
There is a reason people in finance who work in private equity or a hedge fund make millions. These industries make money by investing in companies, and after a certain level you get an equity stake in the profits of the firm through carried interest.
An individual with a major in finance has many career options in various industries where they can help businesses budget and manage their finances and accounts. They have advanced knowledge regarding financial management and financial risks, which can help qualify them for higher salaries.
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