The Best-paying jobs in finance

Opportunities in the business field are projected to grow.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment in business and financial occupations is projected to grow (7%) slightly faster than the average for all occupations (5%). Employment projections for the best-paying jobs in finance are even more positive and most report a growth up to three to four times faster than the average. Here are some of the highest paying jobs in finance in the U.S.

Chief financial officer

Chief financial officers oversee the implementation of policies and procedures to make sure organizations’ funds are properly used and accounted for.

The national chief financial officer salary ranges from $83,423 to $156,063 and averages at $119,063.

Tax director/ senior tax manager

Depending on the work environment, tax directors and senior tax managers are two best-paying jobs in finance often considered with interchangeable duties and responsibilities. In companies where they are instead treated as two complementary but separate roles, the tax director is usually further along on the career path.

The national senior tax manager salary ranges from $91,664 to $148,372 and averages $117,787.

Financial risk manager

A financial risk manager’s main

responsibilities include developing and implementing risk management and compliance policies and procedures, identifying potential risk exposure, and promoting loss prevention. Like other best-paying jobs in finance, skills to excel in this role include superior organization, strong interpersonal and project management skills, and attention to detail.

The national risk manager salary ranges from $67,481 to $117,589 and averages $93,123. The average salary climbs even higher when you progress to director.

Accounting manager

Accounting man a gers are responsible for the day-to-day accounting operations in their department. Their work is usually reviewed by the finance managers who determine the financial strategy. Accounting manager candidates need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field.

Many accounting managers begin their career working as accountants, bookkeepers, and finance analysts. Popular career paths for accounting managers include moving onto becominga

finance manager, cost accounting manager, tax manager, assistant controller, and senior managerial roles in accounting and finance.

The median national accounting manager salary is $89,298 in a range that goes from $63,335 to $119,063.

Investment portfolio manager

As the name suggests, an investment portfolio manager is in charge of how clients’ money is invested and takes care of dayto-day tasks with the help of a team of financial analysts. They are often also the ones who communicate with and explain investment decisions to clients, on top of providing updates and reports on portfolio performance.

According to Monster’s Salary Tool, investment portfolio analysts’ salary averages $82,498 in a range of $61,602 to $106,511. In managerial positions and high-demand job locations the average salary increases.

Underwriter

Loan, insurance, and security underwriters work to assess the risk behind credit and lending decisions. It’s one of the best-paying jobs in finance where within five to 10 years you can work your way up to a senior position. Underwriters usually hold at least a bachelor’s degree and have great analytical, communication, math and computer skills.

Underwriters can begin their career in different ways, but usually they start by taking entrylevel jobs in their chosen industry sectors. If, for example, your goal is to work as an insurance underwriter, you should start by looking for entry-level jobs the insurance industry.

The national insurance underwriter salary ranges from $48,711 to $90,666 and averages $69,020 while the senior insurance underwriter salary ranges from $64,971 to $96,679 and averages $78,527.

Trader

In a nutshell, a trader’s job consists in buying and selling securities to earn a profit for their clients. They can be found working in many different environments including banks and hedge funds.

The national securities and commodities trader salary ranges from $48,183 to $104,152.

STEFAN WERMUTH/BLOOMBERG Positions such as tax director, financial risk manager and investment portfolio managers garner some of the highest wages.