Insurance Underwriters
Median wage · national
$81,370
Range: $65K – $110K
Employed
105K
Openings/yr
8K
Typically: bachelor's degree
BUSINESS
Financial Risk Specialists
With a national median of $117,330 and +6.5% projected job growth through 2034, Financial Risk Specialists offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Financial Risk Specialists
Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.
- Median Wage
- $117,330
- Employed Nationally
- 64K
- Openings / Year
- 4,800
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Analyst
Bank and Savings Securities Trader
Bond Analyst
Business Risk Manager
Compliance Risk Manager
How Much Do Financial Risk Specialists Make?
Financial Risk Specialists earn $117,330 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $83,980 and $158,250. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$117,330
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$84K–$158K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$83,980
Entry-level
$117,330
Median
$158,250
Experienced
What Is the Job Outlook for Financial Risk Specialists?
The BLS projects +6.5% employment change for Financial Risk Specialists through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 4,800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +6.5%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
4,800
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
64K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Financial Risk Specialists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $117,330 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 10,980 | $138,330 | +17.9% |
| 2 | California | 4,460 | $111,560 | -4.9% |
| 3 | Texas | 4,440 | $96,100 | -18.1% |
| 4 | Florida | 4,140 | $100,730 | -14.1% |
| 5 | Illinois | 2,810 | $98,410 | -16.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Financial Risk Specialists positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 6 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | 395,227 | $68,257 | 2,611 |
| 2 | Accounting | 84,760 | $76,194 | 2,112 |
| 3 | Finance | 58,013 | $83,343 | 949 |
| 4 | Management Sciences | 56,747 | $86,176 | 593 |
| 5 | Applied Mathematics | 11,635 | $91,532 | 417 |
| 6 | Business Statistics | 4,885 | $77,981 | 258 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Financial Risk Specialists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 5 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Financial Risk Specialists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Financial Risk Specialists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Financial Risk Specialists Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Financial Risk Specialists a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $117,330 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +6.5% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $158,250 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $117,330 median while building the experience employers require.
Financial Risk Specialists Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Financial Risk Specialists professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Financial Risk Specialists is $117,330, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $83,980 and $158,250. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Financial Risk Specialists a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. A $117,330 median with +6.5% projected growth through 2034 is a combination most career fields can't match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $83,980, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to become a Financial Risk Specialists?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Business Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $117,330 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Financial Risk Specialists?
The BLS projects +6.5% employment change for Financial Risk Specialists through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 4,800 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 64K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Financial Risk Specialists salaries vary so widely?
The $74,270 gap between the 25th ($83,980) and 75th ($158,250) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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