Occupational Outlook Handbook: Business and Financial

Republished with the permission of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Business and Financial Occupations

Employment in business and financial operations occupations is projected to grow 5 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 476,200 new jobs. Globalization, a growing economy, and a complex tax and regulatory environment are expected to continue to lead to strong demand for accountants and auditors. In addition, increasing usage of data and market research in order to understand customers and product demand, and to evaluate marketing strategies, will lead to growing demand for market research analysts.

This median annual wage for business and financial occupations was $72,250 in May 2020, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $41,950.

BLS provides summary data, including employment projections, for business and financial occupations not shown in the table on this page. That information is available on the Data for Occupations Not Covered in Detail page.

OCCUPATION	JOB SUMMARY	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2020 MEDIAN PAY
Accountants and Auditors	Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records.	Bachelor’s degree	$73,560
Budget Analysts	Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan their finances.	Bachelor’s degree	$78,970
Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators	Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators evaluate insurance claims.	See How to Become One	$68,130
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists	Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists oversee wage and nonwage programs that an organization provides to its employees in return for their work. They also evaluate position descriptions to determine details such as classification and salary.	Bachelor’s degree	$67,190
Cost Estimators	Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to estimate the time, money, materials, and labor required to make a product or provide a service.	Bachelor’s degree	$66,610
Financial Analysts	Financial analysts guide businesses and individuals in decisions about expending money to attain profit.	Bachelor’s degree	$83,660
Financial Examiners	Financial examiners ensure compliance with laws that govern institutions handling monetary transactions.	Bachelor’s degree	$81,430
Fundraisers	Fundraisers organize events and campaigns to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization.	Bachelor’s degree	$59,610
Human Resources Specialists	Human resources specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They also handle employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training.	Bachelor’s degree	$63,490
Insurance Underwriters	Insurance underwriters evaluate insurance applications and decide whether to provide insurance, and under what terms.	Bachelor’s degree	$71,790
Labor Relations Specialists	Labor relations specialists interpret and administer labor contracts.	Bachelor’s degree	$73,240
Loan Officers	Loan officers evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of loan applications.	Bachelor’s degree	$63,960
Logisticians	Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain.	Bachelor’s degree	$76,270
Management Analysts	Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.	Bachelor’s degree	$87,660
Market Research Analysts	Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service.	Bachelor’s degree	$65,810
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings.	Bachelor’s degree	$51,560
Personal Financial Advisors	Personal financial advisors provide advice to help individuals manage their finances and plan for their financial future.	Bachelor’s degree	$89,330
Property Appraisers and Assessors	Property appraisers and assessors provide a value estimate on real estate and on tangible personal and business property.	Bachelor’s degree	$58,650
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents	Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations. Purchasing managers oversee the work of buyers and purchasing agents.	Bachelor’s degree	$72,270
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents determine how much is owed in taxes and collect tax from individuals and businesses on behalf of the government.	Bachelor’s degree	$55,640
Training and Development Specialists	Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of their employees.	Bachelor’s degree	$62,700