Financial Analysts vs Financial Risk Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Risk Specialists professionals earn $4,650 more per year than Financial Analysts professionals — that's 4.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Financial Analysts earns $180,550 compared to $182,310 for Financial Risk Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Analysts$62,410 – $180,550
Financial Risk Specialists$62,270 – $182,310
$62,270$182,310
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Analysts | Financial Risk Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $62,410 | $62,270 | +$140 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,300 | $80,280 | $-1,980 |
| Median (50th) | $101,350 | $106,000 | $-4,650 |
| 75th Percentile | $132,050 | $145,020 | $-12,970 |
| 90th Percentile | $180,550 | $182,310 | $-1,760 |
| Mean (Average) | $116,490 | $119,930 | $-3,440 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Analysts
340,580
employed nationwide
Financial Risk Specialists
56,320
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Analysts
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $134,470 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $128,490 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $128,470 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,410 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $110,450 |
Best Cities for Financial Risk Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $141,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $140,050 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $137,420 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $130,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $128,440 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Financial Analysts or Financial Risk Specialists?
Financial Risk Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $4,650 (4.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Analysts?
Financial Analysts salaries range from $62,410 (10th percentile) to $180,550 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,350.
What is the salary range for Financial Risk Specialists?
Financial Risk Specialists salaries range from $62,270 (10th percentile) to $182,310 (90th percentile), with a median of $106,000.
How many Financial Analysts and Financial Risk Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 340,580 Financial Analysts positions and 56,320 Financial Risk Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Risk Specialists to Financial Analysts?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Analysts has a median salary of $101,350 while Financial Risk Specialists earns $106,000. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS