SOC 13-2099.01

    Financial Quantitative Analysts

    Develop quantitative techniques to inform securities investing, equities investing, pricing, or valuation of financial instruments.

    Median pay
    $81,100
    Growth
    +4.1%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    9,400
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Financial specialists, all other"

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $48,460
    Median
    $81,100
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $151,490
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    132,130 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Financial quantitative analysts design mathematical and statistical models to guide investment decisions and manage financial risk. The median annual pay for the broader financial specialists group is $81,100.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What financial quantitative analysts do

    Job Zone 5: Extensive preparation

    Develop quantitative techniques to inform securities investing, equities investing, pricing, or valuation of financial instruments. Develop mathematical or statistical models for risk management, asset optimization, pricing, or relative value analysis.

    Most need a graduate degree, such as a master's, PhD, MD or JD.

    What the work is like

    Financial quantitative analysts spend their days working with computers to analyze, process, and interpret complex financial data. They use their strong investigative interests to develop quantitative techniques and mathematical models for pricing financial instruments, optimizing assets, and analyzing relative value. This role requires high-level skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and complex problem solving to make decisions and address financial risks.

    To succeed in this field, analysts must have deep knowledge of mathematics, economics, accounting, and computer systems. They must think creatively to estimate quantifiable characteristics of financial products and communicate their findings clearly to supervisors and peers. The work demands specific work styles, including intense attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, stress tolerance, and a cautious approach to risk. Analysts must also show perseverance and a tolerance for ambiguity when dealing with unpredictable market variables.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires at least a bachelor's degree, though many professionals need extensive preparation, such as a graduate degree like a master's, PhD, MD, or JD. Students often prepare by majoring in finance and financial management services, applied mathematics, business administration, management and operations, or religious institution administration and law.

    While not always mandatory, professionals can earn certifications to demonstrate their expertise. Examples include the Associate designation from the Secure Retirement Institute, the Certified Data Science Practitioner credential, or the Certified Financial Technician certification. Additionally, some states list licensing requirements for individuals performing this type of work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for financial quantitative analysts is $81,100, though this figure represents the broader occupational group of all other financial specialists. Earnings in this category range from less than $48,460 for the lowest 10% of workers to more than $151,490 for the highest 10% of earners.

    There are 132,130 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 4.1%, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth, along with normal staff turnover, is expected to result in approximately 9,400 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    10 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    95 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    14 / 100
    Social (S)
    10 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    41 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    80 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code ICE. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    92
    Analyzing Data or Information
    90
    Processing Information
    88
    Getting Information
    86
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    83
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    78
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    76
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    76
    Thinking Creatively
    73
    Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
    63
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Mathematics
    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Active Learning
    • Active Listening
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Speaking
    • Writing
    • Systems Analysis

    Knowledge

    • Mathematics
    • Economics and Accounting
    • Computers and Electronics
    • English Language
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Administration and Management
    • Design
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Education and Training
    • Psychology

    Abilities

    • Mathematical Reasoning
    • Written Comprehension
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Number Facility
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Cautiousness
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Integrity
    • Tolerance for Ambiguity
    • Innovation
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance

    Also called

    Analyst · Data Analyst · Equity Analyst · Equity Structurer · Finance Analyst · Financial Analyst · Financial Engineer · Financial Quantitative Analyst · Investment Associate · Investment Portfolio Control Consultant

    Career pathway

    From your interests to financial quantitative analysts

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Financial Quantitative Analysts$81,100 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Washington University in St Louis WUSTL logo
      Washington University in St Louis WUSTL

      Saint Louis, MO · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $108,590
      4 yrs after
      $185,551
      Median debt
      $20,750
    2. 2Harvard University logo
      Harvard University

      Cambridge, MA · Applied Mathematics · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $145,554
      4 yrs after
      $170,689
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3Carnegie Mellon University logo
      Carnegie Mellon University

      Pittsburgh, PA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $97,419
      4 yrs after
      $160,783
      Median debt
      $19,000
    4. 4University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN logo
      University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN

      Notre Dame, IN · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $141,543
      4 yrs after
      $160,313
      Median debt
      $19,500
    5. 5Brown University logo
      Brown University

      Providence, RI · Applied Mathematics · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $135,449
      4 yrs after
      $157,822
      Median debt
      $8,125
    6. 6Stevens Institute of Technology logo
      Stevens Institute of Technology

      Hoboken, NJ · Applied Mathematics · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $105,295
      4 yrs after
      $156,419
      Median debt
      $23,250
    7. 7Georgetown University-DC logo
      Georgetown University-DC

      Washington, DC · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $126,622
      4 yrs after
      $152,744
      Median debt
      $13,088
    8. 8Northwestern University-Illinois logo
      Northwestern University-Illinois

      Evanston, IL · Applied Mathematics · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $148,740
      Median debt
      $17,250

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What financial quantitative analysts may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Finance, General
    • Financial Mathematics
    • Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
    • Religious Institution Administration and Management

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    1 state lists a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    • Alabama2 licenses

      • Certified Professional Bondsman

        Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board

      • Licensed Recovery Agent

        Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about financial quantitative analysts

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this occupation are also called financial engineers, equity structurers, investment associates, data analysts, or investment portfolio control consultants.

    What college majors are most relevant to this field?

    Common college majors that lead to this career include applied mathematics, finance and financial management services, business administration, management and operations, and religious institution administration and law.

    What are some related careers I could explore?

    If you are interested in this work, you might also look into becoming a data scientist, financial risk specialist, statistician, operations research analyst, or investment fund manager.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.