# Financial Quantitative Analysts

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-quantitative-analysts
- SOC code: 13-2099.01
- Career family: Business and finance
- Median annual pay: $81,100 (10th percentile $48,460, 90th percentile $151,490)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.1%
- Openings a year: 9,400
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Financial specialists, all other".

## Interest profile (code ICE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 10 |
| Investigative (I) | 95 |
| Artistic (A) | 14 |
| Social (S) | 10 |
| Enterprising (E) | 41 |
| Conventional (C) | 80 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 92/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 90/100)
- Processing Information (importance 88/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 76/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 73/100)
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (importance 63/100)

## 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

## Also called

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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Finance and Financial Management Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5208) (CIP 5208, 924 colleges)
- [Applied Mathematics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2703) (CIP 2703, 426 colleges)
- Religious Institution Administration and Law (CIP 3908, 7 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $108,590 | $185,551 | $20,750 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Applied Mathematics | $145,554 | $170,689 | not reported |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $97,419 | $160,783 | $19,000 |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $141,543 | $160,313 | $19,500 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Applied Mathematics | $135,449 | $157,822 | $8,125 |
| [Stevens Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stevens-institute-of-technology-2604) | Applied Mathematics | $105,295 | $156,419 | $23,250 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $126,622 | $152,744 | $13,088 |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Applied Mathematics | not reported | $148,740 | $17,250 |

## Related careers

- [Data Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-scientists): $120,230 median pay
- [Financial Risk Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-risk-specialists): $117,330 median pay
- [Financial and Investment Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-and-investment-analysts): $102,740 median pay
- [Statisticians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/statisticians): $105,650 median pay
- [Operations Research Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/operations-research-analysts): $88,940 median pay
- [Investment Fund Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/investment-fund-managers): $166,570 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.