SOC 11-3031.03Bright outlook

    Investment Fund Managers

    Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

    Median pay
    $166,570
    Growth
    +9.7%
    Much faster than average
    Openings a year
    65,600
    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 managers"

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $94,310
    Median
    $166,570
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $323,270
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    841,710 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Investment fund managers oversee investment strategies and operations for large pools of money from individuals or institutions. The role offers strong financial rewards, with a median annual salary of $166,570.

    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 investment fund managers do

    Job Zone 5: Extensive preparation

    Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

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

    What the work is like

    These professionals spend their days planning and directing financial strategies to grow liquid assets. To do this, they gather and analyze complex financial data, solve difficult problems, and make high-stakes decisions. They rely heavily on computers to process information, track market events, and update their industry knowledge. Strong communication is essential, as they must regularly share updates with supervisors, colleagues, and external clients.

    Succeeding in this field requires a mix of mathematical ability, critical thinking, and active listening. Managers must understand economics, accounting, administration, and relevant laws. Because this is an enterprising career, it attracts people who are self-confident, achievement-oriented, and comfortable taking on leadership roles. The work demands high attention to detail, integrity, and a strong tolerance for stress and ambiguity when markets are unpredictable.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, candidates typically need at least a bachelor's degree. Common college majors that prepare students for this field include finance and financial management services, business administration, accounting, and data analytics. Some students also pursue specialized programs like accounting and computer science.

    While a bachelor's degree is the standard entry point, most professionals in this field eventually need extensive preparation. This often means earning a graduate degree, such as a master's degree, PhD, JD, or MD, to qualify for top-level management roles.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these professionals is $166,570, though this figure represents the broader category of financial managers. Salaries vary widely based on experience and performance; the lowest ten percent of earners make less than $94,310, while the highest ten percent earn more than $323,270.

    With 841,710 people currently employed in this field, the job outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow by 9.7 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to generate about 65,600 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    8 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    46 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    11 / 100
    Social (S)
    28 / 100
    Enterprising (E) · strongest
    99 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    70 / 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 ECI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    96
    Analyzing Data or Information
    94
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    87
    Processing Information
    86
    Working with Computers
    86
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    85
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    80
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    76
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    75
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    74
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

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

    Knowledge

    • Economics and Accounting
    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Administration and Management
    • Law and Government
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Education and Training
    • Communications and Media

    Abilities

    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Mathematical Reasoning
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Speech Clarity
    • Written Expression

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Integrity
    • Dependability
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Self-Confidence
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Leadership Orientation
    • Tolerance for Ambiguity

    Also called

    Annual Fund Manager · Asset Management Manager · Asset Management Project Manager · Asset Manager · Digital Asset Manager · Financial Planning and Analysis Finance Manager · Financial Planning and Analysis Manager · Financial Planning Director · Financial Planning Manager · Fixed Income Portfolio Manager

    Career pathway

    From your interests to investment fund managers

    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

      • Investment Fund Managers$166,570 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. 2Carnegie 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
    3. 3University 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
    4. 4Georgetown 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
    5. 5Boston College logo
      Boston College

      Chestnut Hill, MA · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $92,127
      4 yrs after
      $147,746
      Median debt
      $18,650
    6. 6Wake Forest University logo
      Wake Forest University

      Winston-Salem, NC · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $116,242
      4 yrs after
      $145,996
      Median debt
      $19,500
    7. 7University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus logo
      University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus

      Ann Arbor, MI · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $96,806
      4 yrs after
      $144,654
      Median debt
      $19,500
    8. 8University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $94,811
      4 yrs after
      $144,599
      Median debt
      $10,656

    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 investment fund managers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Accounting and Business/Management
    • Accounting and Computer Science
    • Accounting and Finance
    • Credit Management
    • Finance and Financial Management Services, Other
    • Finance, General
    • Financial Analytics
    • Financial Risk Management
    • International Finance
    • Public Finance
    • Risk Management

    Find training near you 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 6, 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 investment fund managers

    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 college majors are best for becoming an investment fund manager?

    Students typically major in finance and financial management services, business administration, management, or accounting. Other relevant majors include data analytics and programs that combine accounting with computer science.

    Is a graduate degree required to work in this field?

    While a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level requirement, most people in this career eventually need extensive preparation. This frequently includes obtaining a graduate degree, such as a master's degree, PhD, JD, or MD.

    How fast is this career field growing?

    Employment is projected to grow by 9.7 percent between 2025 and 2035, which is much faster than the average rate. This growth is expected to result in 65,600 job openings annually.

    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 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.