Master’s in Finance Jobs: Where Can This Degree Take You?

There’s good news if you’re thinking about embarking on a career in finance or looking to advance to a more senior position. According to Robert Half, there were more than 800,000 jobs in finance and accounting posted in the U.S. alone in 2025.¹ The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects robust growth over the next decade for popular finance career paths, such as financial analysts (6% estimated job growth from 2024 to 2034) and financial advisors (10% estimated job growth from 2024 to 2034).^2,3

Robert Half also reports that 61% of hiring managers surveyed say it has become more challenging to find skilled professionals to fill key finance positions.⁴ So, while it’s a good time to be a finance professional, you still need the necessary qualifications, which can range from a bachelor’s degree to an MBA or PhD. Each type of finance degree equips you with a different skill set, so it’s important to pick the right one for your particular ambitions and circumstances.

What can you do with a master’s in finance? It’s one of the more versatile and valuable graduate degree options for aspiring finance professionals. This post focuses on the top career options for master’s graduates.

Top Career Paths With a Master’s in Finance

What jobs can you get with a master’s in finance? It’s first important to understand one of the principal differences between an MBA and a master’s in finance. The former typically focuses on managerial and leadership skills, while the latter emphasizes advanced technical and analytical expertise.

That deep understanding of complex financial analytics and processes is reflected in the roles and responsibilities of some of the top jobs you can get with a master’s in finance, such as:

• Financial analyst: Performs data-intensive research to inform investment strategy and decision-making⁵
• Corporate finance manager: Typically focuses on maximizing a company’s profitability  opportunities⁶
• Investment analyst or associate: Provides specialist research to investment professionals⁷
• Risk and compliance manager: Ensures a company is working in accordance with its regulatory and legal obligations⁸
• Treasury analyst: Oversees and manages an organization’s financial operations⁹

Finance Roles in Corporate and Industry Settings

Many master’s in finance jobs and careers start in corporate graduate development programs or similar roles that allow you to rotate through a suite of functions to gather experience and evaluate your preferred career path. Typical corporate finance roles include:

• Financial planning and analysis (FP&A): Guiding future business strategy¹⁰
• Budgeting and forecasting: Setting financial expectations for a set period and estimating future performance¹¹
• Mergers and acquisitions support: Providing analytical and technical support when companies combine or are purchased by new owners¹²
• Strategic finance roles: Forecasting and long-term financial planning to guide strategic decision-making¹³

Public Sector and Nontraditional Finance Careers

When considering jobs with a master’s in finance, you don’t need to limit your search to the conventional private sector finance, accounting and banking industries. Any organization that has to manage money has a finance function, meaning there are several public sector and nontraditional career paths to think about, including:

• Government finance and policy analysis: Providing government entities with specialist input and oversight for financial planning and finance policy¹⁴
• Nonprofit financial management: Supporting nonprofits and NGOs, which often require stricter financial oversight and more careful management than for-profit organizations¹⁵
• Consulting and advisory roles: Offering in-depth financial expertise to help find new pathways to profitability for various clients¹⁶

Salary Expectations and Career Growth

With these career options in mind, you may be wondering, “What salary should I expect with a master’s in finance?”

Salaries range widely depending on multiple factors, such as your overall work experience, seniority in a particular field and the job’s location. A financial analyst for an investment bank in New York City is probably going to earn more than a local government policy analyst in Albuquerque, for example.

But finance experts are rarely poorly compensated. Online recruiter Indeed estimates the national average annual salary for financial advisers at $82,059.¹⁷ The prospects for those who advance to leadership positions are similarly promising. Indeed estimates that the Director of Finance position attracts an average annual salary of $103,995.¹⁷

Finance professionals can also boost their expertise and earnings with specialist training. Finance certificates can help you develop a niche understanding of growth fields like business analytics, connecting to potentially lucrative specialist roles. For example, Indeed estimates that actuaries—a highly specialized risk analysis role—enjoy average salaries of $120,614 per year.¹⁷

Choosing the Right Career Path

From financial planning to risk management, corporate finance to public policy, there is a wide range of positions and career paths to consider for master’s in finance graduates. With a focus on advanced financial analytics and technical knowledge, the degree will set you up for a long-term career of substance. You’ll be able to apply your understanding of commerce, markets and capital to the most fundamental governing principle in business: finding a path to sustainable prosperity.

While there are clear benefits to acquiring a master’s in finance, mid-career and career-changing professionals can often find themselves presented with a dilemma: They need the qualification to advance their career ambitions, but they also need to retain their career to finance those ambitions. An online master’s degree offers flexibility, allowing you to combine your career and study, working at a pace that suits your circumstances without the pressure to relocate or abandon your job.

Secure Your Career in Finance With William & Mary

The Online Master of Science in Finance from William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business is a 100% online degree option backed by the reputation and rigor of a respected “Public Ivy” institution. Our 32-credit curriculum can be completed in as little as 16 months and includes the option to add specialized financial certificates in Corporate Finance or Investment Management. Students can also meet faculty and peers in person during an optional residency weekend on campus in Williamsburg, Va.

Find out more about William & Mary’s Online Master’s in Finance and our no-GMAT/GRE admissions by exploring our online resources. When you’re ready to discuss how an advanced qualification from a Public Ivy can help you meet your career goals, schedule a call with one of our helpful admissions outreach advisors.