The Best Entry Level Jobs in Finance
By: Lindsay Wesche
Hi all, it’s Lindsay and if you’re like me, you are concerned with choosing a major you’ll be able to find a job in. Choosing the correct major can be a difficult decision when you have so many options. To make your search hopefully a little bit easier, I have compiled a list below that contains entry-level aka OBTAINABLE jobs in the field of finance after you graduate! All of the jobs I have listed do not require prior experience, which is the main concern for us college students! I’ve also included median salary and job growth in addition to each job description, as that is important to our decision on a major.
1 – Budget Analysts
The first job is a budget analyst. This occupation does not require any prior work experience in the field of finance but often requires a bachelor’s degree. A person in this position also helps create an organization’s budget and is responsible for that it meets and complies the required regulations. The anticipated job growth for a budget analyst is 7% by 2026, with a median salary of $73,840.
2 – Accountants and Auditors
An accountant or auditor does not require any prior work experience but you are required to have a bachelor’s degree and may need a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification. This position is responsible for making sure the accounting systems are running efficiently and records are organized and accurate. An accountant and/or auditor is expected to grow 10% by 2026, with a median salary of $68,150.
3 – Financial Analysts
Financial analysts do not require any prior work experience but are required to have a bachelor’s degree. A person in this position often helps businesses and individuals choose bonds, stocks or other investments that will be of benefit to their company based on their needs or current business trends. A financial analyst job is expecting an 11% growth increase by 2026, with a median salary of $81,760.
4 – Personal Financial Advisors
The fourth job is a personal financial advisor. This position does not require any prior work experience but are required to have a bachelor’s degree and may require a master’s degree and certification to advance. Long-term on the job training is also required. This position is responsible for determining long and short-term goals for their clients, offering advice about mortgages, savings accounts, investments, or other financial options. They must also monitor accounts and make adjustments as the client needs. The anticipated job growth for a personal financial advisor is 14%, with a median salary of $90,530. Yes, you read that right. $90,530 with NO prior work experience!
5 – Financial Advisors
Like personal financial advisors, financial advisors do not require prior experience. A bachelor’s degree and long-term on the job training is required, and often training received by a senior examiner. A person in this position is required for monitoring banks as well as other financial institutions by examining balance sheets, checking loans, establishing new guidelines and policies and reviewing the work of managers. These actions are taken to ensure everything complies with the current laws. The anticipated job growth for a financial advisor is 10% by 2026, with a median salary of $79,280.
As you can tell, none of the jobs I have listed require any previous job experience and they all have a decent median salary as an entry-level job. All require a bachelor’s degree, while some may require extra certifications or classes to advance, which isn’t unusual if you want to move up in a company. If you’re looking for a job in a growing field with many opportunities, then finance is for you!
I hope this blog has been helpful and aided in your decision of choosing the correct major for you! If you are interested in pursuing finance, University of Missouri – St. Louis does have a Finance and Legal Studies Department. If you’d like more information about the department, you can click here.