What can you do with a finance degree?
By: Sarah Edwards, Edited by: Arthur McMahon
Published: February 12, 2025
Are you looking for a way to turn math concepts into a practical career? Finance could be a great option for you. Discover how far a finance major can take you.
What jobs can you get with a finance degree?
A finance degree can lead to employment in a wide range of fields, including real estate, insurance, and banking. Accountant, loan officer, and financial analyst are three common careers for finance majors.
Accountant
Whether working for an individual or business, accountants are responsible for analyzing, interpreting, and maintaining financial records. An accountant's daily tasks may entail:
- Preparing financial documents and reports
- Checking financial documents for accuracy
- Preparing and submitting tax returns
- Evaluating financial operations
- Conducting financial risk assessments
- Guiding financial decisions
If you're pursuing a degree in finance, you may have to take and pass coursework in accounting principles, including underlying theory and managerial accounting concepts. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants earn a median annual salary of $79,880 as of May 2023.
Loan officer
Loan officers typically work for a bank or lender and assist individuals and businesses in applying for loans. In this role, you may:
- Research loan products to explain terms and possible financial impact
- Gather and verify financial information
- Process loan applications and submit them to underwriters
- Prepare documents for home closing
- Ensure loan agreement compliance with federal and state regulations
- Collaborate with underwriters to understand loan decisions
A finance degree can help prepare you for a career as a loan officer by teaching you about behavioral finance and operations management. You'll also learn about finance-related technology applications, which may be used heavily in loan processing.
Loan officers earn a median annual salary of $69,990 as of May 2023, according to the BLS.
Financial analyst
When asking the question "What can you do with a finance major?" your immediate thought may not be about becoming a researcher. However, this is the main task of a financial analyst. Financial analysts help people and companies make investment decisions.
On a daily basis, financial analysts may:
- Evaluate financial data
- Analyze current market conditions
- Monitor macroeconomic trends
- Assess stock performance
- Create and test financial models
- Make "buy," "sell," or "hold" recommendations
To earn a degree in finance, students typically study subjects like financial statement analysis, macro- and microeconomics, securities and derivatives, and statistical models. This coursework helps you develop the skills you need to analyze financials, assess markets, and make informed investments.
According to the BLS, financial analysts earn a median annual salary of $99,890 as of May 2023.