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Risk analyst: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$117,330median pay per year, or $56.41 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $64,820lowest 10% earn less
  2. $83,98025th percentile
  3. $117,330median
  4. $158,25075th percentile
  5. $196,110top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Financial Risk Specialists, the BLS group that covers the risk analyst job, earned a median of $117,330 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7.4%[2]
Openings per year
4,800[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do risk analysts make?

The median wage for Financial Risk Specialists was $117,330 a year, or $56.41 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The median for all US occupations was $50,980[4]. The average (mean) was $124,420 a year, or $59.82 an hour[7].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,820 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $196,110[3]. Hourly, those two lines were $31.17 and $94.29[8].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $64,820 $31.17
25th[3][8] $83,980 $40.37
Median[1] $117,330 $56.41
75th[3][8] $158,250 $76.08
90th[3][8] $196,110 $94.29

A percentile is a boundary. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 63,850 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

New Hampshire had the highest state median at $158,320, followed by Maine at $141,020, Delaware at $139,440 and New York at $136,830[12]. Louisiana was last in the list at $58,440[12]. Some states have few jobs behind their figures. New Hampshire, for example, had 300[12].

Among metro areas, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA came first at $167,440, then San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $166,240[13]. New York-Newark-Jersey City followed at $139,670[13].

New York had the most jobs with 12,060, then California with 5,740 and Texas with 4,780[14]. Among metros, New York-Newark-Jersey City had 12,770 jobs, far ahead of Chicago-Naperville-Elgin at 2,360[15].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New Hampshire[12]$158,320300
Maine$141,020n/a
Delaware$139,4401,160
New York$136,83012,060
North Carolina$132,0403,200
Massachusetts$130,4001,440
New Jersey$129,2202,760
California$129,1105,740
Virginia$126,5101,770
Washington$123,150900
Colorado$120,3001,050
Wyoming$119,550170
Maryland$117,130890
Connecticut$113,990660
Oregon$109,580430
Iowa$105,680530
Minnesota$105,4201,190
Rhode Island$104,470450
Illinois$104,3002,920
Michigan$103,9401,150
Texas$103,7604,780
Pennsylvania$103,0402,370
Arizona$102,8001,700
Montana$100,92050
Missouri$100,6201,070
Georgia$100,5702,180
Nevada$100,010570
Florida$99,9003,770
South Carolina$99,520560
Indiana$99,250380
District of Columbia$99,230210
Ohio$98,6502,110
Wisconsin$97,820610
Mississippi$96,100230
West Virginia$94,35050
Nebraska$94,280250
Tennessee$90,950540
Hawaii$89,86090
New Mexico$87,260180
Alaska$85,37050
Oklahoma$85,140330
Kansas$84,790150
Alabama$81,750180
South Dakota$78,960130
Utah$77,770630
Idaho$76,870270
Kentucky$74,640500
North Dakota$74,63090
Arkansas$66,110150
Louisiana$58,440520

How to become a risk analyst

BLS says the typical entry path starts with a bachelor's degree. No related work experience is needed, and no on-the-job training is listed[6]. The BLS handbook profile covers financial analysts, a wider group, so the details below describe that group[16].

Some employers prefer candidates with a master's degree[17]. Certification is not always required, but it may help professional standing[20].

What risk analysts do

Risk analysts measure how exposed an organization is to credit and market risk, and they may recommend ways to limit it[21]. Typical tasks include:

The BLS handbook says analytical, math, computer and communication skills matter[23][24][25][26].

Where they work

The handbook profile for financial analysts says they work mainly in offices but may travel to visit companies or clients[27]. Most are full-time workers, and some log over 40 hours a week[28]. Credit intermediation and related activities was the largest employer group at 35%[29]. Only 0.5% of financial risk specialists were self-employed in 2025[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 66,000 to 70,800 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[31].

About 4,800 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3.8% move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a well-paid field that asks for a bachelor's degree[1][4][6]. Pay spreads widely, from a 10th percentile of $64,820 to a 90th percentile of $196,110[3]. Employment is projected to grow faster than the all-occupation rate[2][31]. It is also a small occupation, with about 63,850 jobs in May 2025[11] and about 4,800 openings a year[5]. Analytical and math skills are named as important in the handbook profile for the wider group[23][26].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a risk analyst make an hour?
For Financial Risk Specialists, the median was $56.41 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31.17 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $94.29[8].
What degree do you need to be a risk analyst?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[6]. For the wider group of financial analysts, a degree in finance or a related field is typical[17].
Is risk analyst a growing job?
BLS projects 7.4% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][31].
What is the highest paying state for risk analysts?
New Hampshire, at a median of $158,320[12]. Maine came next at $141,020[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Financial Risk Specialists in the US was $117,330 per year and $56.41 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Financial Risk Specialists is projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 66,000 to 70,800 jobs (a change of +4,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Financial Risk Specialists: 10th percentile $64,820, 25th percentile $83,980, 75th percentile $158,250, 90th percentile $196,110. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,800 openings for Financial Risk Specialists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Financial Risk Specialists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Financial Risk Specialists was $124,420 per year and $59.82 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Financial Risk Specialists: 10th percentile $31.17, 25th percentile $40.37, 75th percentile $76.08, 90th percentile $94.29. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 63,850 people were employed as Financial Risk Specialists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Financial Risk Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Financial Risk Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $167,440; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $166,240; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $139,670; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $134,330; Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $133,530; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $132,580; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $132,480; Winston-Salem, NC $131,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Financial Risk Specialists jobs: New York 12,060; California 5,740; Texas 4,780; Florida 3,770; North Carolina 3,200. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Financial Risk Specialists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 12,770 (median $139,670); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,360 (median $105,370); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 2,340 (median $130,880); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,320 (median $103,760); Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 1,880 (median $133,530); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,540 (median $113,230). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Financial Analysts" covers Financial Risk Specialists together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET description of Financial Risk Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Financial Risk Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of financial analysts in 2025: Credit intermediation and related activities 35%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 0.5% of Financial Risk Specialists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Financial Risk Specialists: 2.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.