Investment specialist is a promising career with high salary in recent years. However, the competition is also fierce because more graduates are attracted by the high pay. This article analyzes investment specialist salary range, top paying employers, job requirements and how to stand out in the competitive job market.
Investment specialist average salary is $90k to $150k in U.S.
According to PayScale data, the average base salary for investment specialists in the U.S. is around $90,000 to $150,000 per year. The total compensation can reach over $200,000 including bonuses and profit sharing. Top 10% earners make above $180,000.
Investment banks and asset management firms pay the best
The top paying employers for investment specialists are large investment banks like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley. Asset management firms such as BlackRock, Vanguard and Fidelity also offer very competitive compensations. The base salary at these firms is usually $100k+ for junior roles.
Advancement opens door to $300k+ salary
As investment specialists gain more experience and get promoted to senior roles like portfolio manager or fund manager, the salary can exceed $300,000. But it takes time to advance and not everyone can move up the ladder in this competitive field.
Internship and networking are key to entering the field
For new graduates, the best way to break into investment specialist jobs is through internships. Finance internships allow you to gain relevant experience and expand your professional network. Campus recruiting events and job fairs are important venues to get exposure to top firms.
CFA charter and programming skills give an edge
To stand out as a candidate for investment specialist roles, it is highly recommended to obtain the CFA charter which demonstrates your finance knowledge. Programming skills like Python and R are also very useful as investment analysis is relying more on big data.
In summary, investment specialist offers lucrative salary potential but the job market is very competitive. Gaining relevant experience, professional networking and specialized skills will help new graduates secure the top investment specialist job opportunities.