What can I do with a finance degree?

So, you’re thinking about what you can do with a finance degree, but you’re not sure what the career paths would look like. You’re not alone. I also wondered about this before I got my finance degree.

The good news is that finance is a big field with job opportunities across various industries. Once I learned what roles were available, choosing my career path became much easier.

Discover what these career options are, and find the path that's right for you!

Financial Analyst

• What they do: Conduct research and evaluate data to developinvestment recommendations for clients.

• Average starting salary:

  CAD $59,181 /USD $68,000

Stockbroker

• What they do: Facilitate investment dealings for clients, typically through the execution of trades.

• Average starting salary:

  CAD $67,053 /USD $63,034

Financial Advisor

• What they do: Help clients by offering financial advice to help them achieve their financial goals.

• Average starting salary:

  CAD $49,349 /USD $78,225

Investment Banker

• What they do: Serve as financial advisors who help companies raise or borrow money.

• Average starting salary:

  CAD $83,626 /USD $118,864

Financial Risk Analyst

• What they do: Identify, examine, and manage financial risks within an organization to ensure the business is in good standing.

• Average starting salary:

  CAD $87,721 /USD $110,272

If you're not overly excited by the classic finance jobs, look at these other exciting and fast-growing career paths:

FinTech Specialist

• What they do: Use their knowledge in finance and/or technology to develop new tools and systems to make financial transactions faster and more secure.

• Average starting salary:

  CAD $58,820.00 /USD53,925.00

Behavioral Finance Specialist

• What they do: Using psychology and finance principles, they understand how emotions and habits affect how people make decisions and manage money.

• Average starting salary:

  CAD $51,814 /USD $75,000

You've finished your finance degree but don't want to work in the financial industry. No problem! Explore these roles that allow you to use your finance knowledge.

Business Analyst

• What they do: They look for ways to help a company work better and faster. They talk with people across the business to share their ideas and help make improvements. May work in areas like healthcare and consulting firms.

• Average starting salary:

  CAD $74,292 /USD $86,122

Public Finance Manager

• What they do: They're responsible for the budgeting and financial planning for all aspects of a government's or public entity's budgeting process. May work in schools, charities, or government agencies.

• Average starting salary:

  CAD $84,347 /USD $83,349

Your friend Dia is torn between her two favorite interests — finance and technology. She loves understanding how financial systems work but is equally excited about learning how to use the latest tech tools like financial apps.

She asks you for advice. “Is there a career that lets me do both?”

Select the best response:

A. Not really, most finance jobs don't deal with tech, so you have to choose one of them.

B. Yes, you can choose a career as a behavioral finance specialist.

C. Yes, you can choose a career as a fintech specialist

D. No, but you can choose a career as a financial analyst.

Photo by Hasloo Group Production via Canva

If you can't decide what you want to do with a finance degree, take the following steps to find the finance career that is right for you: