How to become financial managerseducation, training, experience and the steps to enter

United States Management & Consulting Confidence ★★★★★

Median annual pay

$166,570

25th–75th pct. $125,490–$219,980

Top pay (est.)

$420,300

Top 10% $323,270

Pay in 5 years

$191,600est.

2031

Pay in 10 years

$220,300est.

$189,500–$255,800

Outlook score

65/100

★★★☆☆ Good

AI replacement risk

65%

High

Job growth (10 yr)

+9.7%

66K openings / yr

How to become financial managers

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

BLS

Related experience

5 years or more

On-the-job training

None

A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.

Skills, education and requirements for Financial Managers

Key skills

Reading Comprehension

4.4

Active Listening

4.4

Critical Thinking

4.2

Monitoring

4.1

Speaking

4.1

Active Learning

4.0

Management of Personnel Resources

4.0

Complex Problem Solving

3.9

O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).

Key knowledge areas

Economics and Accounting

5.8

Administration and Management

5.4

Customer and Personal Service

5.4

Administrative

5.0

Education and Training

4.7

Mathematics

4.5

Sales and Marketing

4.4

Personnel and Human Resources

4.3

What the work involves

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkGetting InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProcessing InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCoaching and Developing Others

Important abilities

Oral ExpressionDeductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionOral ComprehensionNumber FacilityNear Vision

Education of workers

Bachelor's degree

56%

Post-bachelor's certificate

21%

High school diploma

14%

Some college

Associate's degree

Training before entry

None / short demo

34%

Up to 1 month

29%

1–3 months

13%

1–2 years

11%

3–6 months

4–10 years

Related work experience

4–6 years

42%

1–2 years

22%

6–8 years

12%

None

10%

2–4 years

6–12 months

8–10 years

Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)

Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)

Career path and how to earn more as financial managers

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.

Related occupations

	Occupation	Pay	Outlook	AI risk
1	General and Operations Managers Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations.	$105,770	62/100	54%
2	Business Operations Specialists, All Other All business operations specialists not listed separately.	$83,050	65/100	30%
3	Project Management Specialists Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis.	$102,320	57/100	70%
4	Human Resources Specialists Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization.	$75,940	59/100	61%
5	Management Analysts Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively.	$101,860	69/100	66%
6	Computer and Information Systems Managers Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.	$175,140	68/100	65%

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data

Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.