Best Entry-Level Finance Jobs for College Graduates

Search Fintrev

Search our guides, reviews and glossary.

The best entry-level finance jobs for college graduates are financial analyst, investment banking analyst, junior tax associate or staff accountant, and personal financial advisor. Research, credit, audit and corporate planning roles are also open to new graduates. A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics or a related quantitative field qualifies you to apply for all of them. They differ in what they pay, which license or credential you will eventually need, and how much the role depends on an internship you completed before graduating.

Pay at the starting level is strong compared with the wider labor market. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the median annual pay for business and financial occupations at $79,050 in May 2023, against $48,060 across all occupations. The BLS also projected about 963,500 openings per year in business and financial occupations through 2033, with employment growing faster than the average for all occupations.

What a Finance Degree Qualifies You For

Financial institutions require an undergraduate degree for nearly all of their professional positions. Employers look for evidence that you can work with numbers. Degrees in economics, applied mathematics, accounting, business and computer science are the usual preferred backgrounds, alongside finance itself. A computer science or programming degree is therefore not a barrier. It fits analyst roles that lean on data, modeling and automation, although you may need to show that you understand financial statements and markets.

An MBA is not needed to start. Most of the value of an MBA in finance comes after you have several years of work experience, because the degree builds on that experience rather than replacing it. Investment banking is the main entry-level path where a master’s degree can help a candidate stand out.

What employers test in interviews tends to be practical. Can you read an income statement, a balance sheet and a cash flow statement? Can you explain the difference between revenue and profit? Can you build a simple forecast in a spreadsheet? Coursework gives you the vocabulary. Being able to work through a short case in an interview is what separates candidates with similar transcripts.

The Best Entry-Level Finance Jobs

The right starting role depends on three things: how much you value pay versus hours, whether you prefer analysis or client contact, and which credential you are willing to pursue in your first few years.

Financial Analyst

Financial analysts work at investment companies, insurance companies, consulting firms and ordinary corporations. Their work includes:

• consolidating and analyzing budgets
• projecting income statements
• building forecast models
• preparing reports and business studies
• researching economic conditions, industry trends and company fundamentals

The output is usually a recommendation, such as whether to invest in a project, where to cut costs, or how to improve financial performance.

Employers want a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or economics, plus strong technology skills. In practice, spreadsheet modeling sits at the center of the job, and familiarity with business valuation methods helps in investment-facing roles.

The BLS counted about 404,800 financial analyst jobs in 2023 and projected 442,800 by 2033. That is growth of roughly 9% over the decade, which the BLS classifies as faster than average. The 2023 median salary was $99,890.

For long-term advancement, many analysts pursue the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Some candidates sit for CFA Level 1 while still in school or in their first year on the job.

Investment Banking Analyst

Investment banks, or the investment banking divisions of larger institutions, help corporations, venture capital firms, wealthy individuals and governments raise capital. They:

• underwrite new debt and equity issues
• prepare companies to issue securities
• manage initial public offerings
• advise on mergers and acquisitions
• broker trades

The analyst is the entry-level title, found at investment banks and also at some hedge funds and venture capital firms. Analysts produce deal materials such as pitch books and models, research industries, analyze corporate performance and gather documents for due diligence. Their reading of the financial data can influence whether a deal goes ahead, which is why the role builds modeling skills quickly.

Payscale reported an average starting salary of $81,207 for investment banking analysts in 2025. Total pay at large banks typically includes a bonus on top of base salary. Candidates usually hold a degree in economics, finance or management.

This is also the role best known for long hours. Banks generally hire analysts through structured recruiting cycles that start with summer internships, so for this path the internship matters at least as much as the degree.

Junior Tax Associate or Staff Accountant

Tax knowledge stays in demand because companies must comply with changing Internal Revenue Service rules as well as state and local tax laws. Junior tax associates and accountants:

• calculate and estimate tax payments
• research tax questions
• review internal fiscal systems
• prepare returns and other tax filings
• work with auditors
• may propose tax-related company policies

Auditing is a closely related entry point. Junior auditors examine financial records and internal controls, either for an accounting firm’s clients or inside a company.

You need a bachelor’s degree in accounting or other proof of accounting skill. Advancement generally requires a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, and many employers support staff in earning it while they work.

The career ladder runs from these roles to controller (or comptroller), accounting manager and budget director, and at the top to treasurer or chief financial officer.

The BLS tax figure most often cited covers tax examiners, collectors and revenue agents, a group that mainly works in government tax administration. That occupation had a median of $58,530 in 2023, with projected growth of 2% from 2023 to 2033, slower than average. Treat it as a reference point for public-sector tax work rather than a typical private-firm offer.

Personal Financial Advisor

Personal financial advisors assess an individual’s financial priorities and help with decisions about investing, budgeting and saving over the long term. The work covers goals such as tax planning, retirement planning and estate planning. Many advisors also provide tax services or sell insurance. Some recommend financial products such as mutual funds, some manage investments directly, and some act as the link between a client and an asset manager.

The BLS reported a 2023 median annual wage of $99,580 and projected 17% employment growth from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average. It attributes the demand to:

• baby boomers retiring
• a growing number of self-employed workers
• the decline of private-sector employer pension plans

No specific major is required. Economics, math and finance degrees read well on a résumé, but the writing and critical-thinking skills from a liberal arts degree are useful too, because the job depends on explaining complex subjects in plain language.

Licensing is the main difference from the other roles. Advisors who buy or sell stocks, bonds or insurance, or who give specific investment advice, must pass licensing exams. Most of these exams require you to be employed or sponsored by a securities or investment firm, so you take them after you are hired. The SIE is the exception, which is why candidates aiming for this path take it before the job search starts.

Other Entry-Level Finance Titles

Several other roles accept new graduates and are worth adding to a search:

• Equity research associate. Supports analysts who cover a set of public companies by building models, tracking earnings and drafting research notes. These are the most common finance research jobs at the entry level.
• Credit analyst. Assesses whether a borrower can repay a loan, usually at a bank or lender.
• Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) analyst. A corporate version of the financial analyst role, focused on a company’s own budgets and forecasts.
• Rotational program analyst. Moves through several departments over a set period before placement.

Job titles are not standardized across employers. Read the duties in a posting rather than relying on the title, because two “financial analyst” openings can involve very different work.

How Entry-Level Pay Compares

Occupation medians and starting salaries measure different things, which explains why the figures above vary so much.

• BLS medians, such as those cited above for financial analysts and personal financial advisors, describe the midpoint of everyone in the occupation, from new hires to senior staff, so a first-year employee typically starts below them.
• NACE’s 2024 figure of $64,887 is the expected average first-year salary for finance majors, which is closer to what a new graduate might be offered.
• Glassdoor’s estimate for entry-level finance positions was a base of about $52,936 plus $11,303 in bonuses and other pay, for a total of $64,239.

Offers are hard to compare directly because a bonus can be discretionary while base pay is fixed. When you compare an hourly offer with a salaried one, convert both to an annual figure on the same assumptions.

For example, a hypothetical $35 an hour for 40 hours a week over 52 weeks works out to $72,800 a year before overtime. Regular 50-hour weeks with overtime paid at time and a half raise that figure, while unpaid extra hours lower the effective rate.

Location also changes the comparison. A higher salary in an expensive city can leave you with less after housing costs than a lower one elsewhere.

Licenses and Credentials You Can Start Early

In the U.S., professionals who handle securities must pass licensing exams administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Until 2018, candidates had to be sponsored by a financial firm to sit for any of them. That year FINRA finalized the SIE exam, which can be taken without sponsorship.

The SIE has 75 questions with a 105-minute time limit. FINRA describes it as a way to demonstrate basic industry knowledge to prospective employers. Passing it does not license you to sell securities on its own. The role-specific exams still require sponsorship, but the SIE shows commitment and removes one step after you are hired.

The longer-term credentials depend on the path:

• CFA for investment analysis and portfolio management.
• CPA for accounting, tax and audit.
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP) for personal financial advice.

Internships and Breaking In Without Experience

Employers value internships about as highly as degrees. Many financial firms recruit summer interns on campus. Some also run symposiums, workshops and networking events for prospective hires; the Goldman Sachs Possibilities Summit is one example.

Internships are competitive, but they pay off beyond the summer. They provide contacts and experience. They also often lead straight into the firm’s post-graduation training program, or at least move you into the small group of applicants the firm takes seriously. Major financial centers such as New York, Chicago, London and Tokyo host the headquarters of the largest firms, and internships there carry particular weight.

If you are graduating with a finance degree and no experience, the more accessible starting points are:

• accounting and tax associate roles where the employer supports CPA study
• corporate FP&A and credit analyst positions
• advisory firms that hire and then sponsor licensing exams

You can build evidence of skill on your own. Passing the SIE, beginning CFA Level 1, and preparing a few financial models or valuation write-ups you can discuss in interviews all help.

Training Program or Local Finance Job?

New graduates are often choosing between a structured training or rotational program at a large firm and a direct-hire role at a smaller local company.

A training program usually comes with formal instruction, a defined cohort and a recognized name on your résumé. Admission often runs through the internship pipeline, and the work can be demanding.

A local role may offer broader responsibility sooner and more predictable hours, but less formal training.

The choice turns on where you want to be in five years. If the goal is investment banking, large asset managers or elite research roles, the structured route aligns with how those employers recruit. If the goal is a controller or CFO track at an operating company, or a client-facing advisory practice, hands-on experience from a smaller employer can count just as well, especially when it is paired with progress toward a CPA or CFP.

Where to Find Entry-Level Finance Jobs

Your personal network is usually the most effective source. Friends, family, professors, alumni and former internship supervisors can lead to openings before they are widely posted.

General job sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed and Monster carry a large share of postings. Finance-specific boards and resources include eFinancialCareers and BrokerHunter, and 10X EBITDA focuses on investment banking. Your university’s career office and on-campus recruiting events are the main channels for formal analyst and internship programs.

Diversity Programs and Scholarships

Several organizations support women and people of color who work in finance or want to. These include the Alliance of Black Women Accountants, the National Association of Black Accountants, 100 Women in Finance, the Greenwood Project and the Blackstone Future Women Leaders Program.

Scholarships for finance and accounting students include:

• the National Association of Black Accountants National Scholarship
• the Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship
• the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Scholarship Award for Minority Accounting Students
• the Tang Scholarship

The Bottom Line

Many finance jobs are also high-stress, and early-career burnout is a real risk worth weighing alongside salary when you compare offers. The industry is competitive, so treat the job search as a project: build your network, pursue internships, take the SIE if a securities role is your goal, and start the credential that matches the path you choose.