Financial Specialist Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Many financial specialists have a bachelor's degree in finance or marketing. Many colleges and universities offer degrees in these subjects.
Training and Education
Employees normally have a bachelor's degree before landing a job. Degrees are held by 50% of current financial specialists. Post-secondary schooling was enough for 34% of workers. Education topped out at high school for 17% of employees.
Job Overview
Financial specialists primarily sell products and services for financial institutions. They also help their clients establish short-term and long-term financial goals. Some financial specialists also offer their clients insurance. Many financial specialists have experience in sales or banking.
Job Requirements
Employers usually prefer applicants who have a bachelor's degree in finance or marketing. Financial specialists are required to obtain special licenses to sell securities and insurance.
Nature of Work
- Obtain a thorough understanding of financial instruments and insurance
- Evaluate clients' needs
- Review the details of financial instruments and insurance with clients
- Evaluate the level of success of the financial plan
Area Job Conditions
You'll see a lot of financial specialists in Warner Robins (Georgia), Portsmouth (New Hampshire), and Charlotte (North Carolina), and comparatively fewer in Augusta (Georgia), Mobile (Alabama), and Tulsa (Oklahoma).
Wages for Workers are highest in Corpus Christi (Texas), San Francisco (California), and Washington (District of Columbia), and lowest in Missoula (Montana), Fort Smith (Arkansas), and Brownsville (Texas).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Part-time work suffices for 11% of financial specialists. Workers working on their own make up 3% of the total.
Financial Specialists by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $63,000 | 200 | -65% |
| Huntsville | $76,000 | 160 | -31% |
| Mobile | $53,000 | 50 | -75% |
| Montgomery | $68,000 | 110 | -39% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $60,000 | 210 | +13% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $50,000 | 1,740 | -15% |
| Yuma | $54,000 | 40 | -30% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $47,000 | 180 | -21% |
| Fort Smith | $33,000 | 40 | -70% |
| Little Rock | $55,000 | 200 | -50% |
| Pine Bluff | $49,000 | 30 | +3% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 470 | +59% | |
| El Centro | 40 | -21% | |
| Fresno | $71,000 | 580 | +59% |
| Hanford | 70 | +111% | |
| Los Angeles | $69,000 | 8,060 | +71% |
| Madera | 40 | +29% | |
| Modesto | $63,000 | 230 | +34% |
| Oakland | $72,000 | 1,570 | +35% |
| Oxnard | $60,000 | 950 | +180% |
| Sacramento | $68,000 | 2,050 | +104% |
| Salinas | 220 | +24% | |
| San Francisco | $99,000 | 4,280 | +271% |
| Santa Ana | $70,000 | 2,600 | +54% |
| Santa Barbara | $72,000 | 160 | -14% |
| Santa Cruz | $55,000 | 120 | +29% |
| Santa Rosa | $66,000 | 290 | +50% |
| Vallejo | 170 | +30% | |
| Visalia | $46,000 | 40 | -73% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $77,000 | 60 | -65% |
| Colorado Springs | $81,000 | 320 | +12% |
| Denver | $71,000 | 1,770 | +22% |
| Fort Collins | $67,000 | 30 | -78% |
| Grand Junction | $63,000 | 40 | -32% |
| Greeley | $66,000 | 40 | -47% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $105,000 | 800 | +63% |
| Danbury | $52,000 | 70 | -2% |
| Hartford | $70,000 | 820 | +23% |
| New Haven | $60,000 | 110 | -64% |
| Norwich | $59,000 | 50 | -63% |
| Waterbury | $60,000 | 40 | -43% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $85,000 | 5,700 | +101% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $51,000 | 200 | -8% |
| Deltona | $50,000 | 180 | +6% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $61,000 | 700 | -13% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $76,000 | 170 | +111% |
| Gainesville | $67,000 | 90 | -32% |
| Jacksonville | $55,000 | 1,750 | +152% |
| Lakeland | $52,000 | 160 | -24% |
| Miami | $63,000 | 1,230 | +8% |
| Naples | $74,000 | 90 | -26% |
| Ocala | $50,000 | 70 | -25% |
| Orlando | $58,000 | 1,280 | +8% |
| Palm Bay | $60,000 | 210 | -5% |
| Panama City | $71,000 | 40 | -44% |
| Pensacola | $65,000 | 240 | +46% |
| Port St Lucie | $53,000 | 130 | +0% |
| Punta Gorda | $51,000 | 40 | +3% |
| Sarasota | $65,000 | 210 | -25% |
| Sebastian | $47,000 | 50 | +5% |
| Tallahassee | $52,000 | 340 | +90% |
| Tampa | $58,000 | 1,500 | +13% |
| West Palm Beach | $59,000 | 600 | +0% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $57,000 | 80 | +25% |
| Augusta | $71,000 | 70 | -70% |
| Columbus | $64,000 | 80 | -33% |
| Macon | $51,000 | 60 | -38% |
| Savannah | 60 | -64% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $63,000 | 720 | +42% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $56,000 | 150 | -49% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $58,000 | 60 | -46% |
| Chicago | $75,000 | 6,010 | +37% |
| Kankakee | 50 | +22% | |
| Rockford | $39,000 | 60 | -61% |
| Springfield | $62,000 | 70 | -40% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $54,000 | 50 | -74% |
| Fort Wayne | $47,000 | 70 | -69% |
| Gary | $55,000 | 60 | -80% |
| Indianapolis | $63,000 | 1,570 | +51% |
| Lafayette | $57,000 | 40 | -50% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $45,000 | 60 | -61% |
| Davenport | $65,000 | 120 | -43% |
| Des Moines | $53,000 | 390 | +3% |
| Iowa City | $39,000 | 50 | -33% |
| Waterloo | $41,000 | 40 | -56% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $60,000 | 40 | -67% |
| Wichita | $70,000 | 140 | -57% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | $56,000 | 40 | -10% |
| Lexington | $50,000 | 140 | -49% |
| Louisville | $47,000 | 570 | -19% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $56,000 | 60 | -86% |
| Lafayette | $36,000 | 60 | -62% |
| New Orleans | $52,000 | 390 | -36% |
| Shreveport | $56,000 | 40 | -80% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $51,000 | 60 | -5% |
| Portland | $50,000 | 220 | -2% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $53,000 | 2,560 | +68% |
| Hagerstown | $52,000 | 50 | -52% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $44,000 | 40 | -63% |
| Boston | $74,000 | 2,020 | 0% |
| Framingham | $76,000 | 90 | -50% |
| Haverhill | $73,000 | 90 | +3% |
| Lawrence | $56,000 | 70 | +14% |
| Lowell | $62,000 | 130 | -1% |
| New Bedford | 30 | -55% | |
| Springfield | $68,000 | 70 | -79% |
| Worcester | $60,000 | 120 | -58% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $56,000 | 280 | +50% |
| Battle Creek | $57,000 | 110 | +109% |
| Detroit | $70,000 | 1,840 | +137% |
| Flint | $53,000 | 140 | -2% |
| Grand Rapids | $54,000 | 520 | +20% |
| Holland | $52,000 | 150 | +45% |
| Jackson | $52,000 | 120 | +144% |
| Kalamazoo | $55,000 | 390 | +161% |
| Lansing | $69,000 | 1,290 | +478% |
| Monroe | $43,000 | 110 | +207% |
| Muskegon | $57,000 | 50 | -13% |
| Niles | $51,000 | 90 | +51% |
| Saginaw | $56,000 | 140 | +61% |
| Warren | $70,000 | 2,500 | +99% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $62,000 | 80 | -44% |
| Minneapolis | $64,000 | 3,540 | +70% |
| Rochester | $60,000 | 370 | +234% |
| St Cloud | $53,000 | 90 | -13% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $67,000 | 80 | -31% |
| Jackson | $60,000 | 40 | -86% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $44,000 | 30 | -65% |
| Jefferson City | $47,000 | 60 | -23% |
| Joplin | $41,000 | 50 | -40% |
| Kansas City | $61,000 | 650 | -45% |
| Springfield | $43,000 | 80 | -63% |
| St Louis | $66,000 | 1,150 | -26% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $57,000 | 60 | -33% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $58,000 | 50 | -72% |
| Omaha | $66,000 | 80 | -85% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $52,000 | 700 | -29% |
| Reno | $58,000 | 130 | -39% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $64,000 | 430 | +283% |
| Nashua | $70,000 | 290 | +92% |
| Portsmouth | $74,000 | 280 | +372% |
| Rochester | $58,000 | 60 | +9% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $62,000 | 190 | +18% |
| Camden | $61,000 | 740 | +22% |
| Edison | $62,000 | 2,120 | +77% |
| Newark | $68,000 | 2,210 | +90% |
| Trenton | $70,000 | 960 | +274% |
| Vineland | $64,000 | 100 | +61% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $61,000 | 370 | -17% |
| Santa Fe | $56,000 | 50 | -22% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $54,000 | 360 | -31% |
| Binghamton | $58,000 | 70 | -43% |
| Buffalo | $52,000 | 790 | +23% |
| Glens Falls | $37,000 | 40 | -25% |
| Nassau | $60,000 | 860 | -42% |
| New York | $73,000 | 8,120 | +34% |
| Poughkeepsie | $69,000 | 70 | -75% |
| Rochester | $47,000 | 300 | -49% |
| Syracuse | $50,000 | 110 | -69% |
| Utica | $48,000 | 80 | -42% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $50,000 | 130 | -34% |
| Charlotte | $72,000 | 3,970 | +299% |
| Durham | $65,000 | 800 | +154% |
| Fayetteville | $44,000 | 160 | +15% |
| Greensboro | $55,000 | 500 | +22% |
| Greenville | $53,000 | 50 | -29% |
| Jacksonville | $64,000 | 50 | +17% |
| Raleigh | $65,000 | 720 | +21% |
| Wilmington | $46,000 | 50 | -67% |
| Winston Salem | $64,000 | 500 | +110% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $57,000 | 120 | -67% |
| Canton | $57,000 | 60 | -68% |
| Cincinnati | $64,000 | 1,590 | +35% |
| Cleveland | $73,000 | 1,150 | -3% |
| Columbus | $66,000 | 1,510 | +41% |
| Dayton | $75,000 | 900 | +105% |
| Lima | $46,000 | 60 | +13% |
| Toledo | $59,000 | 240 | -29% |
| Youngstown | $73,000 | 70 | -73% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $77,000 | 200 | -70% |
| Tulsa | $59,000 | 50 | -90% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $47,000 | 60 | -9% |
| Corvallis | $48,000 | 50 | +95% |
| Eugene | $48,000 | 120 | -23% |
| Medford | $55,000 | 40 | -51% |
| Portland | $71,000 | 1,110 | -7% |
| Salem | $53,000 | 90 | -46% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $58,000 | 140 | -65% |
| Erie | $53,000 | 40 | -72% |
| Harrisburg | $70,000 | 380 | +4% |
| Lancaster | $61,000 | 40 | -85% |
| Philadelphia | $68,000 | 1,740 | -22% |
| Pittsburgh | $71,000 | 880 | -34% |
| Reading | $53,000 | 40 | -79% |
| Scranton | $46,000 | 210 | -29% |
| York | $75,000 | 80 | -59% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $56,000 | 900 | +40% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $70,000 | 220 | -33% |
| Columbia | $58,000 | 180 | -55% |
| Greenville | $61,000 | 120 | -65% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $62,000 | 240 | -7% |
| Knoxville | $58,000 | 290 | -24% |
| Memphis | $67,000 | 750 | +5% |
| Nashville | $59,000 | 1,050 | +22% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $46,000 | 90 | -22% |
| Austin | $63,000 | 980 | +7% |
| Beaumont | $50,000 | 80 | -55% |
| Brownsville | $38,000 | 40 | -72% |
| College Station | 50 | -50% | |
| Corpus Christi | $41,000 | 100 | -50% |
| Dallas | $69,000 | 2,110 | -14% |
| El Paso | $45,000 | 210 | -32% |
| Fort Worth | $60,000 | 690 | -31% |
| Houston | $65,000 | 1,410 | -54% |
| Killeen | $49,000 | 100 | -29% |
| Longview | $46,000 | 40 | -61% |
| Lubbock | $44,000 | 70 | -49% |
| Mcallen | $37,000 | 80 | -69% |
| Midland | $50,000 | 30 | -54% |
| Tyler | $41,000 | 40 | -59% |
| Waco | $55,000 | 60 | -44% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $66,000 | 290 | +29% |
| Salt Lake City | $57,000 | 310 | -56% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $65,000 | 70 | -42% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $53,000 | 60 | -35% |
| Lynchburg | $44,000 | 30 | -72% |
| Richmond | $65,000 | 730 | +2% |
| Roanoke | $50,000 | 160 | -8% |
| Virginia Beach | $64,000 | 1,340 | +52% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $45,000 | 70 | -10% |
| Bremerton | $70,000 | 160 | +81% |
| Kennewick | $49,000 | 60 | -45% |
| Olympia | $58,000 | 110 | +3% |
| Seattle | $67,000 | 1,990 | +22% |
| Spokane | $71,000 | 230 | 0% |
| Yakima | $48,000 | 70 | -21% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $59,000 | 50 | -69% |
| Morgantown | $64,000 | 50 | -8% |
| Parkersburg | $64,000 | 100 | +40% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $52,000 | 50 | -60% |
| Eau Claire | $53,000 | 50 | -36% |
| Green Bay | $59,000 | 130 | -31% |
| Madison | $66,000 | 280 | -28% |
| Milwaukee | $71,000 | 800 | -17% |
| Racine | $51,000 | 60 | -24% |
*FOOTNOTES: Job Facts salary and numbers data is based on US Department of Labor Statistics data for 2011. Other data on page may be from earlier years. Typical salary is given as median salary, where 50% in the job make more and 50% less. Salary range is Job Hunt's estimates of typical starting salary as being at the 10th percentile of reported pay and typical top end salary, for the most senior workers, as being at the 90th. Job openings is an estimate of new jobs every year due to growth plus those leaving the field. Where NA is given data is not available. Suggested studies is based on Job Hunt research, suggesting a minimum degree level that is judged to offer the best opportunities for entry-level employment. This Financial Specialists schools and career page was originally researched by CityTownInfo.com.