Who Earns What

How much does a risk analyst make?

US Financial Risk Specialists
$117,330

a year · about $56 an hour

A typical risk analyst in the United States makes $117,330 a year, about $56 an hour, about 2.3× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What do they do?

They review company and market data, use statistical models to measure risk, and consider how market scenarios could affect a business. They explain their findings to clients or coworkers and discuss what the risk numbers mean.

Did you know? A bank stress test is not a prediction: the Fed uses made-up recession scenarios to check whether big banks could keep lending to families and businesses.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$117,330
Typical worker$50,980
Elementary teacher$63,970
Doctor$244,180
Cashier$32,880

If 100 people had this job

Most earn between $64,820 and $196,110
48 of 100
not many

How do you become one?

In the U.S., a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field is typical, and internships can provide useful experience. An optional FRM credential requires passing two exams and gaining two years of relevant work experience.

School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree

Good for people who like keeping things organized and figuring things out

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, useful credentials such as FRM, and skill with complex risk models. It also varies by employer or industry, location, and the difficulty of the work.

Where does it pay most?

Highest in Delaware ($139,440), lowest in Louisiana ($58,440).

See every state
Whole US$117,330
Delaware$139,440
New York$136,830
North Carolina$132,040
Massachusetts$130,400
New Jersey$129,220
Utah$77,770
Kentucky$74,640
Louisiana$58,440

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

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Who earns more?
Data table and sources
Risk analyst pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$64,820$117,330$196,110about 64,000
States where risk analysts earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Delaware$139,440about 1,000
New York$136,830about 12,000
North Carolina$132,040about 3,000
Massachusetts$130,400about 1,000
New Jersey$129,220about 3,000

Official definition: Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk. Excludes “Credit Analysts” (13-2041).

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY