How much does a risk analyst make?
Answer: A typical risk analyst in the United States makes $117,330 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 64,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Risk analyst pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $64,820 | $117,330 | $196,110 | about 64,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $139,440 | about 1,000 |
| New York | $136,830 | about 12,000 |
| North Carolina | $132,040 | about 3,000 |
| Massachusetts | $130,400 | about 1,000 |
| New Jersey | $129,220 | about 3,000 |
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.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a risk analyst do?
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).
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)
Good for people who like keeping things organized and figuring things out.
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.
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Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Sources and data
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
- www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2054.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes132054.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.garp.org/frm/program-exams
- www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2026-stress-test-scenarios.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY