Career comparison
Economist vs. Financial Analyst
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Economists earn more at the median ($124,720 vs. $102,740), while economists usually get to work faster (2–6 years after a bachelor’s of training). Economists study how money, resources and decisions shape the economy. Financial analysts analyze financial data to guide business and investment decisions.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Economist | Financial Analyst | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $124,720 ($59.96/hr) | $102,740 ($49.40/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $67,360 – $238,060 | $63,720 – $180,860 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.7% (about as fast as average) | +7.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 24,700 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 2–6 years after a bachelor’s | 4 years |
| Key credential | Master’s or Ph.D. in economics | Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) |
| Work setting | Economists work in offices for governments, firms and research institutions.. | Analysts work in offices or remotely at banks, corporations, investment firms, insurers and government agencies. |
What each job does
Economist
- Collect economic data
- Build models and forecasts
- Analyze policies
- Write reports
- Present findings
Financial Analyst
- Build financial models and forecasts
- Analyze financial statements and performance
- Prepare budgets and variance analyses
- Research companies, industries and markets
- Evaluate investments and projects
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, high-pay, desk work, and working independently. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose economist if…
- I love data and theory
- I follow economic news
- I like writing
Choose financial analyst if…
- I love numbers and spreadsheets
- I like finding the story in data
- I’m detail-oriented
Still torn? Take the Economist fit quiz and the Financial Analyst fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, economist or financial analyst?
Economists earn more at the median: $124,720 versus $102,740 for financial analysts, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Economists typically train faster (2–6 years after a bachelor’s) than financial analysts (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects financial analysts to grow +7.2% from 2025–35, compared with +4.7% for economists.