National Salary Info » Financial Specialists

Highest Paying Industries for Financial Specialists

The top 100 highest paying industries for financial specialists (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $88,510, securities and commodity exchanges is the highest paying industry for financial specialists. It is followed by monetary authorities-central bank industry (average annual salary $87,600). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of financial specialists in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Financial Specialists

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Securities and Commodity Exchanges	$88,510	$49,780	730
2	Monetary Authorities-Central Bank	$87,600	$50,790	3,450
3	Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage	$87,530	$44,150	99,430
4	Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$86,690	$43,100	256,300
5	Other Financial Investment Activities	$86,130	$42,440	156,140
6	Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media	$85,620	$50,260	n/a
7	Other Information Services	$82,440	$50,190	4,250
8	Software Publishers	$81,930	$47,600	8,940
9	Postal Service (federal government)	$81,320	$63,950	1,150
10	Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores	$80,100	$44,850	620
11	Natural Gas Distribution	$79,800	$50,870	3,170
12	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$79,530	$48,990	11,330
13	Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing	$79,330	$44,560	1,830
14	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$79,270	$48,570	5,000
15	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$78,870	$49,850	10,200
16	Scientific Research and Development Services	$78,800	$48,860	12,560
17	Federal government, including USPS	$78,430	$48,320	94,800
18	Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)	$78,380	$48,190	3,040
19	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$78,360	$48,140	93,660
20	Motion Picture and Video Industries	$78,250	$45,060	3,330
21	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$77,860	$51,970	10,820
22	Telecommunications	$77,700	$48,910	14,950
23	Automobile Dealers	$77,570	$42,020	19,070
24	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$77,430	$48,330	4,620
25	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$77,270	$43,210	430
26	Rail Transportation	$77,040	$51,630	1,150
27	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$76,940	$46,670	1,640
28	Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries	$76,910	$44,550	3,900
29	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$76,750	$48,110	21,190
30	Metal Ore Mining	$76,320	$49,630	210
31	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$76,130	$47,020	1,800
32	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$76,050	$44,180	14,940
33	Oil and Gas Extraction	$75,880	$41,800	10,640
34	Information	$75,840	$45,360	48,500
35	Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers	$75,820	$41,300	21,040
36	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$75,460	$47,920	9,060
37	Utilities	$75,440	$47,980	9,880
38	Satellite Telecommunications	$75,300	$52,400	220
39	Mining	$74,990	$42,400	15,210
40	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$74,780	$50,630	590
41	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$74,450	$45,300	33,860
42	Support Activities for Mining	$74,400	$44,100	3,610
43	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$74,070	$45,410	4,110
44	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$74,020	$47,340	6,310
45	Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles	$73,810	$43,870	2,260
46	Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities	$73,490	$47,570	1,230
47	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$73,420	$47,940	17,260
48	Exterminating and Pest Control Services	$73,070	$45,240	250
49	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$72,770	$50,810	920
50	Engineering Services	$72,550	$45,620	15,240
51	Pharmacies and Drug Stores	$72,510	$40,070	960
52	Other Pipeline Transportation	$72,220	$44,690	130
53	Local Messengers and Local Delivery	$72,140	$43,330	150
54	Specialized Design Services	$72,070	$44,980	1,520
55	Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas	$71,750	$43,210	1,070
56	Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$71,580	$43,760	11,730
57	Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing	$71,490	$44,910	940
58	Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing	$71,460	$46,090	1,450
59	Pipeline Transportation	$71,450	$43,800	1,460
60	Sound Recording Industries	$71,370	$41,760	570
61	Chemical Manufacturing	$71,240	$44,010	9,540
62	Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers	$71,180	$45,100	2,300
63	Lessors of Real Estate	$71,160	$42,150	10,430
64	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$71,080	$43,990	20,120
65	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$71,050	$43,820	7,480
66	Book Stores and News Dealers	$70,980	$40,480	70
67	Department Stores	$70,950	$31,440	80
68	Specialty Food Stores	$70,930	$37,920	290
69	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$70,920	$44,230	3,080
70	Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$70,890	$46,300	420
71	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$70,820	$42,550	188,650
72	Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing	$70,740	$46,330	340
73	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$70,690	$40,860	49,370
74	Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil	$70,510	$46,870	260
75	Television Broadcasting	$70,430	$44,100	1,280
76	Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing	$70,280	$47,140	340
77	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$70,270	$43,050	1,440
78	Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing	$70,230	$43,930	2,360
79	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$70,170	$43,810	3,350
80	Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services	$70,150	$42,550	7,380
81	Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations	$70,100	$41,500	1,780
82	Mining (except Oil and Gas)	$70,020	$43,760	960
83	Manufacturing	$69,870	$43,690	109,570
84	Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance	$69,820	$42,240	170
85	Other Telecommunications	$69,810	$43,910	1,490
86	Health and Personal Care Stores	$69,760	$40,950	1,480
87	Machinery Manufacturing	$69,750	$43,410	12,060
88	Radio and Television Broadcasting	$69,680	$42,660	2,160
89	Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing	$69,670	$44,220	490
90	Forging and Stamping	$69,660	$41,030	620
91	General Rental Centers	$69,590	$42,460	160
92	Finance and Insurance	$69,400	$37,020	868,520
93	Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying	$69,400	$44,450	460
94	Retail Trade	$69,320	$39,750	39,190
95	Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities	$69,290	$44,170	550
96	Specialty hospitals - State government owned	$69,270	$48,540	320
97	Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers	$69,270	$43,350	2,860
98	Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$69,240	$43,750	5,110
99	Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers	$69,190	$43,180	910
100	Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing	$69,040	$44,820	890