Investment & asset management graduate salary expectations

If you enjoy the excitement of crunching numbers or analysing data that can influence your business’ next big decision, investment and asset management might be for you. As a career with long working hours but high pay and bonuses, working in investment and asset management requires determination and a passion to succeed. We outline popular entry to mid-senior job roles and inform you about investment and asset management graduate salary expectations, the skills you need and what employers look for.

Asset management salary expectations

Asset management is a highly desirable career for many graduates, with an average salary of £50,000 and the opportunity to climb up the ranks. This is an exciting sector to dive into straight out of university.

Learn more about asset management and what it is. 

Entry-level asset management salaries

Financial analysts play an important role in asset management, from maximising ROI, managing leases and creating annual budgets to working on legal and accounting responsibilities. At entry-level, you can earn £24,000 to £29,000, depending on the company size and location of work. To get into an asset management financial analyst role, employers look for a Bachelor’s in a business or numerical discipline, such as accounting, physics or investment banking. Apprenticeships level 4 to 5 associated with banking are aimed at those with A-Levels, equivalent to a foundation degree. But, there are degree apprenticeships that go all the way up to a Master equivalent on the rise. Learn what an Asset Management firm does.

As an economist in asset management, you need to know the ins and outs of the market, analysing trends and researching the information that can impact the business. From interest rates, taxation and other aspects of economic and social policy. To get into an economist role you need a business or economic-based degree, disciplines in statistics and mathematics are useful. Postgraduate degrees are highly desirable by companies too. At entry-level, expect to earn between £21,000 to £38,000, depending on your qualifications and experience. 

Lastly, asset managers need thorough research skills because their job is to determine what investments a business should make, avoid or ones that can create opportunities. As a recent graduate, you can earn between £28,000 to £37,000, increasing if you work in London. To break into asset management, you need at least one year's experience in asset management or related field, a Bachelor’s degree in disciplines like economics, finance, accounting and business admin. You can gain experience through work experience or internships - take a look at asset and investment management internships for students.

Learn more about graduate roles in asset management. 

Mid-level / senior asset management salaries

As an asset management financial analyst, you need the ability to analyse numerical data, have strong computer skills, communication and team working skills. At mid-senior level, you can expect to earn £44,000 up to £77,000 at the top firms. Learn who the leading graduate employers are in Asset and Investment Management. 

A mid-senior level, an economist in asset management with four or more years of experience can earn between £50,000 to £80,000, and there are often excellent benefits that come too. The skills you need for this role include interpersonal, organisation, time management, communication, IT knowledge and analytic ability.  

An asset manager needs strong analytical skills, in-depth knowledge of maths and finance, time management skills, critical thinking and the ability to negotiate - especially in project management. At mid-senior level, an asset manager can earn £52,000 to £80,000 depending on location and experience. As a graduate moving up the ladder, you can achieve mid or senior roles faster with qualifications such as CFA, CTP or CPA. Learn about professional asset and investment management certifications. 

Investment management salary expectations

Investment management can be highly rewarding, but the long hours that come with it can be a downfall. The average salary of an investment manager is £60,000 - this can often come with desirable benefits from the company. Although investment managers and analysts make the decisions, other departments are involved too - from sales and consumer relations to marketing and PR. 

Entry-level investment management salaries

An investment analyst provides research to help managers, stockbrokers and traders make important decisions about investments. To break into these roles, employers look for a Bachelor’s degree (minimum 2.1) in disciplines like economics, accounting and mathematics, and strong A-Level results such as an A-B grade in mathematics. At entry-level roles start as an analyst, earning from £25,000 to £43,000 inside of London. Outside of London, you can earn between £18,000 and £21,000, along with bonuses. Learn what top firms can offer in Asset and Investment Management. 

Infrastructure investment is when businesses use their funds and capital to invest in existing or new infrastructure to earn a profit. But, investment infrastructure also stands for vital daily runnings of the business, such as IT and HR. You can start in this role as an investment infrastructure analyst and can earn from £29,000. To break into infrastructure investment or analyst roles, employers look for a Bachelor’s in infrastructure investment, finance, business studies and economics. Banking apprenticeships can be just as valuable because it shows you have hands-on experience and academic knowledge of the field. 

Lastly, an investment operations analyst provides operational data analysis to help investment managers make operations decisions. This may also include developing systems that support efficient operations or processing financial transactions. To get into this role, you must have a business or finance-related degree, or a banking apprenticeship. A Masters is also beneficial to gaining those higher-paying roles! You must show that you understand the importance of operations and its function in an investment business. At entry-level, you can earn from £24,000 to £35,000.

Learn key skills and how to demonstrate them in Investment and Asset Management.  

Mid-level / senior investment management salaries

Investment analysts and managers ensure business managers have enough information to make informed decisions about potential investments and opportunities. With analysts and managers, there is a salary overlap. But at mid-senior level with five to eight years experience, you can earn between £65,000 to £100,000. This fixed annual salary is usually accompanied by large bonuses from 40-150%. Skills you need for this role include analytical, research ability, work under pressure and strong communication skills. 

Moving up to an investment analyst manager from an analyst can earn you a salary between £30,000 to £43,000 depending on the company, experience and work location. Skills you need include communication, time management, numerical analysis skills and the ability to provide data evaluations. Read our top tips for applying to a firm in Investment and Asset Management.

Similarly, after you’ve gained experience as an investment operations analyst, you can move up to managerial roles. You’ll need to show experience within an operations side of an investment or asset business, time management, analytical, and communication skills and an understanding of equities and corporate actions. Mid-senior level roles earn between £31,000 and £67,000 depending on company size and your experience. 

Learn what an investment management firm does.