A guide to financial services salaries

Financial Services is a very broad sector, but we’re focusing on roles and their salaries that provide services specifically to the financial sector. If you’re a graduate or student that wants to know how much they could earn in this dynamic industry, look no further.

Entry-level financial services salaries 

A financial news writer keeps up with trends and monitors the market for the latest scope to tell readers or business leaders. At entry-level, you need to show you have an interest and experience in financial writing. If you bag yourself a staff financial writer role or a column, your starting salary sits between £21,000 and £30,000 depending on who you write for. Read about publishing and journalism salary expectations to find out more. 

If you’re interested in financial analyst roles, you might begin your journey by working in financial data or financial reporting. This means gathering information about a company’s health or financial performance, including income, cash flow and liabilities. At entry-level, expect to earn from £22,000 to £30,000. Learn 7 tips for getting ahead in financial services.  

Instead of reporting or gathering financial data, a financial analyst will numerically analyse the data, creating reports for clients to help them make their next financial move. There are lots of areas in finance that need financial analysts, but they're often found in investment management, insurance or equity investing. It is possible to break into this role at entry-level, with many firms offering internships to get your foot in the door. Expect a starting salary between £22,000 and £32,000 depending on who you work for and the location.

If you want to be involved in technology and finance, a role in technology consulting or risk assessment management might be for you. You’ll need excellent analytical and interpersonal skills to advise or help business managers make decisions that involve numerical data. At entry-level, expect to earn between £27,000 and £32,000, depending on whether you work in-house or at a consultancy. Learn more about the roles in technology consulting.  

A job in financial regulation means keeping up to date with policy changes, market developments and taxation agreements. Your role would require you to analyse data and evaluate the possible outcomes. As a graduate, you can start as a regulatory financial associate, earning you a salary between £25,000 to £32,000. Learn what financial regulation is and why it matters. 

The opposite of regulation is compliance, which ensures the company and its employers comply with guidelines and human resource policies. Financial services in particular have large regulation and compliance departments. You can start as a compliance associate, offering a salary between £21,000 and £31,000 depending on your work location and employer.

Mid-level/senior financial services salaries

Financial writers can make a difference in investment decisions and even how business leaders view the industry. In the news sector, your salary depends on your experience. Between five and ten years of experience can earn you between £25,000 and £35,000. Once you get to this stage, you may be promoted to financial news editor, seeing your salary increase to £44,000. Read the top benefits of working in the financial services sector. 

Having experience in financial data can help you rise the ranks to a financial analyst role. But, at the mid financial data level, expect to earn between £30,000 and £47,000. For a financial analyst role at mid-senior level, you can earn from £33,000 to £51,000 - rising to £71,000 at a top financial services company.

Working in finance isn’t all number crunching

Technology consultants play a huge role in the financial services industry - you could be helping a well-known company make their biggest financial decision of the year! Obviously, with more experience comes more responsibility and the chance to make a greater impact. At mid-level, you can expect to earn between £45,000 and £65,000 - increasing with bonuses. 

Moving on to regulation. Once you’ve gained experience as a regulatory financial associate, you can move up to a regulatory financial analyst or managerial roles - offering a salary of up to £66,000. Similarly, a compliance associate can move up to a compliance officer after two to five years’ experience. This mid-level role can earn you £31,000 to £45,000, increasing to over £75,000 once you reach compliance manager level. Depending on your chosen sector because regulatory and compliance departments aren’t just for finance - choose from pharmaceuticals, insurance, property and many more. Learn 7 key attributes you need to excel in Banking and Finance.