The thinkers of finance: economists, research analysts and rating experts who study markets and tell everyone else what they mean.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Economist: Studies how money, jobs, prices and trade work, and forecasts what will happen to the economy. Typical pay $116k.
Chief Economist: The top economic forecaster at a bank, company or government agency, often quoted in the news. Typical pay $300k.
Central Bank Economist: Works at the Federal Reserve analyzing the economy and helping decide interest rates. Typical pay $170k.
Sell-Side Equity Research Analyst: Covers a group of companies for a bank, publishing reports with 'buy' or 'sell' ratings that investors read. Typical pay $180k.
Credit Rating Analyst: Grades how likely companies, cities or countries are to repay their debt, at agencies like Moody's or S&P. Typical pay $135k.
Macro Strategist: Predicts big moves in interest rates, currencies and markets based on the global economy. Typical pay $220k.
Activist Short-Seller Researcher: Investigates companies they believe are frauds or overvalued, publishes the evidence and profits if the stock falls. Typical pay $200k.
Alternative Data Analyst: Uses unusual data, like satellite photos of parking lots or credit card spending, to predict company results for investors. Typical pay $145k.
Political Intelligence Consultant: Predicts what Congress and federal agencies will do, and how it will move stock prices, for hedge funds and investors who pay for the analysis. Typical pay $150k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Index Methodologist: Designs the rules for stock market indexes like the S&P 500, deciding which companies get in or out. Typical pay $105k.
Municipal Credit Analyst: Analyzes whether cities, school districts and airports can repay the bonds they issue. Typical pay $100k.
Financial Journalist: Reports on markets, companies and the economy for news outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters or the Wall Street Journal. Typical pay $75k.
Equity Research Associate: Supports a senior research analyst with models, data and drafts of reports. Typical pay $105k.
Proxy Advisory Analyst: Researches company shareholder votes (on executive pay, directors, mergers) and recommends how investors should vote. Typical pay $75k.
Commodity Price Reporter: Calls traders every day to find out the true market price of oil, metals or chemicals and publishes official benchmarks. Typical pay $72k.
Investment Newsletter Writer: Writes paid newsletters with investment ideas and market commentary for subscribers. Typical pay $80k.
Economic Research Assistant: Supports economists by gathering data, running analysis and checking charts. Typical pay $60k.
Market Data Specialist: Manages the expensive market data feeds and licenses that traders use. Typical pay $58k.
ESG Ratings Analyst: Scores companies on environmental, social and governance issues for ratings firms like MSCI or Sustainalytics. Typical pay $85k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.