Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Salary in USA
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CFA Salary in USA depends on the work experience and job roles. The average salary of a Chartered Financial Analyst is USD 108,855 per year (INR 90.63 Lakhs Approx). This is just base pay and does not include other benefits of total compensation.
CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst is a charter given to candidates who clear all the 3 levels of the exam and meet the minimum work experience requirements. CFA charter is globally recognized and is highly respected in the financial industry. Investment banking, asset management, and portfolio analysis are just a few finance-related fields where CFAs are highly sought-after specialists. If you are planning to study in USA and take the CFA exam and also work as CFA in the USA look at the article which will cover everything around this.
- CFA Salary in USA & Course Highlights
- CFA Salary in US
- CFA Salary in US Based on Job Role
- CFA Top Recruiters
- CFA Syllabus for USA
- How to Become CFA in USA
CFA Salary in USA & Course Highlights
| Head | Details |
|---|---|
| Course | CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) |
| CFA Fees |
|
| CFA Duration | At least 1.5 years |
| Exam Levels | 3 Levels |
| CFA Average Salary in US | USD 177,000 (total) |
| Popular Job Roles After CFA | Portfolio Manager, Equity Research Analyst, Investment Banker, Risk Analyst, Wealth Manager, Financial Planner, Credit Analyst, etc. |
| CFA Highest Salary in USA | USD 217,242 or above |
| Average CFA Salary in America | USD 80,000 |
CFA Salary in US
CFAs are well paying jobs who are specialised experts. As per official CFA website, bonuses make up a sizable portion of pay in the investment sector. Salary earned by a CFA includes their base salary, bonus and long term incentives. A Portfolio Manager earns an annual base salary of USD 126,000 and their total compensation amounts to USD 177,000.
CFA Salary Level-wise in the USA
Check out the different levels of CFA salaries in USA for reference below:
| CFA Level | CFA Salary As per Level Wise (per annum) |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | USD 43,218 to USD 78,374 |
| Level 2 | USD 65,500 to USD 132,500 |
| Level 3 | USD 67,786 to USD 217,242 |
CFA Salary in US Based on Job Role
The table given below provides CFA salary in US based on different job roles
| Job Role | CFA Salary in US |
|---|---|
| Associate – Sell Side | USD 75,250 - USD 96,250 |
| Analyst – Buy Side | USD 75,750 - USD 98,500 |
| Business Development Officer | USD 100,750 - USD 165,500 |
| Fund Manager | USD 132,500 - USD 194,250 |
| Private Banker with 1-3 Years of Experience | USD 54,500 - USD 75,750 |
| Credit Analyst with 1-3 Years of Experience | USD 50,250 - USD 66,750 |
| Financial Analyst | USD 69,000 |
| Portfolio Manager (Equities) | USD 180,500 |
The data given in the table has been sourced from a presentation given on the official CFA website. It is vital for the candidates to research the salaries in their respective field and geographical locations.
CFA Top Recruiters
Some of the top recruiters for CFAs include:
| Top Employers for CFA in USA |
||
|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase |
Royal Bank of Canada |
UBS Group |
| Morgan Stanley Wealth Management |
BofA Securities |
HSBC Holdings |
| Wells Fargo and Company |
PricewaterhouseCoopers |
BlackRock |
| TD Bank Financial Group |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch |
EY |
| PwC |
Citibank |
- |
CFA Syllabus for USA
The table shows topics covered for CFA exam. In addition to the topics, their percentage based on the exam level is also given
| CFA Topic | CFA Level I | CFA Level II | CFA Level III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethical and Professional Standards | 15-20% | 10-15% | 10-15% |
| Quantitative Methods | 6-9% | 5-10% | 0 |
| Economics | 6-9% | 5-10% | 5-10% |
| Financial Statement Analysis | 6-9% | 10-15% | 0 |
| Corporate Issuers | 8-12% | 5-10% | 0 |
| Portfolio Management | 8-12% | 10-15% | 35-40% |
| Equity Investments | 11-14% | 10-15% | 10-15% |
| Fixed Income | 11-14% | 10-15% | 15-20% |
| Derivatives | 5-8% | 5-10% | 5-10% |
| Alternative Investments | 7-10% | 5-10% | 5-10% |
How to Become CFA in USA
To become a CFA in USA follow these four core requirements set by CFA Institute:
- Have a bachelors degree or have a combination of 4,000 hours of relevant work experience and higher education.
- Successfully pass the Level I, Level II and Level III exams in order with practical skills modules.
- Acquire at least 4,000 hours of professional work experience in investment decision making over 36 months.
- Apply for regular membership, provide professional references, agree to follow the CFA Institute's Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, and pay annual membership dues.
Students are advised to prepare well for their CFA exam to avoid retakes as the stakes are high when it is this exam. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers diverse master's programs in areas like Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, Data, Economics, and Design of Policy, Media Arts and Sciences, and more. Most of the master programme applications opens in September and closes between December and January of every year. Students can check the application deadline for the popular Masters programme below:
Program | Application Opens | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
Aeronautics and Astronautics | Sep 1, 2025 | Dec 1, 2025 |
Architecture | Oct 1, 2025 | Jan 7, 2026 |
Chemical Engineering | Sep 15, 2025 | Dec 1, 2025 |
Civil and Environmental Engineering | Sep 15, 2025 | Dec 15, 2025 |
Data, Economics, and Design of Policy | Nov 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences | Sep 1, 2025 | Dec 15, 2025 |
Materials Science and Engineering | Sep 1, 2025 | Dec 1, 2025 |
Mechanical Engineering | Sep 15, 2025 | Dec 15, 2025 |
Media Arts and Sciences | Sep 15, 2025 | December 15 |
Nuclear Science and Engineering/Political Science | September 15 | Dec 15, 2025 |
With 42% acceptance rate, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is hard to get into for Indian students. The below moderate percentage shows that the university follows tough admission process to select students. Some of the factors consider by the university are transcripts, test scores, involvement in extracurricular activities, work experience, and English language requirements.
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The average GMAT cutoff for MBA in USA ranges anywhere between 545 to 755. The applicants can aim for B-schools in USA accordingly.