Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Salary in USA
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Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Salary in USA

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Nov 11, 2025 21:09 IST
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 of the finance-related fields

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 Salary in USA

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.

Table of contents
  • 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
  • USD 350 for one-time enrolment
  • USD 900 if early registration
  • USD 1,200 for standard registration
  • Total Fee Range: USD 3,050 to USD 3,950 (depending on when your register for the CFA exam)
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

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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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Q:   What is the decent score required on the ACT test to get a good university in the USA?
A:

A score of 26 is a great start. Most good universities in United States generally look for student scores between 28 and 30. While the very best schools often expect a 33 or even higher. Always prepare well for it.

Q:   What major is the University of Nebraska known for?
A:

According to a source, the most popular majors at the University of Nebraska Omaha are Psychology; Computer Science; Business Administration and Management; Biology / Biological Sciences, etc. Among the 2022 graduates of the university, here are the popular majors:

  • Business Administration and Management: 21%
  • Criminal Justice: 10%
  • Psychology: 7%
  • Biology / Biological Sciences: 6%
Q:   Why to choose MCPHS University for MS in USA rather than University of Texas, Austin?
A:

MCPHS University should be chosen rather than the University of Texas, Austin due to the several reasons:
MCPHS has a strong reputation for providing transformative education that can lead to successful employment in the health and life sciences. It is specialised for the health sciences courses. MCPHS provides students with a wide selection of alternatives with over 100 programs in various health and life sciences sectors. The cost of the MS course at MCPHS is INR 17 lakh.

Taking into account the University of Texas at Austin
The cost of the MS course here is in between INR 13 lakh to INR 54 lakh. It offers the MS course in the different academic fields.  Its rank is 43 in Best Global Universities awarded by the prestigious US News & World Report. But specialisation in health sciences would not be available by the student.

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About the Author
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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i Read Full Bio
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Reviewed by
Syed
MBA in USA
Syed Nazrul Hassan, an MA graduate in International Relations, is an adroit counselor who believes in the philosophy of putting himself in student's shoes in order to provide honest and sincere counseling services. Read Full Bio
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