Career Options in Economics/Finance: Salary Expectations

In summary, there are many career options available for those with majors in economics or finance, but it is likely that graduates will start out doing more entry-level work before moving up to higher paying positions. While there are some exceptions, it is rare for someone to make a six figure salary right out of college. Economics and finance are closely related fields, with finance being a sub-field of economics. For those interested in high paying jobs, there are programs available in financial engineering or mathematical finance, but they can be costly. Economics is a separate subject from finance, but math is considered essential in both fields. However, simply being a mathematician does not guarantee success in economics.
  • #1
chound
164
0
What are the career options if I take economics or finance as my major. How much salary can I expect. Will it be atleast 6 digit.
 
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  • #2
Hm. There are tons of fields that you could go into with those majors...
Most times, however, unless you have done something exceptional you will probably be placed doing grunt work for a year or two. If you went to some investment firm, you'd probably be doing research until they deem you worthy of doing trading. If you proved yourself there, that is when the money would start flowing in.

I don't have too much information, but I am also interested in mixing Finance and Engineering. So, these answers are just speculations on what I've heard.

As for six figures salaries, I have heard of people coming out of Harvard Business School and going to wall street to be some security analyst and making that much, but other than a situation like that I would doubt that you could make that much money just coming out of college.

You'd probably be making 30-50k coming out of College with a BA unless you went somewhere really fantastic and really did something exceptional. There are always cases where people do come out of college and make six figure salaries, but they are very rare, from what I have heard.

I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about this.
 
  • #3
If you are presently on a physics track and you want to find out more about the application to finance I would reccomend looking into " econophysics".

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.unifr.ch/econophysics/

http://www.econophysics.org/

There is a lot there and believe it or not there are correlations between these two subjects. It was a physicist who helped develop the device known as a derivitive or option that set off the CBOE and mutual funds. Look into the Black-Scholes equation of portfolio risk analysis.

It is relevant to remark that the mathematical discipline of physics is very useful in economics.

As for the fabled 6 figure salary, GOOD LUCK!
 
  • #4
I'm not into physics or anyother subject. But I'm interested in doing computers or MBA as minor
 
  • #5
Mathemiticians make the best economists. After all, Nash won the nobel prize in economics.

I laugh at people who are obsessed with six figure salaries. Its absurd to ever expect that, especailly right out of college. The only people earning six figure salaries (right out of college) are people who do spectaculr things in their field and are worth that kind of money. To expect to be that good is foolish for most people.
 
  • #6
What course should I take for economics? Should I know all kinds of data realating to economy e.g. GDPs, Per capita incomes, etc. And 6 figure salary I expect after some time like 5-6 years
 
  • #7
What course should I take for economics or finance (are they both the same)? Should I know all kinds of data realating to economy e.g. GDPs, Per capita incomes, etc. And 6 figure salary I expect after some time like 5-6 years. Are there enough jobs for people who study finance or economics
 
  • #8
please answer someone!
 
  • #9
AFAIK Finance is an area of Economics. You could try Economics as major and CS as a minor given you interests:

chound said:
I'm not into physics or anyother subject. But I'm interested in doing computers or MBA as minor

You can try an MBA after you get your undergraduate degree, but that would be getting into a big debt. I'm also interested in Economics, but if I were you, I'd try a major in Economics and a minor in Mathematics. If you're willing to study an MBA then try the Information Systems area, but that would be better to try a MSc in CS or something like that.
 
  • #10
Hopefully, by now, OP is already on his way towards 6 digits and is not contemplating whether to major in Economics or not :wink:
 
  • #11
This thread is like 6 years old lol, I am sure he is very wealthly now
 
  • #12
Firstly, Economics is not Finance, on the contrary Finance can be called as a sub-field of economics. For those who are looking for 6-digit salary plenty of Universities are offering Financial Engineering/Mathematical Finance/Quantitative Finance/Computational Finance/Finance programs which would place you at some investment banks and the starting salary varies, if you already have some experience in financial sector(even as an intern) you can easily make it up to 60K, but remember it is a very competitive industry and your increase in salary highly depends on your performance. Some are research based and some are professional programs, both will place you in the indistry of high standing, but choose research based if you want to go for a PhD. Harvard, MIT, Princeton, New York Uni and plenty others offer programs in this area but it would cost you a fortune, though it's worth it.

Now, economics is different from the wall street affairs, in the sense that, economists do not do trading instead they analyse the behavior of the markets in conjunction with the economy. If your main interest is in 6-digit salary Financial Engineering is for you, Economists do get 6-digit salary(mostly the phds), but only the elite few. One more thing, Financial Engineering is highly mathematical compared to economics.

franznietzsche: while mathematics is considered to be the language of modern economics, we can never assume that "mathematicians make the best economists". Economics is an independent subject just like mathematics, but math being the universal language is indispensable from anything.
 
  • #13
Ryker said:
Hopefully, by now, OP is already on his way towards 6 digits and is not contemplating whether to major in Economics or not :wink:

gretun said:
This thread is like 6 years old lol, I am sure he is very wealthly now

Right. My mistake.

doodle_sack said:
franznietzsche: while mathematics is considered to be the language of modern economics, we can never assume that "mathematicians make the best economists". Economics is an independent subject just like mathematics, but math being the universal language is indispensable from anything.

Yes. But if you're a math student and you really work hard to understand about Economics you're going to have an advantage above the math illiterate.
 
  • #14
if you work hard, you can pretty much do anything =p
 

1. What career options are available in economics and finance?

There are a wide range of career options in economics and finance, including roles in banking, investment analysis, financial planning, consulting, and government agencies. Other possible careers include working in the insurance industry, as an economist for a corporation, or in academia as a professor or researcher.

2. What is the average salary for careers in economics and finance?

The average salary for careers in economics and finance varies depending on the specific job title, industry, and location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for financial analysts in May 2020 was $83,660, while the median annual wage for economists was $108,350. Other factors that can impact salary include education, experience, and additional certifications or credentials.

3. How do salaries in economics and finance compare to other fields?

Salaries in economics and finance tend to be higher than the average for all occupations. This is due to the specialized knowledge and skills required for these roles, as well as the level of responsibility and potential for high earnings in the financial industry.

4. Are there opportunities for career advancement in economics and finance?

Yes, there are many opportunities for career advancement in economics and finance. With experience and additional education or certifications, individuals can move up to more senior positions with higher salaries and greater responsibilities. There are also opportunities to specialize in a particular area of economics or finance, which can lead to higher paying and more prestigious positions.

5. What other factors besides salary should I consider when choosing a career in economics or finance?

While salary is an important factor to consider, there are other factors to take into account when choosing a career in economics or finance. These may include job satisfaction, work-life balance, job security, and potential for growth and development. It is also important to consider your own interests, skills, and values to ensure a good fit with the job and company culture.

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