Business and financial operations occupation profiles

Overview:

Employment: 7,281,190

Mean Hourly Wage: $36.09

Mean Annual Wage: $75,070

Largest Employment Category—Accountants and Auditors—1,246,540

Smallest Employment Category— Farm Labor Contractors—810

Wage Estimates for the entire group can be found here.

The Business and Financial Operations occupation profiles compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in May 2016 and modified in March 2017) include specific information about 32 distinct occupational job types.

Explore the qualifications and nature of each job type through links on this page and throughout the site. Discover new jobs in banking, finance, accounting, business, government, or financial operations.

If you are interested in assessing long-term trends and comparing the Bureau’s annual surveys beginning in 1988.

Fast Facts: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”) estimates that 7,281,190 are employed in this occupational group earning the “mean annual wage” (as defined below) of $75,070.

In general, the “mean” is the sum of the total values (e.g., wages) in the data set or survey divided by number of values (while the “median” is the middle value in same the sequence. The term “mean annual wage” (or “MAW”) is calculated by multiplying the mean hourly wage as determined by the BLS by a “year-round, full-time” hours figure of 2,080 hours. So, for example, the Business and Financial Operations group’s mean hourly wage of $36.09, multiplied by 2,080, results in the mean annual wage of $75,070.

Did you know? Northern California metropolitan areas lead the way in salaries in this occupational group with San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($101,450), San Rafael, CA Metropolitan Division ($100,760) and San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division ($100,500) taking the top three spots, followed by Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division ($89,470) at No.8. Though Los Alamos County, New Mexico nonmetropolitan area has only 1,320 jobs in this occupation, it still registers the highest concentration (87.30 per 1,000) among nonmetropolitan areas.

Highest Paid (mean annual wage)

  • Personal Financial Advisors ($123,100)
  • Financial Analysts ($97,640)
  • Management Analysts ($91,910)
  • Financial Examiners ($88,940)
  • Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes ($86,560)

Lowest Paid (from lowest)

  • Tax Preparers ($45,340)
  • Farm Labor Contractors ($47,290)
  • Credit Counselors ($49,480)
  • Meeting and Convention Planners ($52,020)
  • Fundraisers ($57,930)
  • Tax Examiners, Collectors, and Revenue Agents ($57,950)

For the entire list of mean annual wages for this occupation (from highest to lowest),

Sources: In addition to specific citations noted, supplementary source materials include the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.