A Financial Examiner ensures compliance with laws governing financial institutions and transactions. They review balance sheets, evaluate the risk level of loans, and ensure that banks and financial institutions are operating in accordance with laws and regulations.
Education: Bachelor's degree
Years in related career: None
On-the-job training: Long-term
Projected Growth: 19.5% (far above average)
Annual job openings: 5,700
Direct AI exposure: 30% of tasks
Potential AI exposure: 85% of tasks
| According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average income (in USD) in 2025 was $94K per year. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% | Bottom 25% | Median (average) | Top 25% | Top 10% |
| $56K per year | $71K per year | $94K per year | $130K per year | $174K per year |
| Compared to other careers: Median is $43K above the national average. | ||||
Financial Examiners typically work in offices, often employed by federal or state government agencies, such as the Federal Reserve or state banking departments. Some may work for private firms. The job may involve travel to different financial institutions for audits and reviews.
Financial Examiners play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the financial system. They ensure that financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions, comply with laws and regulations designed to protect consumers and promote financial stability. This involves reviewing balance sheets, assessing loan risk levels, and inspecting overall financial health.
Their work requires a deep understanding of financial laws, accounting principles, and the intricacies of financial institutions. Financial Examiners must be detail-oriented to identify issues that could be harmful to the stability of the financial system or detrimental to consumers. They often provide recommendations to financial institutions on how to improve their compliance and risk management practices.
This career demands strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as Financial Examiners need to interpret complex financial data and regulations. Communication skills are also important, as they must be able to clearly explain their findings and provide guidance to financial institutions.
A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field is typically required, which involves about 4 years of post-secondary education. Additional training or certifications may be needed, depending on the specific role.
Similarity is based on what people in the careers do, what they know, and what they are called. The process of establishing similarity lists is described in this white paper.