Banker Steel Company
Buffalo Gap High School
Augusta County Public Schools
For more information about other CTE students who have found inspiration and exciting careers within this career cluster, see Student Profiles: Finance.
Data Snapshot
The Data Snapshot for Finance (PDF) helps educators, students and parents see connections between the Plans of Study and career opportunities in high-skill, high wage, in-demand fields.
The Finance cluster is about using your skills in math and statistics to prepare for well-paying careers in financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management. Every part of the economy offers a career in this field, providing endless opportunities to work in a variety of areas.
The hiring of loan officers – workers responsible for evaluating, authorizing, or recommending approval of loan applications – is expected to increase. Applicants with lending, banking, or sales experience should have better job prospects in this field. More accountant and auditor positions also are likely to open up. Factors that may drive growth include stricter laws and regulations in the financial sector and continued globalization, which may drive demand for accounting services related to international trade and international mergers and acquisitions. The aging population is expected to increase the need for personal financial advisers. Since pensions are no longer the norm, many people are seeking the advice of financial advisers when opening personal retirement accounts.
Employment Projections: 2016-2026*
The Finance cluster employed close to 149,300 Virginians in 2016 and is expected to be employing over 16,800 additional workers in 2026, for a total of 166,100. Based on Trailblazers analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics
data, this projected 11 percent growth in Virginia slightly exceeds the 8 percent average growth anticipated nationally among all occupations in this cluster.
*NOTE: The methodology for classifying occupations within the cluster/pathway system has been updated since the previous data cycle (2014-24), so 2016-26 Trailblazers employment projection data may not be comparable to data from previous cycles.
For more information on occupations in the Finance Cluster, visit Trailblazers – Career and Technical Education in Virginia (PDF).
| Selected Occupation(s) | Employed in Virginia 2016 |
2017 Median Wage | Predominant Level of Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 44,086 | $75,750 | Bachelor's or more |
| Financial Managers | 13,959 | $141,880 | Bachelor's or more & Work experience |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 12,428 | $47,840 | Bachelor's or more & Training/Certification |
| Tellers | 11,764 | $30,000 | Associate/Some college & Training/Certification |
| Loan Officers | 9,473 | $68,870 | Bachelor's or more & Training/Certification |
| Bill and Account Collectors | 7,959 | $36,840 | Associate/Some college & Training/Certification |
| Loan Interviewers and Clerks | 7,877 | $39,330 | Associate/Some college & Training/Certification |
| Budget Analysts | 3,717 | $86,760 | Bachelor's or more |
| Tax Preparers | 2,981 | $28,440 | Bachelor's or more & Training/Certification |
| Credit Analysts | 1,833 | $81,540 | Bachelor's or more |
- Wage data: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2017.
- Employment projections data: Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Long-Term Occupational Projections, 2016-2026.
- Predominant education level: Trailblazers through the Demographics and Workforce Section of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.
Career Cluster Planning
A resource for counselors, administrators, and educators
CTE VERSO – includes information to help local school divisions plan and schedule instructional programs. VERSO is organized by program area, with a complete listing of courses, concentration sequences, and credentials available to students as they plan for career entry and continuing education. Users may access course information by cluster or by searching for specific courses or certifications.
Academic and Career Plans of Study
Development Information
Information and tips for instructional leaders, administrators, counselors and teachers/faculty for creating a career pathway academic and career plan of study.
Sample Academic and Career Plans of Study
School divisions are asked to develop sample plans of study based on the courses offered within their schools, the employment needs of the region, and the post-high school educational opportunities needed for these careers. Once these sample plans are developed, they can be customized to the needs of individual students so that all students have the opportunity to have an individualized academic and career plan of study.
Sample Pathway Plans of Study for Finance:
- Accounting (Word)
- Banking Services (Word)
- Business Finance (Word)
- Insurance (Word)
- Securities & Investments (Word)
- Blank Plan of Study (with fields) (Word)
Also see Sample Plans of Study for all clusters and pathways.
Cluster Analysis Document for Virginia
Report: Education, Employment and Earnings: Analyzing Data from Finance
Resources
The Career Clusters logo and its extensions are the property of the National Career Technical Foundation, as managed by NASDCTEc. Some content on this page is from the publication, R U College & Career Ready? - 2017 Edition; and is used here with permission from the Virginia Business Publications LLC and Trailblazers in the Demographics and Workforce Section of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.