Salary · Finance & Accounting
CFA Level I (CFA Institute) salary: what it pays (2026)
Indicative pay ranges for roles that commonly value CFA Level I - broken down by role and by market. These are orientation figures, not a salary survey, so use them to compare and plan, then verify for your own city and year.
Indicative ranges for orientation only - not surveyed data, and not financial or career advice.
What CFA Level I tends to pay
The full CFA charter is associated with strong pay in investment roles, but Level I alone is an early signal, not the charter. US charterholders report a wide range depending on role, firm and seniority; Level I mainly helps you enter analyst-track roles.
Pay by role (indicative)
| Investment / Equity Research Analyst | ~$80k-130k |
|---|---|
| Risk Analyst | ~$85k-130k |
| Investment Banking Analyst | ~$100k-180k |
| Wealth / Private Client Manager | ~$90k-160k |
| Portfolio Manager (charterholder) | ~$130k-250k+ |
Bands are indicative US figures unless stated. Actual pay depends on experience, employer, city and year.
Other markets (indicative)
| United Kingdom | ~£50k-110k+ |
|---|---|
| Canada | ~CA$80k-160k+ |
Jobs that often ask for it
- Investment / Equity Research Analyst
- Portfolio Manager (with charter)
- Risk Analyst
- Asset Management roles
- Corporate finance / strategy
Weigh the pay against the cost
Salary is only half the picture. Before you commit, check what CFA Level I actually costs to sit and maintain, and where it can take you over a career.
- See the full fee breakdown in the CFA Level I cost and overview (exam fee, retake, materials and renewal).
- Estimate your total spend, including a possible retake, with our exam cost calculator.
Where CFA Level I leads (with a pay ladder)
These career paths show how pay typically climbs stage by stage, and where CFA Level I fits on the way up:
- How to become a financial analyst with certifications
- How to become a portfolio manager with certifications