What are the best careers in finance for work-life balance?

Alongside technology and consulting, finance remains one of the most competitive career paths for business school graduates. It offers exposure to fast-paced environments and the opportunity to build experience through demanding, high-impact work.

For those eager to take on the intensity, finance can also be highly rewarding. Compensation levels are renowned as being among the strongest across industries, with clear pathways across both “buy-side” roles such as hedge funds, private equity, and asset management, and “sell-side” roles including investment banking and capital markets.

However, the industry is also known for its workload. Long hours are a defining feature of many roles, particularly in investment banking, where demands can be especially intense.

So which finance careers offer the most balanced working hours in 2026?

The eFinancialCareers 2026 Compensation Report provides a detailed look at working hours, pay, and hourly compensation across investment banking, trading, corporate finance, and other key finance functions.

Below, we break down some of the finance careers where workers have the lowest average weekly working hours, as well as details of how much they earn and how their compensation has changed over the past 12 months.

Which areas of finance have the best work-life balance? 

Commodities Sales & Trading: 42.3 hours

Average hours (2024): 41.6 hours

Compensation per hour: $85.80 (+1.76%)

Commodities Sales & Trading involves trading physical goods like energy, metals, and agricultural products, while tracking supply and demand in global markets. The role has relatively low working hours compared to other finance sectors, with a small increase on average in 2025, and compensation per hour remains on the lower end within trading roles.

2. Finance: 42.6 hours

Average hours (2024): 41.7 hours

Compensation per hour: $66.70 (+2.08%)

General finance roles include areas such as accounting and audit, both of which work closely together. Accounting focuses on evaluating a company’s financial health and performance, while audit professionals help verify the accuracy and integrity of the financial information provided.

3. Compliance: 43.2 hours

Average hours (2024): 43.8 hours

Compensation per hour: $76.10 (-1.34%)

Compliance professionals are responsible for ensuring that firms operate within all relevant financial laws, regulations, and internal policies. Their work helps reduce legal and regulatory risk by monitoring processes and enforcing standards across the organization.

4. Technology: 43.8 hours

Average hours (2024): 38.9 hours

Compensation per hour: $116.0 (+12.64%)

Those working in technology-focused roles within finance have seen a rise in average working hours. With relatively moderate hours compared to other areas of the industry, the function sits among the lower tiers in compensation per hour, reflecting continued pressure on pay relative to workload across the sector.

5. Fiscal Resilience Oversight Committee (FROC): 45.0 hours

Average hours (2024): 44.6 hours

Compensation per hour: $69.50 (+0.81%)

FROC roles support core financial operations and internal processes that help keep the business running efficiently. Working hours remain fairly steady at present, with a slight increase in 2025, and compensation per hour sits on the lower end compared to other finance roles.

6. Tech & Quant: 45.0 hours

Average hours (2024): 40.4 hours

Compensation per hour: $128.30 (+11.45%)

Tech & Quant roles combine software engineering, data science, and quantitative analysis to build models and systems used in trading and financial decision-making. Working hours increased notably in 2025 compared to the previous year, while compensation per hour remains relatively high compared to many other finance and tech-adjacent roles.

7. Fintech: 45.3 hours

Average hours (2024): 44.7 hours

Compensation per hour: $124.50 (+1.26%)

Fintech professionals work on developing and supporting financial technology products and services, combining finance and technology to improve digital financial systems. Working hours have had a slight increase in 2025, while compensation per hour sits in the mid-to-high range compared to other finance roles.

8. Operations: 46.1 hours

Average hours (2024): 46.0 hours

Compensation per hour: $55.60 (+0.31%)

Operations professionals manage financial and resource processes that support the day-to-day functioning of an organization. According to eFinancial Careers, working hours remain relatively stable with a slight increase in 2025, while compensation per hour is still on the lower end compared to other finance roles.

9. Quantitative Finance: 47.0 hours

Average hours (2024): 43.4 hours

Compensation per hour: $143.70 (+8.18%)

Quantitative finance professionals use mathematical models and data analysis to identify trading and investment opportunities and support decision-making in financial markets. Working hours increased in 2025 compared to the previous year, while compensation per hour remains relatively high.

10. Asset Management: 48.6 hours

Average hours (2024): 48.0 hours

Compensation per hour: $139.70 (+1.25%)

Asset management professionals oversee investment portfolios on behalf of clients, aiming to balance risk and return across different asset classes. Working hours remain fairly stable, with only a slight increase in 2025, while compensation per hour sits in the upper-mid range compared to other finance roles.

11. Research: 49.2 hours

Average hours (2024): 48.8 hours

Compensation per hour: $122.60 (+0.77%)

Research professionals analyze data and market trends to support investment recommendations for banks and other financial institutions. Working hours remain relatively low compared to many other finance roles, with a slight increase in 2025, while compensation per hour sits in the mid-to-upper range of the list.

12. Sales & Trading: 49.5 hours

Average hours (2024): 48.0 hours

Compensation per hour: $189.0 (+3.09%)

Sales & Trading professionals help buy and sell financial instruments, including debt securities and stocks and shares, while assessing risk and market conditions. Working hours are relatively steady for those working in this area, with a slight increase in 2025, and compensation per hour remains high compared to many other finance roles.

13. Hedge Fund: 50.0 hours

Average hours (2024): 48.4 hours

Compensation per hour: $291.40 (+3.34%)

Hedge fund professionals manage investment strategies, conduct market analysis, and execute trades for high-net-worth individuals or investors. In this year’s eFinancial Careers report, professionals working in this area received the highest compensation among all areas of finance, a staggering hourly amount of nearly $300.

14. Credit Sales & Trading: 50.0 hours

Average hours (2024): 50.0 hours

Compensation per hour: $159.10 (+0.14%)

Credit Sales & Trading professionals focus on trading and analyzing credit-related securities, such as bonds, while assessing credit risk and market conditions. Average working hours remain unchanged in 2025 compared to the previous year, while compensation per hour is relatively strong compared to many other finance roles.

15. Equity Capital Markets: 50.0 hours

Average hours (2024): 51.4 hours

Compensation per hour: $96.40 (-2.78%)

Equity Capital Markets professionals help companies raise capital by issuing and distributing equity, such as stocks, in public and private markets. Working hours decreased slightly in 2025 compared to the previous year, while compensation per hour remains moderate relative to other finance roles.

16. Equities Sales & Trading: 50.6 hours

Average hours (2024): 47.7 hours

Compensation per hour: $210.90 (+6.19%)

Equities Sales & Trading professionals focus on buying and selling stocks and managing equity market exposure through trading activity and market analysis. Working hours increased in 2025 compared to the previous year, while compensation per hour is among the higher levels across finance roles.

17. Risk: 50.6 hours

Average hours (2024): 48.6 hours

Compensation per hour: $93.90 (+4.11%)

Risk management professionals assess and monitor financial risks to help protect an organization’s earnings and stability. They use data analysis to identify and mitigate market, credit, liquidity, and operational risks across the business. Working hours remain relatively steady in 2025 with a slight increase, while compensation per hour stays in the mid-range compared to other finance roles despite a 4% jump.

18. Macro Sales & Trading: 52.5 hours

Average hours (2024): 50.4 hours

Compensation per hour: $239.30 (+4.12%)

Macro Sales & Trading professionals trade and analyze macroeconomic instruments such as rates, currencies, and commodities. Their work in buying and selling is generally tied to broad economic trends. Working hours increased in 2025 compared to the previous year, while compensation per hour is among the highest across all finance roles.

19. Private Capital: 54.5 hours

Average hours (2024): 53.2 hours

Compensation per hour: $107.40 (+2.39%)

Private capital professionals invest in private companies and manage long-term investments across private equity and related strategies. Working hours increased slightly in 2025, while compensation per hour sits in the mid-range compared to other finance roles.

20. Debt Capital Markets: 60.3 hours

Average hours (2024): 58.1 hours

Compensation per hour: $135.80 (+3.89%)

Debt Capital Markets (DCM) professionals work within investment banking to help corporations and governments raise capital by issuing debt securities such as bonds. Working hours in DCM increased in 2025, according to the 2026 report, compared to the previous year, while compensation per hour sits in the mid-range relative to other finance roles.

21. Investment Banking: 62.4 hours

Average hours (2024): 61.7 hours

Compensation per hour: $137.20 (+1.25%)

A notorious career path and one that’s long been favored by business school graduates, investment bankers advise companies on major financial decisions, including mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising. It remains one of the most demanding roles in finance, with some of the highest working hours in the industry, and 2025 shows a further increase compared to the previous year.

22. M&A: 67.3 hours

Average hours (2024): 66.8 hours

Compensation per hour: $147.90 (+0.82%)

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) professionals help companies evaluate, structure, and execute deals such as acquisitions, mergers, and corporate restructurings. Working hours remain the highest across the list in 2025, increasing slightly compared to the previous year, and continue to stand well above most other areas in investment banking.

How can I land a job in finance? 

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in one of these areas, it’s important to be strategic in planning your career steps. You should also prepare well for rigorous recruitment processes and be resilient given their competitive nature.

While there are opportunities to break into the sector without a graduate degree, an MBA or Master’s in Finance can offer a structured pathway into the industry.

Top banks and financial institutions often recruit annually from business school cohorts. Studying can also help build your knowledge and understanding of the industry alongside allowing you to develop relationships, access resources, and interact within clubs and associations.