Revealed: The best careers in finance based on weekly working hours

TL;DR

• Finance is a top sector for business school graduates, offering high salaries for many employees
• However, in return for high salaries, finance employees are expected to work long hours, especially in investment banking and M&A
• The annual eFinancial Careers Compensation Report evaluates careers according to workload and financial compensation by surveying employees
• At $237.17 per hour, hedge fund managers earn the highest salary in finance in 2025
• Those working in financial research work the fewest hours, at 46 hours per week

Alongside tech and consulting, finance continues to be a top contender when it comes to careers for business school graduates in 2025. Working in the financial sector offers the chance to work with other high-flying professionals and learn as you undertake demanding work.

Hard work often leads to substantial reward when it comes to the salaries in finance that are available to business school grads. Students can find opportunities in 'buy side' roles with hedge funds, private equity firms, and asset managers, or on the 'sell side', where there are many opportunities with investment banks. 

But it's no secret that working in finance can mean long hours and heavy workloads. Investment banking hours are particularly renowned for being challenging. 

So, what are the best careers in finance when it comes to the number of hours worked each week? 

The eFinancialCareers 2024-25 Compensation Report provides valuable insights into the realities of a career in finance. It breaks down the working hours of investment bankers, traders, corporate financiers, and various other roles in finance.

Conducted between February and March 2025, the survey reveals data on working hours, financial compensation, finance hourly pay, and pay satisfaction sourced from 2,500 finance professionals. 

Let’s look at the range of careers in finance, starting with the lowest average working hours.

Best careers in finance for weekly working hours

1. Research: 45.0 hours

Compensation per hour: $117.15

Average hours (2023): 45.5 hours 

Change: -1.1% 

Research professionals use data analysis to make recommendations on investment opportunities for banks and other financial institutions. On average they work the fewest  weekly hours in this list.

2. Finance: 46.6 hours

Compensation per hour: $77.58 

Average hours (2023):  46.8 hours 

Change: -0.3% 

Core finance roles include the likes of audit and accounting, both of which work closely together. Accounting involves evaluating a company’s financial health and performance, while audit professionals verify the accuracy of the financial data provided by accounting. 

3. Compliance and risk: 46.9 hours

Compensation per hour: $91.36

Average hours (2023):  46.7 hours 

Change: +0.5% 

Compliance and risk professionals worked some of the fewest hours in the finance industry in 2024, averaging 46.9 per week. That has largely stayed the same since 2023. 

4. Risk: 47.5 hours 

Compensation per hour: $91.85

Average hours (2023): 47.2 hours 

Change: +0.6% 

Risk management professionals assess and mitigate financial risks to minimize their impact on an organization’s earnings. They use data analysis to forecast potential financial pitfalls and address market, credit, liquidity, and organizational risks. 

5. Quant: 47.8 hours

Compensation per hour: $125.27

Average hours (2023): 47.7 hours  

Change: +0.3% 

Quantitative traders use mathematical and statistical models to identify and capitalize on trading opportunities. Average working hours saw a marginal increase between 2023 and 2024, but have remained fairly static in recent years.

6. Compliance: 48.1 hours

Compensation per hour: $73.26

Average hours (2023): 49.2 hours 

Change: -2.3% 

Compliance officers and managers ensure their company follows all applicable financial rules and regulations. Working hours saw a slight dip in 2023, down by just over one hour per week. Compensation for compliance workers is one of the lowest on the list, though their working hours remain among the shortest.

7. Traditional asset manager: 48.3 hours

Compensation per hour: $129.50

Average hours (2023): 48.7 hours 

Change: -1.0%

Traditional asset managers are in charge of the most widely recognized investment options out there, including real estate, bonds, and stocks. The sector fared well in both working hours and pay per hour in 2024, coming in the top 10 of both.

8. Private equity: 49.6 hours

Compensation per hour: $84.54

Average hours (2023): 51.3 hours 

Change: -3.3% 

Private equity professionals take on a range of possible functions. They identify companies to acquire, monitor ongoing investments, manage relationships with businesses, and forecast future returns. 

9. Equity capital markets (ECM): 50.4 hours 

Compensation per hour: $126.76

Average hours (2023): 50.8 hours 

Change: -0.8% 

Equity capital markets (ECM) professionals help companies raise investment by issuing stocks. ECM jobs are demanding and involve some of the longest working hours in finance. Despite the demanding schedule, some of the best-paid finance roles in 2024 were in ECM, with an average hourly compensation of $126.76.

10. Macro: 50.8 hours 

Compensation per hour: $187.39

Average hours (2023): 50.5 hours 

Change: +0.7% 

Macro traders invest based on economic and political views of different countries, geopolitical events and other macroeconomic factors. In 2024, only hedge fund workers earned more per hour than macro professionals.

11. Hedge funds: 51.2 hours

Compensation per hour: $237.17

Average hours (2023): 49.3 hours 

Change: +3.8% 

Hedge fund professionals manage investment strategies, conduct market analysis, and execute trades for high-net-worth individuals or investors. In 2024, they received the highest compensation per hour in the report, at a staggering $631,553.

12. Credit: 51.4 hours

Compensation per hour: $116.18

Average hours (2023): 52.3 hours 

Change: -1.7%

Credit is a fairly broad term that could refer to any role that involves evaluating the risk for financial institutions when lending money to companies or individuals. Average working hours in 2024 saw a marginal decrease.

13. Operations: 51.8 hours

Compensation per hour: $53.12

Average hours (2023): 50.0 hours 

Change: +3.7% 

Operations professionals are responsible for managing finances and resources within an organization. Although they have the lowest salary on this list, the role has fewer working hours compared to many other finance roles. 

14. Technology: 52.9 hours

Compensation per hour: $80.89

Average hours (2023): 52.2 hours 

Change: +1.4% 

Following widespread layoffs and an oversupply of talent in the technology sector, the industry saw a marginal increase in hours worked and ranks among the bottom five in terms of compensation per hour. 

15. Private credit: 53.7 hours

Compensation per hour: $72.47

Average hours (2023): 54.6 hours 

Change: -1.7%

Private credit professionals are broadly responsible for identifying and underwriting new investment opportunities for companies. Their average working hours are among the highest in the finance industry, which is partly why average compensation per hour is the second-lowest.

16. Debt capital markets (DCM): 54.2 hours 

Compensation per hour: $108.79

Average hours (2023): 54.8 hours 

Change: -1.1% 

Debt Capital Markets (DCM) is a specialized area within investment banking. DCM analysts determine the best strategies for governments and corporations to borrow money by issuing tradable securities. The average investment banking hours for DCM professionals in 2024 remained fairly static compared to 2023. 

17. Sales and trading: 54.4 hours 

Compensation per hour: $135.99

Average hours (2023): 54.8 hours 

Change: -0.7% 

Sales and trading professionals help buy and sell debt securities by evaluating whether individuals and organizations can repay their debts. They ensure clients can meet their financial obligations before completing transactions. 

18. Equities: 54.6 hours 

Compensation per hour: $139.61

Average hours (2023): 54.6 hours 

Change: -0.1% 

Equities is a role that involves buying and selling stocks, often referred to as ‘playing the stock market.’ Professionals in this area earn some of the highest salaries in finance, with an overall average compensation of almost $400k.

19. Commodities: 58.2 hours

Compensation per hour: $72.74

Average hours (2023): 52.8 hours 

Change: +10.2% 

Commodity traders invest in physical substances such as gold, oil, and coffee. They earn upwards of $200k per year, but the high number of working hours means the average hourly compensation is among the lowest on this list.

20. Investment banking: 59.7 hours

Compensation per hour: $116.11

Average hours (2023): 60.6 hours 

Change: -1.4%

Investment bankers advise private and public companies on financial matters, from mergers to raising capital. It's a high-pressure, fast-paced role—and one of the most demanding in terms of hours across the finance industry.

21. M&A: 67.9 hours 

Compensation per hour: $120.08

Average hours (2023):  69.1 hours 

Change: +0.7% 

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) analysts help companies acquire or merge with other companies. In 2024, the average workweek for M&A analysts was almost 68 hours—significantly less than the 100-hour weeks experienced during the pandemic, but still higher than many other areas in banking.

Working hours and total compensation by sector