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.
Finance Career Cluster PDFMiddle School Courses
No Courses at this time
High School Courses
- Accounting I Honors: #6320, 6320V
- Accounting II Honors: #6321, 6321V
- Business Law: #6132
- Economics and Personal Finance: #6120 (Required course)
- Entrepreneurship: #9093
Do You Like To…
- Work daily with numbers?
- Assist people with the management of money?
- Organize, plan and multi-task?
- Pay attention to detail?
- Communicate effectively with others?
Sample Careers
- Accountant
- Auditor
- Development Officer
- Financial Analyst
- Treasurer
- Controller
- Economist
- Budget Analyst
- Personal Financial Advisor
- Tax Preparer
- Investment Advisor
- Loan Officer
- Debt Counselor
- Actuary
- Underwriter
- Insurance Appraiser
- Bank Teller
High school certifications, licenses and related college majors:
| High School/Industry Certifications | Certificate/License | College Degree Examples |
| NOCTI Accounting Basic | Finance | |
| NOCTI Accounting Advanced | Economics | |
| Financial Literacy | Business | |
| National Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) | Entrepreneurship |
In Demand Careers
| Education Needed | Occupation | Median Salary | Job Growth Over next 10 years | Job Openings Projected over next 10 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | Loan Officers | $63,270 per year | 3% (As fast as average) | 10,100 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | Budget Analysts | $76,540 per year | 3% (As fast as average) | 1,900 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | Financial Analysts | $81,590 per year | 5% (Faster than average) | 26,800 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | Accountants and Auditors | $71,550 per year | 4% (As fast as average) | 61,700 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | Financial Managers | $129,890 per year | 15% (Much faster than average) | 108,100 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | Economists | $105,020 per year | 14% (Much faster than average) | 2,900 |
Student Leadership Organizations
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
Work-Based Learning
Work-Based Learning (WBL) is comprised of experiences related to students’ career interests, based on instructional preparation, and undertaken in partnership with local businesses or organizations. WBL enables students to apply classroom instruction in a real-world work environment. Work-Based Learning promotes Career Awareness, Career Exploration, and Career Preparation.
Career Ambassadors
The Career Ambassador Program offers high school seniors an opportunity to represent and share their experiences with career exploration and our CTE programs to prospective students and community supporters through elementary school Career Fairs, middle school Career Clubs, and district-wide events.