Looking for jobs for analytical people that pay well?
We\u2019ve put together a list of some of the most intellectually stimulating jobs you can find. Whether you\u2019re a natural number cruncher or talented problem solver, these roles might just be up your alley. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note: Our scores below are based on how many of the following job characteristics apply to each job.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We looked for jobs that:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n An accountant gets paid to inspect financial data and record business transactions on behalf of an organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Duties include preparing and maintaining critical financial records, ensuring the accuracy of financial documents and their compliance with laws and regulations, preparing and auditing tax returns, and offering guidance on things like cost reduction and profit maximization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most accountants will go to college to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in accounting. Some jobs will require a CPA (certified public accountant) license.<\/a> This involves applying for and passing a state-issued accountant exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Software engineers create the technology behind social media programs, web pages, smartphones, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Using their knowledge of engineering and computer science, they write, test, and debug programs for new and existing software applications. They\u2019ll often collaborate with other professionals like computer programmers, coders, and designers to ensure everything comes together smoothly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most companies hiring for this position will look for a bachelor\u2019s degree or higher in computer science, information technology, or software engineering. Getting Certification of Computing Professionals<\/a> is also a plus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n An economist helps governments and businesses research and analyze economic issues (think unemployment or inflation, for instance). <\/p>\n\n\n\n What they do can vary a lot depending on who they\u2019re working for, but you can generally find them conducting research, creating surveys, collecting and analyzing data, and using historical trends to prepare reports and presentations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some entry-level jobs will only require a bachelor\u2019s degree in economics, but you\u2019ll need a master\u2019s degree for advanced level positions and a Ph.D. if you want to work for higher levels of government like the Federal Reserve<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A controller manages everything finance and accounting-related for an organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n No two days are the same in this role. Controllers are responsible for everything from preparing budgets, overseeing the accounting division, auditing financial reports, preparing balance sheets, and ensuring compliance with rules and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most companies will ask controllers to have a bachelor’s level degree or higher in combination with a CPA (certified public accountants) license. Management experience is also helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actuaries manage risk by helping businesses and governments predict future events using data and numeric information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, they might help an insurance company determine how much they should charge customers, help companies create retirement plans for their employees, and manage the assets and liabilities of an organization so they can mitigate financial risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To become an actuary, you’ll need to become fully credentialed and pass a series of complex tests called Actuarial Exams<\/a>. On average, it takes between 7 and 10 years to pass all of the tests and become a qualified actuary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Auditors are responsible for reviewing an organization’s accounting systems to ensure there is no financial waste, fraud, or mismanagement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can expect to find them examining financial statements, company transactions and record-keeping, software systems, and policies\/procedures. Once their review is complete, they’ll meet with management to discuss their findings and provide feedback and suggestions for improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most companies require auditors to have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, although some employers will ask for a master’s degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A risk manager is hired to help identify and minimize risks that could interfere with an organization’s safety, security, or financial success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this role, you’ll be expected to design a risk management strategy, perform risk assessments, evaluate legal compliance requirements, prepare risk management budgets, and build risk awareness by providing support and training to company staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it’s not usually required, most risk managers have a bachelor’s degree in math, finance, or a similar field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A statistician is responsible for gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data to help businesses make important decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their role involves designing surveys, experiments, and opinion polls to collect data and evaluate information. They determine what information needs to be collected, develop methods to collect the data, and analyze and report their conclusions. An excellent example of this is the national census. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most statistician roles will require you to have a master’s degree or higher, usually in statistics, math, or economics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Project managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the completion of projects for an organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their duties include providing the project team with guidelines, estimating and managing costs, setting deadlines, assessing risks, documenting the project’s progress, troubleshooting, and leading team meetings. Company\u2019s count on project managers to ensure each project runs smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it’s not required, most organizations prefer project managers to have a bachelor’s degree in business or a professional project management certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marketing analysts play an important role in translating raw numbers and data into visually engaging information about consumer habits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They help organizations understand what people are looking for in a product and what price they’re willing to pay for it. They do this by watching sales and predicting marketing trends, researching competitors, surveying consumers, and analyzing data results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A career in this field requires a bachelor’s degree in marketing, although some positions require a master’s degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A chemist specializes in chemistry, performs experiments with chemical substances, and measures the effects\/results from different chemical combinations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chemists often work with a larger team of researchers to gather information and create or improve chemical compounds for practical use. This might include developing insecticides to protect crops, evaluating the safety of drinking water, or developing new paint colors.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A chemist can work in a variety of sub-disciplines, but most if not all require a Ph.D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Investment bankers are financial advisors for businesses and governments that help raise money to expand the organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They typically do this by issuing stock, negotiating the sale of a business, or arranging the purchase of a new company. Companies will also ask them for help when working with the Securities and Exchange Commission to arrange financing, manage underwriting, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Banks typically recruit candidates with a master of business degree and investment licenses (series 63 and series 79)<\/a>, although requirements can vary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A payroll specialist is responsible for managing all aspects of a company’s payroll for its employees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Duties include managing and documenting payroll records, collecting bank information for employees’ direct deposits and processing payments, handling garnishment orders, balancing general ledgers with accounting, and responding to employee questions or concerns about payroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Best Jobs for Analytical People<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Accountant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Software Engineer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Economist <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Controller<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Actuary <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Auditor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Risk Manager<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Statistician<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Project Manager<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. Marketing Analyst\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
11. Chemist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
12. Investment Banker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
13. Payroll Specialist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n