CFA Level 1 Careers: Entry-Level Jobs, Employers & Salary Guide

The CFA level 1 jobs market is bigger than most people realise. You don’t need to be a CFA charterholder to start reaping career benefits; passing Level 1 alone can put you on the radar of top finance recruiters. Two data points prove the demand:

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9% growth for financial analyst roles between 2023 and 2033, faster than the national average.
• Finance is already the top career choice for 37% of 2025 graduates in CFA Institute’s global Graduate Outlook Survey.

 

Add the longer-term advantage; the CFA charter is preferred for nearly 90 % of senior investment roles, and it’s clear why Level 1 opens real doors.

This guide talks about:

1. Jobs after CFA level 1 you can land right away.
2. Which organisations hire and why?
3. How much you can reasonably earn, country by country.
4. How to turn Level 1 into a lasting career path.

Entry Level Job Roles You Can Get After CFA Level 1

Passing Level 1 doesn’t drop you straight into a portfolio manager seat, but it does unlock a set of solid CFA level 1 jobs where you can learn the ropes and start adding real value from day one.

Think of these roles as your launch pad: they let you apply the concepts you just studied—valuation, risk, ethics—in a live market setting while you earn and build experience.

Whether you’re eyeing research desks, credit teams, or corporate-finance pods, employers see a Level 1 pass as proof you speak the language of finance. In the list below, you’ll find the most common CFA level 1 job opportunities—what each role actually does and how your new knowledge fits right in.

Role	Daily Work	How Level 1 Helps
Equity Research Associate	Build financial models, track quarterly  results, and draft company notes for a lead analyst.	DCF, comparables, and accounting ratios come straight from Equity, FRA, and Corporate Finance sections.
Junior Financial Analyst	Produce budgets, performance dashboards, and valuation decks inside banks or corporates.	Quant Methods gives you statistical tools; FRA teaches how to read statements quickly.
Risk Analyst	Monitor market, credit, or operational risk; run VaR or stress tests.	Fixed-Income and Derivatives readings explain duration, convexity, and option Greeks.
Credit Analyst	Assess borrower strength for banks or rating agencies; write credit memos.	The Credit-Analysis LOS in Fixed-Income plus Accounting metrics form your toolkit.
Portfolio Assistant	Rebalance client accounts, prepare  performance reports, and answer routine client queries.	Ethics, Global Investment Performance  Standards (GIPS®), and basic Portfolio theory are Level 1 staples.
Investment-Banking Analyst (entry pod)	Build pitch books, merger models, and trading comps for senior bankers.	Corporate Finance and Equity sections provide cost-of-capital, valuation, and deal-math frameworks.
Treasury Analyst	Manage cash, short-term investments, and FX hedges in large corporates.	Money-market instruments, yield curves, and forward-rate parity come straight from Level 1.

 

Already have finance experience? Add Level 1, and you can sometimes skip “junior” and start as Senior Credit Associate or Buy-Side Analyst—firms value both book knowledge and prior deskside skills.

Also Read: CFA Level 1 Total Cost 

Organizations That Hire CFA Level 1 Candidates

A Level 1 pass is like a green light for recruiters—it tells them you already know the basics of valuation, markets, and ethics, and you’re serious about a finance career.

That’s why a wide mix of employers keeps an eye out for people looking for CFA level 1 jobs.

From investment banks that need model-savvy analysts to mutual funds that value fresh research talent, the demand is real.

Here, you’ll see which firms are most active, why they like Level 1 candidates, and how those jobs after CFA level 1 help you kick-start a long-term path in finance.

Employer Type	Examples	Why They Like Level 1
Investment Banks	JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs (India), ICICI Securities	Valuation and accounting skills shorten training time for junior analysts.
Asset-Management Companies	HDFC AMC, SBI Mutual Fund, Franklin Templeton	Level 1 signals portfolio basics plus ethics—crucial for client-money roles.
Credit-Rating Agencies	CRISIL, ICRA, CARE Ratings	Credit-analysis LOS maps directly to rating models.
Big 4 / Consulting	KPMG Deal Advisory, EY Valuations, Deloitte FA	Financial-modelling rigour adds weight to fairness opinions and IPO work.
Corporate-Finance Teams (conglomerates & MNCs)	Reliance Industries, Tata Group, Unilever Finance	Level 1 holders slot into FP&A, M&A, or treasury tracks with minimal ramp-up.

 

Why Level 1 stands out: the exam benchmarks you against a global syllabus—and employers trust that you understand valuation, ethics, and basic risk far better than an average B-school graduate.

Also Read: CFA After BMS? Is It A Good Idea?

Salary Expectations for CFA Level 1 Candidates

Once you know which CFA level 1 jobs are out there, the next question is obvious: “What will they pay?” The answer depends on where you work, the type of employer, and any skills you bring beyond the exam. Still, a Level 1 pass usually nudges your offer higher than someone with the same résumé but no CFA credit—recruiters see it as proof you already speak the language of finance.

In this section we break down typical pay bands for popular CFA level 1 job opportunities across India, the U.S., the U.K., and a few other markets, then look at what pushes a package up or down—city premiums, firm size, tech skills, even your performance in interviews. Armed with those numbers, you can weigh offers realistically and plan your next study milestone—Levels 2 and 3—with clear financial goals in mind.

Passing Level 1 can nudge your starting pay above that of equally “fresh” grads because employers see it as proof you already understand valuation, markets, and ethics. Below are realistic bands pulled from Payscale and Glassdoor.

Your number will climb or dip with city, firm size, and extra skills, but these figures give a solid yardstick for what the first rung on the ladder looks like.

1. India

In Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi, most entry-level analysts with a CFA Level 1 pass start between ₹5 lakh and ₹9 lakh a year. Tier-2 cities—think Pune or Jaipur—hover nearer ₹4 lakh because living costs (and deal flow) are lower.

Employers typically tack on a 10–15% premium for Level 1 holders over equally fresh hires without the credential. Expect the upper end of the band if you can already weave Excel VBA, Power BI, or basic Python into your day-to-day work; those skills often add another ₹50k to ₹75k.

2. United States

Across major markets, the entry-level band runs $70k to $95k for junior analysts, with Glassdoor listings showing New York bulge-bracket roles edging toward $100k base plus a year-end bonus.

Geography matters: the same job in Charlotte might open at $68k, while San Francisco posts can rival New York after cost-of-living adjustments. Showing off Python, Tableau, or Bloomberg proficiency pushes offers to the top of the range, as does landing in a true “front-office” seat rather than middle-office reporting.

3. United Kingdom

Nationwide, CFA Level 1 newcomers usually earn £34k to £45k. London desks add a £5k to £10k bump to offset city costs and attract talent into front-office rotations.

Extras like ACA/CPA coursework or a strong Excel modeling portfolio can nudge you past £50k.

Outside the capital—Manchester, Edinburgh, or Birmingham—expect the midpoint of the band unless you join a global bank’s regional hub.

What really shifts the number?

• City premiums: Mumbai, New York, and London pay higher because rent and competition are higher.
• Firm size: bulge-bracket banks and top AMCs write larger cheques than boutique outfits or smaller corporates.
• Skill stack: hands-on tech (Python, VBA), certifications (NISM, ACA), or a prior internship can lift compensation 5–10% above the listed medians.

 

Here’s a snapshot in the table below.

Region	Typical entry band for CFA level 1 job opportunities	What pushes the figure up or down?
India	₹5 – ₹9 lakh a year for analyst roles in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi; tier-2 cities sit closer to ₹ 4 lakh. Level 1 holders often see 10-15 % higher offers than non-CFA peers.	Big metros pay more; add-on skills like Excel VBA or Power BI can add another 5-10 %.
United States	$70 K – $95 K for entry analysts; bulge-bracket banks in New York can post $100 K base plus bonus.	NYC and San Francisco premiums; Python or Tableau skills raise offers.
United Kingdom	£34 K – £45 K nationwide; London desks often tack on £5-10 K.	London cost-of-living, team (front-office beats middle), ACA/CPA add-ons.

 

In short: CFA level 1 jobs won’t make you a millionaire overnight, but they do start you above many fresh-finance peers and give you a clear runway to scale pay quickly as you move through Levels 2 and 3.

Also read: Is CFA The Right Choice For You?

Career Growth Path After Level 1

Passing Level 1 is just your first step, but it’s a powerful one. With that result in hand, you can move from entry analyst roles to more specialised seats and, eventually, to leadership positions—as long as you keep pushing through Levels 2 and 3.

In the roadmap that follows, you’ll see how jobs after cfa level 1 evolve into senior titles, how salaries and responsibilities grow, and why each new exam level widens your options. Think of it as a GPS for your long-term CFA level 1 careers journey.

Stage	Typical Title	What Changes at This Point	Credential Step
Entry	Analyst / Associate	You spend most of your day in Excel—building three-statement models, pulling data, and supporting senior teammates on research notes or pitch books. It’s all about learning the toolkit and proving you can meet tight deadlines.	Pass Level 1
Early-Mid	Senior Analyst	You now “own” one or two sectors or a slice of the portfolio. You present ideas to investment committees, speak with clients, and mentor new analysts. The focus shifts from crunching numbers to telling a clear investment story.	Pass Level 2
Mid	Vice President (VP) / Specialist	Deadlines and decisions get bigger. You lead live deals or key mandates, price risk in real time, and handle cross-team coordination. People start quoting your models in meetings. Business development and client trust become part of the job.	Pass Level 3
Senior	Portfolio Manager / Director	Strategy becomes your main deliverable. You allocate capital, set risk limits, and guide junior staff. Success is judged on long-term performance and how well you grow both assets and people under your watch.	Earn CFA Charter

 

So, grab a Level 1-friendly role, then climb by scheduling Level 2 and Level 3 as soon as work-life allows.

Strengthen Your CFA Level 1 Career Prospects with IMS Proschool

Clearing the exam is only half the story; turning that pass into real CFA level 1 jobs takes the right training, plenty of practice, and a nudge from people who know the hiring landscape. That’s where IMS Proschool comes in.

Our Level 1 program blends expert teaching, exam-style mocks, and hands-on placement support so you don’t just pass—you land a role that puts your new skills to work.

IMS Proschool’s Level 1 course turns reading into results:

Feature	Why It Matters
200+ hours of live faculty time	Keeps you accountable; clears doubts in real time.
2,000+ practice questions + full mocks	You rehearse the exact CBT format, no surprises.
6-month study plan + 3-month revision sprint	Keeps pacing sane—no burnout in the final fortnight.
Exam-Pass Commitment	If you miss, extra classes are free until you clear.
Placement support	Résumé rewrites, mock interviews, and a portal of 100+ vetted finance jobs.

 

That blend of deep subject mastery, test-day readiness, and hiring help is why so many learners move from course seat to CFA level 1 jobs quickly.

Conclusion

Passing CFA Level 1 isn’t just another exam ticked off—it’s your entry pass to real analyst desks, a stronger paycheck than most fresh grads see, and a clear, rung-by-rung ladder toward senior roles in investment banking, asset management, or corporate finance.

If you’d like a guiding hand—live classes to keep you on track, exam-style mocks to build confidence, and a placement team that sends your CV straight to hiring managers—IMS Proschool’s CFA Level 1 course has it all in one package. Enrol today and give yourself the best shot at turning that Level 1 pass into the finance career you’ve been aiming for.

FAQs

1. Who takes CFA level 1 students for a job?

Plenty of big names do—think investment banks like JPMorgan, asset-management giants such as HDFC AMC, credit-rating agencies like CRISIL, the Big 4 consulting firms, and even in-house corporate-finance teams. They know a Level 1 pass means you already “speak finance” and can get productive faster.

2. What is the salary after CFA Level 1?

Entry analysts in India usually start around ₹ 4–9 lakh a year, U.S. hires see roughly $ 74–92 k, and the U.K. range sits near £ 34–45 k. Those numbers climb as you gain experience and pass Levels 2 and 3.

3. Is CFA level 1 worth anything?

Yes. Recruiters treat it as a seal of solid finance basics, and it often earns new hires a 10–15 % pay bump over peers without the credential.

4. Is CFA level 1 very tough?

It’s demanding, but perfectly doable with a six-month, 300-hour study plan, several timed mock exams, and extra care on the Ethics material.

5. Does KPMG hire CFA level 1?

Absolutely. KPMG’s Deal Advisory and Valuation teams list Level 1 as a preferred qualification for entry-level analyst roles.

6. How many months are enough to prepare for CFA level 1?

Most successful candidates give themselves five to six months—about two hours a day, five days a week—which adds up to the recommended 300 study hours.