Fintech is a fast-growing area of today’s tech-driven economy, creating some of the highest-paying career paths in the market. The introduction of artificial intelligence has reshaped everything from fraud detection to customer service, and there is a new demand for people who can understand how to utilize it. For graduate students who pursue a more technology-heavy finance degree, those skills can become a major advantage.
What is fintech?
Financial technology—or fintech for short—covers the tools and systems that make modern finance more efficient, secure, and accessible to businesses and their customers. It includes things like mobile banking, digital wallets, automated investment platforms, AI-driven fraud protection, blockchain tools, and more.
As AI becomes more powerful and integrated in business, the fintech field is evolving just as rapidly. Companies rely on machine learning for lots of things, including risk analysis, suspicious transaction detection, tool personalization, and task automation. Now more than ever, industries need professionals who can think critically, understand tech, and adapt to new tools as they advance.
Industries open to fintech professionals
Despite what you may think, fintech roles aren’t limited to traditional banking! Nearly every industry handles transactions, data, and digital security. Therefore, there are lots of opportunities in a wide range of fields, including:
- Banking and digital payments, e.g., mobile banking and peer-to-peer payments
- Investment management and trading, e.g., automated investing and robo-advisors
- Insurance, e.g., AI-powered underwriting and risk modeling
- Healthcare, e.g., secure billing systems and patient payment technologies
- Retail and e-commerce, e.g., fraud prevention and digital checkout tools
- Cybersecurity, e.g., identity verification, encryption, and fraud detection
- Government and policy, e.g., regulatory technology and public-sector digital services
A STEM-focused business degree, especially at a tech-specialized school like WPI, can give you a competitive edge in any industry. Employers are looking for people who not only understand finance but also the technical aspects of financial tools, data, and systems—especially in the age of AI-powered everything. This combination of business and technology can make one of the highest-paying and future-forward career paths.
In this blog, we will cover some of the lucrative jobs that exist for those with a degree in fintech. 0
Director or manager of fintech
Fintech directors (or managers) provide strategic leadership to a business, focusing on product lines, compliance, or entire fintech departments. They oversee long-term and short-term goals and notable initiatives; manage teams; and ensure alignment across technology, business operations, and regulatory needs. They often collaborate with executives on budgeting, risk management, and growth. Fintech directors may also be involved in business partnerships, staff mentoring, and innovation across the organization.
Qualifications needed for this role are typically years of experience in financial services, regulatory oversight, or technology leadership. Expertise in integrating digital technology, team management, and strategic planning is usually required as well.
Candidates for these jobs benefit from expertise in digital transformation, team management, and strategic planning. According to ZipRecruiter (2025), the average salary for this role is around $117,000, although it can range much higher depending on location and experience.
Fintech product manager
Fintech product managers help guide the vision, strategy, and development of digital financial products. They conduct market research, define product requirements, oversee the development lifecycle, and ensure that new technology meets both regulatory and customer expectations. In a fintech company, product managers might lead the creation of lending apps, digital payment tools, trading platforms, or fraud-detection features. They work closely with engineering, compliance, design, and business teams to bring innovative financial solutions to market.
Fintech product managers need strong communication skills, project management experience, and a working knowledge of regulatory constraints. Familiarity with user experience (UX) principles and data analysis is also helpful. The national average salary for this role ranges between $180,000 and $272,000 based on 2025 estimates from Glassdoor.
Regulatory tech specialist
Regulatory technology specialists help organizations use technology to meet regulatory and compliance requirements more efficiently. They work with tools to automate reporting, monitor transactions, flag suspicious activity, and keep up with new regulations. In many fintech environments, a regulatory tech specialist evaluates existing work processes, recommends solutions, and ensures systems remain secure and accurate. Their work helps companies stay compliant while reducing manual workload and human error.
Regulatory tech specialists need a strong knowledge of financial regulations, data governance, anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) tools, and emerging compliance technologies. Experience with AI and machine learning solutions, analytics platforms, and automation tools is also valuable. Salaries can vary widely across the industry, but national averages typically fall near $89,000 according to recent data from Indeed (2025).
Looking for an exciting, STEM-backed fintech master’s degree program? Look no further than WPI’s MS program.
Fintech compliance manager
Fintech compliance managers make sure that a company complies with all laws, regulations, and industry standards as they relate to financial technology. They create compliance programs and monitor for suspicious activity. Fintech compliance managers are often liaisons with regulatory bodies on behalf of the company. They may also conduct risk assessments, host employee compliance trainings, and work cross-departmentally to ensure all company policies align with laws and regulations. In short, fintech compliance managers mitigate financial and legal risks by protecting the company and its customers from improper business practices.
Fintech compliance managers will need a solid understanding of financial law, risk assessment, anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) processes, and compliance management software. Average salary for this role can range greatly, but nationally sits at about $99,000, according to ZipRecuiter (2025).
Fintech business analyst
Fintech business analysts bridge the gap between technical teams and organizational stakeholders. They examine the business’s needs, analyze data, and recommend products or process improvements. They might also assess consumer behavior, map out system requirements, or find ways to streamline digital services. Fintech business analysts collaborate with engineers, product managers, and leadership to ensure new solutions align with what both the customers and the business needs.
Fintech business analysts benefit from strong analytical skills, familiarity with financial systems, experience with SQL or analytics tools, and an understanding of digital banking or payment technologies. According to ZipRecruiter (2025), the average salary typically falls around $88,570, depending on experience and location.
Fintech is a fast-growing field, in both technology and opportunities. As AI becomes a larger part of business (and everyday life), the need for professionals who can keep up is going to be stronger than ever. If you have an interest in finance, or you already work in the field and are considering furthering your education, look for a strong fintech graduate program like WPI’s Master of Science in Financial Technology. Opportunity might be closer than you think!