Top Cities for Finance Classes & Training

Students interested in learning finance at a dedicated training facility will find that almost all of their options are located in major metropolitan areas. Since this is also where many of the highest paying jobs are located, it makes sense that students looking for a career change may want to consider looking at the kinds of cities that offer the most robust training options for aspiring Financial Advisors, Accountant, or Investment Bankers. 

What is Finance?

Finance is an umbrella term that covers all things money, including financial analytics, financial modeling, banking, investing, and financial technology (or FinTech). Finance involves investing, lending, budgeting, borrowing, saving, forecasting, and the study of money. It’s possible to trace back our modern-day financial structures thousands of years--and the principles of finance just as much in today’s world.

There are three main areas to consider within the world of finance. Personal finance involves budgeting, investing, managing cash flow, and borrowing to finance large purchases while keeping debt down. Corporate finance covers capital budgeting, capital structure, and dividend policy. Public finance deals primarily with the revenue and budget of a public entity, whether a government or quasi-government organization. These three branches allow for a wide variety of job opportunities within the field of finance, so you can find a position that matches your interests and expertise. 

What Can You Do with Finance Skills?

Learning finance can open doors to so many different fulfilling and lucrative careers. If you’re interested in being involved with the financial decisions of corporate entities and organizations, you might enjoy becoming a Financial Analyst, Management Analyst, Investment Banker, or Financial Manager. On the flip side, if you’d like to help individuals and families manage investments and plan for retirement, becoming a Personal Financial Advisor or an Accountant might be the right fit for you. There are other positions you can take on with finance training, such as Bookkeeper, Tax Examiner, Loan Officer, or Revenue Agent, so there is something for everyone in this fast-paced field.

One benefit of learning finance is entirely personal: understanding how to invest, save, and create a budget can make a big difference in your family’s current and future financial health. It also makes you a more efficient problem solver and critical thinker, in both your personal life and at work. Lastly, finance training looks great on your resume--even if you’re taking on a job in an entirely different field. Whatever you decide to do career-wise, learning finance won’t be a mistake. 

Top Cities

Curious what the top cities are for financial professionals? Outlined below are the ten most popular metropolitan areas so you can get a feel for the places you may be able to call your new home once you begin your career in finance. 

New York

New York is more recently an ever-growing hot spot for finance and, when combined with the city's other strengths in tech, healthcare, media, and fashion, creates a high demand for experts in financial services and banking. Overall employment in business and financial occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. About 963,500 openings are projected each year, on average, in these positions. And, according to Glassdoor, the average annual pay for finance degree jobs in New York City is $95,662, with the majority of salaries falling between $82,100 and $119,200. 

You can check out available finance classes in New York with the help of Noble Desktop. One class to check out is Noble Desktop's FinTech Bootcamp, which will teach you valuable programming and data analysis skills. You can take the class over four weeks (weekdays only), or you can opt for the evenings-or-weekends model and complete the course over four months. Either way, you’ll begin by learning the fundamentals of Python and data science, working with SQL to query databases, and creating dashboards and other data visualizations. You’ll progress to building sophisticated statistical models using machine learning and understanding advanced libraries and applications of Python specifically for financial analysis, including SEC filings, stock prices, portfolio and risk management, and financial ratios. 

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is known for many things: warm weather, beautiful beaches, and the glitz and glam of Hollywood. While it might not be known as a financial hub, the city is a prime location for anyone working in the financial services industry. According to BLS, there are 421,590 jobs in business and financial operations occupations, with all of these roles boasting an annual mean salary of $96,460. Some of the top financial employers in the city are big names like Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorganChase, and Citi. 

You can check out available finance classes in Los Angeles with the help of Noble Desktop. Their Financial Accounting Bootcamp is a good place to start. A two-day intensive designed for beginners, the class covers material that is useful for those seeking careers in accounting, bookkeeping, and other finance-related fields. The course introduces the fundamentals of financial accounting, including understanding financial reports, income statements, essential line items, and profit ratios. From there, you’ll learn the specifics of accrual accounting (as compared to cash accounting), ultimately moving to more advanced topics such as components of balance sheets and cash flow statements. The Financial Accounting Bootcamp is a hands-on course led by industry experts, so you’ll walk away with a solid grounding in financial accounting.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s financial services industry has the benefit of being located in one of the most vital regions in the nation’s economy. Home to some world-class financial services companies like Colonial Penn, Lincoln Financial, SEI, and Vanguard, the city also boasts many banks and investment houses. From Bank of America to Citizens Bank, JP Morgan Chase to PNC Bank, the city is brimming with companies looking for financial experts. A Financial Analyst can earn around $68,745 while a Finance Manager can earn just over $100,000.

You can check out available finance classes in Philadelphia with the help of Noble Desktop. Their Data Science Certificate program which will teach you Python, SQL, automation, and machine learning to help you unlock fulfilling and well-paid opportunities working in Data Science roles in the financial industry. The in-person or live online certificate program will help you learn predictive modeling skills, data analysis, and SQL querying, along with gaining skills in Python programming. You’ll create machine learning models, make dashboards and visualizations, and build a portfolio that will prepare you for a career in data science. Even better? An experienced Data Scientist will help you create a resume, assist you with your portfolio, and even mentor you one-on-one as you begin your job search.

San Francisco

San Francisco is home to 4.5 million people and it isn’t hard to see why. Culture, history, incredible restaurants and access to the outdoors draw more people every year. The Financial District is home to the city's largest concentration of corporate headquarters, law firms, insurance companies, real estate firms, savings and loan banks, and other financial institutions. Several Fortune 500 companies headquartered in San Francisco have their offices in the Financial District, including Wells Fargo. Often considered the financial capital of the western U.S., many brokerage and banking firms with offices in the San Francisco area, such as Franklin Templeton Investments, headquartered in nearby San Mateo. As a Financial Analyst, you can make just under $100,000 in the Bay Area.

You can check out available finance classes in San Francisco with the help of Noble Desktop. Python for Finance Bootcamp is an advanced course that covers the major Python financial libraries used to gather and manipulate financial data. You will start by working with financial APIs to fetch financial, company, and economic data. Then you’ll analyze financial statements from the SEC website, including financial ratios derived from the income statement and balance sheet. Finally, you will build risk management models using Python libraries to create VAR models and Monte Carlo simulation, mastering how to apply statistical measures like linear regression to financial uses.

Chicago

Over 9 million people reside in the city of Chicago, helping to make it the vibrant and bustling metropolis it is today. A city with a long history, today it has the most diverse economy among U.S. metros and the third highest employment in the finance and insurance sector. Over 45% of Chicago's finance firms are concentrated on LaSalle Street but the entire city boasts over 75 incubators and accelerators, including 1871. Additionally, 11 universities offer finance graduate programs in the Chicago area, including 2 of the top MBA schools. A Financial Analyst can earn around $78,000 in Chicago, with the potential to earn much more with a few years of experience. 

You can check out available finance classes in Chicago with the help of Noble Desktop. Their Financial Analyst Training Program helps students gain basic and intermediate skills in Excel, review corporate finance and financial accounting concepts, and build a comprehensive valuation model on a public company. You’ll build a strong foundation in Excel with formulas, functions, Pivot Tables, and shortcuts; learn advanced techniques including Goal Seek, financial functions, shortcuts, and cash flow projection tools; and review concepts like enterprise value, the financial statement analysis, DCF modeling techniques, and corporate valuation principles. Finally, you’ll create a DCF model on a public restaurant company using current financial data; review company presentations, earnings releases, and financial reports to determine the model drivers and assumptions; and derive a value per share and evaluate the equity as a potential investment.

Minneapolis

With more than 124,000 people working for finance-related employers, over 310 commercial banks, significant foreign-direct investment, and the sixth highest per capita total of Chartered Financial Analysts in the nation, the Minneapolis region has a dynamic financial services sector. Colleges and universities in the area graduated approximately 2,000 students from accounting, finance, financial management, mathematics, statistics, and actuarial sciences in 2018 alone, and over 67 percent of regional finance and accounting graduates between 2017 and 2019 are still employed in the region.

You can check out available finance classes in Minneapolis with the help of Noble Desktop. Their Advanced Excel & Financial Modeling Intensive helps students gain expertise in core and advanced Excel skills, financial accounting, corporate finance, and financial modeling. You’ll learn essential formulas, functions, and techniques needed to succeed as a Financial Analyst and build a real public company's discounted cash flow model.

Dallas 

Known for some of the best Tex-mex cuisine in the U.S. and cowboy-centric culture, Dallas is also a modern metropolis with a variety of industries. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the most populous metropolitan statistical area in the state of Texas, with aerospace and engineering, healthcare and lifesciences, and energy and natural resources topping their industry charts. Companies like Lockheed Martin, Bell Nexus, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and ExxonMobil all call the Dallas-Fort Worth region home, creating ample job opportunities, especially for the financially savvy. The average salary for a Financial Analyst is $89,000 in Dallas, well above the national average income. 

You can check out available finance classes in Dallas with the help of Noble Desktop. You’ll find a wide variety of courses, offered both in-person and live online, that can meet your needs. 

Miami

Boasting a vibrant arts and culture scene, Miami is a top destination for vacationers of all types. The city isn’t just for tourists though, over six million people live and work within the city. Commonly referred to as the financial capital of Latin America, Miami-Dade has the largest concentration of domestic and international banks on the East Coast south of New York City. Banks and financial services companies like Visa and PayPal are investing in Miami-Dade County, making it a prime location for financial professionals. As a Financial Analyst, you can make around $74,000 in Miami, Florida. 

You can check out available finance classes in Miami with the help of Noble Desktop. You’ll find a wide variety of courses from many notable educational providers. Whether you’re looking for an in-person and live online course, Noble Desktop can help you find the class that meets your needs. 

Houston

The Houston-Pasadena region is home to a whopping 7.5 million people. The city’s most noteworthy claim is its connection to space exploration but it’s also home to many other exciting industries. Known as the Energy Capital of the World, many oil companies, refineries, and petrochemical plants are based in Houston, employing nearly a third of the nation's jobs in oil and gas extraction. Over 190 life sciences and biotech companies are located here as well, making life sciences and healthcare top fields in the region. As a Financial Analyst, you can make around $83,000 in Houston. 

You can check out available finance classes in Houston with the help of Noble Desktop. You’ll find a wide variety of courses from many notable educational providers. Whether you’re looking for full-time or part-time, in-person or live online, Noble Desktop can help connect you with the right course. 

Washington D.C.

The seat of the U.S. federal government, Washington D.C. is a diverse and influential city nestled along the east coast. Tourism is a major contributor to the district’s GDP, which has some overlap with the local political sector. The district hosts almost 200 foreign embassies and international organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization of American States and the Pan American Health Organization. DC also has a thriving transportation industry thanks to Amtrak’s second busiest station and the three nearby airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

You can check out available finance classes in Dallas with the help of Noble Desktop. You’ll find a wide variety of courses, offered both in-person and live online, that can meet your needs. 

Learn Finance Skills Online

If you don’t live in a location with ample in-person classes, don’t worry. There are plenty of online options available that you can attend from wherever you choose, whether that’s your living room, office, or while traveling. To learn more about live online finance courses, consider exploring your options with Noble’s Classes Near Me Tool.

Learn Finance Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is an award-winning computer training center where you can learn the skills you need to advance your career. Offering classes across the finance spectrum--from data analytics to financial modeling to the basics of Microsoft Office--Noble Desktop can help you grow your skill set, whether in-person or live online from your home or office. The instructors at Noble Desktop are professionals in their field, and their project-based approach offers you hands-on experience that transfers seamlessly into the business world. Find out why so many students turn to Noble Desktop to uplevel their skills by enrolling in a class today.