Mutual Fund Portfolio Managers
Overview
Introduction
Mutual funds are investment pools of common stocks, bonds, cash, or a combination of all three. They are sold to the public through the sale of shares representing an ownership interest. Portfolio managers oversee mutual funds using active or passive management strategies, with an overall goal of earning strong returns for investors and profits for their employer. In 2023, 54.4 percent of U.S. households owned U.S.-registered mutual funds, with a median of three mutual funds owned per household, as reported in the 2024 Investmen...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
In 2025, portfolio managers earned salaries that ranged from $105,000 to $155,500, according to the staffing firm Robert Half. Managers at top funds can earn more than $500,000 a year.
PayScale.com reports that portfolio managers in all financial sectors earned salaries that ranged from $64,000 to $160,000 in January 2025, with average salaries of $101,502. They also received bonuses tha...
Work Environment
Portfolio managers work full time and some work more than 40 hours per week. Some companies offer better hours and provide good work/life benefits. Some financial companies offer flexible work schedules, compressed work weeks, a telecommuting option, and other programs
At large companies, the portfolio manager is assisted by a team of analysts, researchers, traders, and office staff. At ...
Outlook
Opportunities will be good for experienced, highly skilled portfolio managers who continuously generate strong returns for the fund(s) they manage. Employment for financial analysts (including portfolio managers) who work for firms that oversee funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles is expected to grow by 14.7 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)....