摘要:The aim of this study is to investigate the perception and risk behavior, performing a comparison between civil servants and individuals who have other occupations, as well as to analyze the influence of sociodemographic variables in the perception and behavior of financial risk. Among the variables it is highlights the occupation, in which is hypothesized that the perception and behavior of financial risk are different for civil servants and individuals working in other occupations. Data were collected at random in the town of Santa Maria - RS, in a survey research of 1,292 individuals. The main results indicate a high risk perception and risk conservative behavior in the investigated sample. It is emphasized that it was not possible to identify differences in perception or risk behavior among civil servants and other professions. The linear regression confirms this result, because only the aspects of age and income had an impact on risk perception, and that is a positive relationship. In the risk behavior factor only the variables of age, education and marital status were significant, all with negative influence.