Finance30% remote-eligible+3.5% YoY growth

Chief Financial Officer Salary
by City (2026)

Lead financial strategy, planning, and reporting for the entire organization. National median: $250K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$250K

Top 10% earn

$520K

Entry level

$175K

Salary growth

+3.5%/yr

Chief Financial Officer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$263K	$375K	$540K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$254K	$363K	$522K	210	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$249K	$355K	$511K	162	10.75%
New York City, NY	$247K	$353K	$509K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$246K	$351K	$505K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$246K	$351K	$505K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$241K	$345K	$497K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$241K	$345K	$497K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$238K	$340K	$489K	175	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$236K	$338K	$486K	155	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$235K	$336K	$484K	172	9.3%
Boston, MA	$231K	$330K	$475K	162	5%
Yonkers, NY	$230K	$328K	$472K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$230K	$328K	$472K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$228K	$325K	$468K	163	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$227K	$325K	$468K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$228K	$325K	$468K	148	5.75%
Seattle, WA	$224K	$320K	$461K	150	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$224K	$320K	$461K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$222K	$317K	$456K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$219K	$313K	$450K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$218K	$311K	$448K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$216K	$309K	$445K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$216K	$309K	$445K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$214K	$305K	$439K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$214K	$305K	$440K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$214K	$305K	$440K	145	10.75%
Chicago, IL	$210K	$300K	$432K	107	4.95%
Paterson, NJ	$210K	$300K	$431K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$208K	$297K	$428K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$208K	$297K	$428K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$208K	$297K	$428K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$207K	$295K	$425K	128	9.3%
Miami, FL	$207K	$295K	$425K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$201K	$288K	$414K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$201K	$288K	$414K	118	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$201K	$288K	$414K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$201K	$288K	$414K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$201K	$288K	$414K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$201K	$288K	$414K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$201K	$288K	$414K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$201K	$288K	$414K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$199K	$285K	$410K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$196K	$280K	$403K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$196K	$280K	$403K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$196K	$280K	$403K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$195K	$279K	$402K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$194K	$277K	$399K	120	None ✓
Austin, TX	$193K	$275K	$396K	110	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$193K	$275K	$396K	118	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$193K	$275K	$396K	128	None ✓
Vancouver, WA	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	5%
Charlotte, NC	$193K	$275K	$396K	100	4.75%
Gresham, OR	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$192K	$275K	$395K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$193K	$275K	$396K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$190K	$271K	$390K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$190K	$271K	$390K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$190K	$271K	$390K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$190K	$271K	$390K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$190K	$271K	$390K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$190K	$271K	$390K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$190K	$271K	$390K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$190K	$271K	$390K	115	5.99%
Irving, TX	$189K	$270K	$389K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$189K	$270K	$389K	108	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$189K	$270K	$389K	112	4.55%
St. Paul, MN	$189K	$270K	$389K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$189K	$270K	$389K	105	4.85%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$187K	$268K	$385K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$187K	$268K	$385K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$187K	$268K	$385K	112	4.75%
Houston, TX	$186K	$265K	$382K	91	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$186K	$265K	$382K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$184K	$263K	$379K	108	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$184K	$263K	$378K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$184K	$263K	$378K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$184K	$263K	$378K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$184K	$263K	$379K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$184K	$263K	$379K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$184K	$263K	$379K	108	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$184K	$263K	$378K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$184K	$263K	$378K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$184K	$263K	$378K	102	None ✓
Boise, ID	$184K	$263K	$379K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$184K	$263K	$379K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$182K	$260K	$374K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$182K	$260K	$374K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$182K	$260K	$374K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$182K	$260K	$374K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$182K	$260K	$374K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$179K	$256K	$369K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$179K	$256K	$369K	102	6.75%
Fort Worth, TX	$179K	$255K	$367K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$179K	$255K	$367K	100	None ✓
Richmond, VA	$179K	$255K	$367K	98	5.75%
Provo, UT	$179K	$255K	$367K	100	4.85%
Denton, TX	$178K	$254K	$365K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$178K	$254K	$365K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$178K	$254K	$365K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$178K	$254K	$365K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$178K	$254K	$365K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$178K	$254K	$365K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$178K	$254K	$365K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$178K	$254K	$365K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$176K	$252K	$362K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$176K	$252K	$362K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$176K	$252K	$362K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$176K	$252K	$362K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$176K	$252K	$362K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$176K	$252K	$362K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$176K	$252K	$362K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$176K	$252K	$362K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$176K	$252K	$362K	98	7.15%
Arlington, TX	$175K	$250K	$360K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$175K	$250K	$360K	91	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$175K	$250K	$360K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$175K	$250K	$360K	98	2.5%
Columbus, OH	$175K	$250K	$360K	90	3.99%
Cincinnati, OH	$175K	$250K	$360K	88	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$175K	$250K	$360K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$175K	$250K	$360K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$175K	$250K	$360K	108	None ✓
Des Moines, IA	$175K	$250K	$360K	88	4.82%
Bakersfield, CA	$174K	$248K	$357K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$174K	$248K	$357K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$174K	$248K	$357K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$174K	$248K	$357K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$174K	$248K	$357K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$174K	$248K	$357K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$174K	$248K	$357K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$171K	$245K	$352K	92	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$172K	$245K	$353K	93	None ✓
Athens, GA	$171K	$245K	$352K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$172K	$245K	$353K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$172K	$245K	$353K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$172K	$245K	$353K	86	5.3%
Madison, WI	$172K	$245K	$353K	102	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$171K	$245K	$352K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$172K	$245K	$353K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$171K	$245K	$352K	92	6.5%
Omaha, NE	$172K	$245K	$353K	88	5.84%
Cheyenne, WY	$171K	$245K	$352K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$170K	$243K	$349K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$170K	$243K	$349K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$170K	$243K	$349K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$170K	$243K	$349K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$170K	$243K	$349K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$170K	$243K	$349K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$168K	$240K	$346K	102	4.55%
Greensboro, NC	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$168K	$240K	$346K	82	4.25%
Indianapolis, IN	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$168K	$240K	$346K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$168K	$240K	$346K	88	None ✓
San Antonio, TX	$166K	$238K	$342K	87	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$166K	$238K	$342K	102	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$166K	$238K	$342K	88	6.85%
Rochester, NY	$166K	$238K	$342K	90	6.85%
Louisville, KY	$166K	$238K	$342K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$166K	$238K	$342K	88	5%
Beaumont, TX	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$166K	$237K	$341K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$163K	$233K	$336K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$162K	$231K	$333K	80	5%
Cleveland, OH	$161K	$230K	$331K	82	3.99%
Birmingham, AL	$161K	$230K	$331K	82	5%
New Orleans, LA	$161K	$230K	$331K	92	6%
Abilene, TX	$160K	$229K	$329K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$160K	$229K	$329K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$160K	$229K	$329K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$160K	$229K	$329K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$160K	$229K	$329K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$160K	$229K	$329K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$158K	$225K	$324K	75	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$158K	$225K	$324K	95	None ✓
Memphis, TN	$158K	$225K	$324K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$158K	$225K	$324K	90	4.25%
Columbia, SC	$158K	$225K	$324K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$158K	$225K	$324K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$158K	$225K	$324K	88	6%
Fort Smith, AR	$158K	$225K	$324K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$158K	$225K	$324K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$154K	$220K	$317K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$154K	$220K	$317K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$154K	$220K	$317K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$154K	$220K	$317K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$154K	$220K	$317K	80	4.75%
Albuquerque, NM	$154K	$220K	$317K	88	5.9%
Wichita, KS	$151K	$215K	$310K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$149K	$213K	$306K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$149K	$213K	$306K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$144K	$205K	$295K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$137K	$195K	$281K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $250K Chief Financial Officer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Chief Financial Officer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Chief Financial Officer is $250,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $175,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $360,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Chief Financial Officers nationally earn $520,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Finance; MBA or CPA; 15+ years experience. This role is 30% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Chief Financial Officer compensation is growing at 3.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Chief Financial Officer salary FAQ

How much does a Chief Financial Officer make?

The median Chief Financial Officer salary in the US is $250,000 per year — about $120/hour. Most earn between $175,000 (25th percentile) and $360,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Chief Financial Officer?

Entry-level Chief Financial Officer positions typically start around $175,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Chief Financial Officers earn?

The top 10% of Chief Financial Officers earn $520,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Chief Financial Officers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Chief Financial Officer salary at $375K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Chief Financial Officer salaries going up?

Yes — Chief Financial Officer pay is growing about 3.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Chief Financial Officer Salaryby City (2026)