Finance40% remote-eligible+3.2% YoY growth

Financial Controller Salary
by City (2026)

Manage all accounting operations including financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance. National median: $140K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$140K

Top 10% earn

$235K

Entry level

$105K

Salary growth

+3.2%/yr

Financial Controller salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$158K	$210K	$273K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$152K	$203K	$264K	210	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$149K	$199K	$258K	162	10.75%
New York City, NY	$148K	$198K	$257K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$147K	$197K	$256K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$147K	$197K	$256K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$145K	$193K	$251K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$145K	$193K	$251K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$143K	$190K	$247K	175	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$142K	$189K	$246K	155	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$141K	$188K	$245K	172	9.3%
Boston, MA	$139K	$185K	$240K	162	5%
Yonkers, NY	$138K	$184K	$239K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$138K	$184K	$239K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$137K	$182K	$237K	163	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$136K	$182K	$236K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$137K	$182K	$237K	148	5.75%
Seattle, WA	$134K	$179K	$233K	150	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$134K	$179K	$233K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$133K	$177K	$231K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$131K	$175K	$228K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$131K	$174K	$226K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$130K	$173K	$225K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$130K	$173K	$225K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$128K	$171K	$222K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$128K	$171K	$222K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$128K	$171K	$222K	145	10.75%
Chicago, IL	$126K	$168K	$218K	107	4.95%
Paterson, NJ	$126K	$168K	$218K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$125K	$166K	$216K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$125K	$166K	$216K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$125K	$166K	$216K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$124K	$165K	$215K	128	9.3%
Miami, FL	$124K	$165K	$215K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$121K	$161K	$209K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$121K	$161K	$209K	118	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$121K	$161K	$209K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$121K	$161K	$209K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$121K	$161K	$209K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$121K	$161K	$209K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$121K	$161K	$209K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$121K	$161K	$209K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$120K	$160K	$207K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$118K	$157K	$204K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$118K	$157K	$204K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$118K	$157K	$204K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$117K	$156K	$203K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$116K	$155K	$201K	120	None ✓
Austin, TX	$116K	$154K	$200K	110	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$116K	$154K	$200K	118	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$116K	$154K	$200K	128	None ✓
Vancouver, WA	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	5%
Charlotte, NC	$116K	$154K	$200K	100	4.75%
Gresham, OR	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$115K	$154K	$200K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$116K	$154K	$200K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$114K	$152K	$197K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$114K	$152K	$197K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$114K	$152K	$197K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$114K	$152K	$197K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$114K	$152K	$197K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$114K	$152K	$197K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$114K	$152K	$197K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$114K	$152K	$197K	115	5.99%
Irving, TX	$113K	$151K	$197K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$113K	$151K	$197K	108	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$113K	$151K	$197K	112	4.55%
St. Paul, MN	$113K	$151K	$197K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$113K	$151K	$197K	105	4.85%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$112K	$150K	$195K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$112K	$150K	$195K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$112K	$150K	$195K	112	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$111K	$149K	$193K	110	9.9%
Houston, TX	$111K	$148K	$193K	91	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$110K	$147K	$191K	108	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$110K	$147K	$191K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$110K	$147K	$191K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$110K	$147K	$191K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$110K	$147K	$191K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$110K	$147K	$191K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$110K	$147K	$191K	108	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$110K	$147K	$191K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$110K	$147K	$191K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$110K	$147K	$191K	102	None ✓
Boise, ID	$110K	$147K	$191K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$110K	$147K	$191K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$109K	$145K	$189K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$109K	$145K	$189K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$109K	$145K	$189K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$109K	$145K	$189K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$109K	$145K	$189K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$108K	$144K	$187K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$108K	$144K	$187K	102	6.75%
Fort Worth, TX	$107K	$143K	$186K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$107K	$143K	$186K	100	None ✓
Richmond, VA	$107K	$143K	$186K	98	5.75%
Provo, UT	$107K	$143K	$186K	100	4.85%
Denton, TX	$107K	$142K	$185K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$107K	$142K	$185K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$107K	$142K	$185K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$107K	$142K	$185K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$107K	$142K	$185K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$107K	$142K	$185K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$107K	$142K	$185K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$107K	$142K	$185K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$106K	$141K	$183K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$106K	$141K	$183K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$106K	$141K	$183K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$106K	$141K	$183K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$106K	$141K	$183K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$106K	$141K	$183K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$106K	$141K	$183K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$106K	$141K	$183K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$106K	$141K	$183K	98	7.15%
Arlington, TX	$105K	$140K	$182K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$105K	$140K	$182K	91	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$105K	$140K	$182K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$105K	$140K	$182K	98	2.5%
Columbus, OH	$105K	$140K	$182K	90	3.99%
Cincinnati, OH	$105K	$140K	$182K	88	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$105K	$140K	$182K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$105K	$140K	$182K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$105K	$140K	$182K	108	None ✓
Des Moines, IA	$105K	$140K	$182K	88	4.82%
Bakersfield, CA	$104K	$139K	$181K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$104K	$139K	$181K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$104K	$139K	$181K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$104K	$139K	$181K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$104K	$139K	$181K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$104K	$139K	$181K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$104K	$139K	$181K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$103K	$137K	$178K	92	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$103K	$137K	$178K	93	None ✓
Athens, GA	$103K	$137K	$178K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$103K	$137K	$178K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$103K	$137K	$178K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$103K	$137K	$178K	86	5.3%
Madison, WI	$103K	$137K	$178K	102	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$103K	$137K	$178K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$103K	$137K	$178K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$103K	$137K	$178K	92	6.5%
Omaha, NE	$103K	$137K	$178K	88	5.84%
Cheyenne, WY	$103K	$137K	$178K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$102K	$136K	$177K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$102K	$136K	$177K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$102K	$136K	$177K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$102K	$136K	$177K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$102K	$136K	$177K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$102K	$136K	$177K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$101K	$135K	$175K	88	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$101K	$134K	$175K	102	4.55%
Detroit, MI	$101K	$134K	$175K	82	4.25%
Indianapolis, IN	$101K	$134K	$175K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$101K	$134K	$175K	90	5.3%
San Antonio, TX	$100K	$133K	$173K	87	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$100K	$133K	$173K	102	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$100K	$133K	$173K	88	6.85%
Rochester, NY	$100K	$133K	$173K	90	6.85%
Winston-Salem, NC	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	5.3%
Louisville, KY	$100K	$133K	$173K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$100K	$133K	$173K	88	5%
Lafayette, LA	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$99K	$133K	$172K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$98K	$131K	$170K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$97K	$129K	$167K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	5%
Birmingham, AL	$97K	$129K	$167K	82	5%
Montgomery, AL	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$97K	$129K	$167K	92	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$97K	$129K	$168K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$96K	$128K	$167K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$96K	$128K	$167K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$96K	$128K	$167K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$96K	$128K	$167K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$96K	$128K	$167K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$96K	$128K	$167K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$95K	$126K	$164K	75	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$95K	$126K	$164K	95	None ✓
Memphis, TN	$95K	$126K	$164K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$95K	$126K	$164K	90	4.25%
Columbia, SC	$95K	$126K	$164K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$95K	$126K	$164K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$95K	$126K	$164K	88	6%
Fort Smith, AR	$95K	$126K	$164K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$95K	$126K	$164K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$92K	$123K	$160K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$92K	$123K	$160K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$92K	$123K	$160K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$92K	$123K	$160K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$92K	$123K	$160K	80	4.75%
Albuquerque, NM	$92K	$123K	$160K	88	5.9%
Wichita, KS	$90K	$120K	$157K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$89K	$119K	$155K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$89K	$119K	$155K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$86K	$115K	$149K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$82K	$109K	$142K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $140K Financial Controller 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 →

Financial Controller Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Financial Controller is $140,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $105,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $182,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Financial Controllers nationally earn $235,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Accounting; CPA required. This role is 40% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Financial Controller compensation is growing at 3.2% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Financial Controller salary FAQ

How much does a Financial Controller make?

The median Financial Controller salary in the US is $140,000 per year — about $67/hour. Most earn between $105,000 (25th percentile) and $182,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Financial Controller?

Entry-level Financial Controller positions typically start around $105,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Financial Controllers earn?

The top 10% of Financial Controllers earn $235,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Financial Controllers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Financial Controller salary at $210K 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 Financial Controller salaries going up?

Yes — Financial Controller pay is growing about 3.2% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Financial Controller Salaryby City (2026)