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Chief Financial Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a Chief Financial Officer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Financial Officer in the United States is $438,509 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $211.

However, a Chief Financial Officer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $538,477
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $391,695 to $490,836
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $349,073
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Chief Financial Officer Salaries

A Chief Financial Officer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chief Financial Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chief Financial Officer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Finance Senior Manager (5+ years): $168,006
  • Finance Director (5+ years): $203,590
  • VP of Finance (5+ years): $250,307
  • SVP of Finance (5+ years): $297,056
  • Chief Financial Officer (5+ years): $438,509
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Finance Senior Manager5+ years$168,006
Finance Director5+ years$203,590
VP of Finance5+ years$250,307
SVP of Finance5+ years$297,056
Chief Financial Officer5+ years$438,509
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How Do Chief Financial Officers Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Chief Financial Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $485,517.
  • California: $483,675.
  • Massachusetts: $477,229.

Top Paying Cities for Chief Financial Officer

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $553,091
  • San Francisco: $547,036
  • Oakland: $535,507

What Skills Can Increase a Chief Financial Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.52% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • General Ledger (Mentioned in 2.51% Job Postings): Creating and keeping track of business transactions and activities to monitor financial operations.
  • Accounting Software (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): Accounting software makes it easier for business owners to manage financial procedures, performing financial tasks correctly and quickly.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.52%
General Ledger 2.51%
Accounting Software 1.27%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Chief Financial Officer's salary.

  • Analytical Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analytical Skills $508,670
16%
Insight $499,900
14%
Integrity $495,515
13%
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Chief Financial Officer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chief Financial Officer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $490,886. While startup companies pay approximate $415,278.

Chief Financial Officer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $415,278
Growth Stage 51~500 $439,205
Established 501~5000 $474,037
Enterprise 5000+ $490,886

Chief Financial Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chief Financial Officer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Chief Financial Officer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chief Financial Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chief Financial Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$613,913$295.040%
Financial Services$570,062$274.030%
Internet$548,136$264.025%
Biotechnology$526,211$253.020%

How Education impacts an Chief Financial Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chief Financial Officer enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Chief Financial Officer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $401,696 and $465,027.

Chief Financial Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chief Financial Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 1.7%
Associates 1.6%
Bachelors 44.5%
Masters 50.0%
Doctorate 1.9%
View as Graph

Chief Financial Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chief Financial Officer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$391,695
Average $438,509/year
$490,836
$32,641
Average $36,542/month
$40,903
$7,533
Average $8,433/week
$9,439
$188
Average $211/hour
$236
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $490,836 $40,903 $9,439 $236
Average $438,509 $36,542 $8,433 $211
25th Percentile $391,695 $32,641 $7,533 $188

Most common benefits for Chief Financial Officer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Chief Financial Officer

Here are companies hiring for Chief Financial Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Chief Financial Officer

1. Where can a Chief Financial Officer earn the most?

A Chief Financial Officer's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Chief Financial Officer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chief Financial Officer is $553,091.

2. What is the highest pay for Chief Financial Officer?

The highest pay for Chief Financial Officer is $538,477.

3. What is the lowest pay for Chief Financial Officer?

The lowest pay for Chief Financial Officer is $349,073.

4. What are the responsibilities of Chief Financial Officer?

Plans and leads an organization's financial operations, reporting, and governance to ensure financial health and support high-level strategic planning. Develops and drives the financial strategy, including capital allocation, funding initiatives, and resource management to support organizational goals. Collaborates with senior leaders to ensure financial controls, policies, and priorities are integrated across business operations. Oversees budgeting and forecasting to ensure resources and efforts align with the organization's mission. Researches and adopts emerging technologies, tools, and best practices to enhance reporting, forecasting, or operational efficiency. Negotiates and leads funding opportunities through debt, equity, and various financial instruments to support business operations, optimize cash flow, and manage risk. Requires a master's degree in accounting or finance. May require Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Typically reports to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Top level or C level management. Responsible for the development of functional or business unit strategy for the entire organization. Defines corporate vision and strategy establishes company direction and focus. Executes multiple high impact initiatives to achieve overall corporate goals.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Chief Financial Officer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Chief Financial Officer roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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