Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Controller Salary in the United States

How much does a Controller make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Controller in the United States is $254,040 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $122.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $314,565
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $234,295 to $285,721
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $216,318
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Controller Salaries

A Controller'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 Controller Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Controller'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:

  • Financial Control Senior Manager (5+ years): $163,176
  • Financial Control Director (5+ years): $177,492
  • Controller (5+ years): $254,040
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Financial Control Senior Manager5+ years$163,176
Financial Control Director5+ years$177,492
Controller5+ years$254,040
View as Graph

How Do Controller 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 Controllers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $281,273.
  • California: $280,206.
  • Massachusetts: $276,472.

Top Paying Cities for Controllers

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: $320,421
  • San Francisco: $316,912
  • Oakland: $310,234

What Skills Can Increase a Controller's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.02% 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 2.93% Job Postings): Creating and keeping track of business transactions and activities to monitor financial operations.
  • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Mentioned in 1.03% Job Postings): Helping and maintaining accounting rules and standards for financial reporting to ensure consistency and transparency.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.02%
General Ledger 2.93%
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles 1.03%
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 Controller's salary.

  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Technical Accounting: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Initiative $266,742
5%
Insight $266,742
5%
Technical Accounting $264,202
4%
Get Latest Data

Controller Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Controller salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $283,900. While startup companies pay approximate $240,151.

Controller Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $240,151
Growth Stage 51~500 $253,983
Established 501~5000 $274,142
Enterprise 5000+ $283,900

Controller Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Controller roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 47% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Controller positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Controller as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Controller

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$309,929$149.022%
Energy & Utilities$304,848$147.020%
Insurance$299,767$144.018%
Internet$284,525$137.012%
Aerospace & Defense$279,444$134.010%

How Education impacts a Controller's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Controller 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 Controller with a Bachelor's Degree is between $242,584 and $264,930.

Controller Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Controller
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 3.9%
Associates 4.1%
Bachelors 57.5%
Masters 33.9%
Doctorate 0.3%
View as Graph

Controller Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Controller'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 September 01, 2026
$234,295
Average $254,040/year
$285,721
$19,525
Average $21,170/month
$23,810
$4,506
Average $4,885/week
$5,495
$113
Average $122/hour
$137
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $285,721 $23,810 $5,495 $137
Average $254,040 $21,170 $4,885 $122
25th Percentile $234,295 $19,525 $4,506 $113

Controller Salary Growth & Career Path

Controller

Next Role

For a Controller, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Corporate Controller role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $308,003 - a projected growth of 21% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Controller

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

Common company salaries for Controller

Here are companies hiring for Controller and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Controller Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Controller job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Controller

1. Where can a Controller earn the most?

A Controller'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 Controller earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Controller is $320,421.

2. What is the highest pay for Controller?

The highest pay for Controller is $314,565.

3. What is the lowest pay for Controller?

The lowest pay for Controller is $216,318.

4. What are the responsibilities of Controller?

Leads and directs an organization's accounting functions. Establishes and maintains the organization's overall accounting systems, procedures, and policies. Directs all analysis and reporting of financial information including budgets, planning, and required filings and reports. Presents findings and recommendations to management. Requires a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance. Typically requires Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Typically reports to top management. Manages a departmental function within a broader corporate function. Develops major goals to support broad functional objectives. Approves policies developed within various sub-functions and departments. Typically requires 8+ years of managerial experience. Comprehensive knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Controller?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Controller roles, with salaries approximately 22% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job