What is the salary and career path for a cfo?
CFO is the executive tier of Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031), the broad BLS code that houses top finance leaders; the OEWS May 2025 median for the whole code is $166,570 a year ($80.08 an hour), from $94,310 at the 10th percentile to $323,270 at the 90th, and CFOs sit at and above the top of that range. BLS projects a strong 14.8% growth for financial managers over 2024–2034, much faster than average, with about 74,600 openings a year. The seat is reached after long finance leadership experience, usually with a CPA or MBA.
- CFOs earn a national median $166,570/yr ($80.08/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3031); the top 10% clear $323,270.
- CFO is the executive tier of Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031); the seat is reached after long finance leadership, usually with a CPA or MBA.
- BLS projects a strong 14.8% growth for financial managers through 2034 — much faster than average — with about 74,600 openings a year.
- The code's median is $166,570, but CFOs sit at and above the $323,270 top decile, with equity lifting total pay further.
Career Path
How do you become a cfo?
Finance manager / controller
Building finance-leadership depth on the way to the executive suite; the code's 10th percentile is $94,310.
VP of finance
Leading FP&A, treasury and reporting for a division earns around the $166,570 financial-managers median.
CFO (mid-market)
Owning finance strategy at a mid-market company pushes pay toward the $219,980 75th percentile.
CFO (large / public company)
Leading finance at a large or public company reaches and exceeds the $323,270 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays cfos the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3031. National median: $166,570. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does cfo pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles cfos most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: cfos rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +14.8% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly cfos clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3031 (cfos) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do cfos need?
A Certified Public Accountant license from a state board, common among CFOs with an accounting background. See all state licences →
The IMA's management-accounting credential focused on planning, analysis and decision support.
A graduate business degree that many CFOs use to build strategic and leadership breadth.
Experience with boards, audit committees and investor relations expected at the executive level.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do cfos use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 11-3031
Salary Levers
How do cfos earn above the $166,570 BLS median?
Company size and public status
Leading finance at a larger or public company pushes pay past the $219,980 75th percentile toward $323,270 and beyond.
Equity and incentive pay
CFO packages carry bonus and equity that lift total compensation well above base salary.
CPA/MBA credibility and track record
A CPA or MBA plus a proven finance-leadership record moves candidates from the median toward the top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a cfo worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3031. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
CFO Career, Frequently Asked Questions
CFO career research journey
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