What is the salary and career path for a controller?
Controller is a close match to Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031), the BLS code for finance leadership; the OEWS May 2025 median is $166,570 a year ($80.08 an hour), from $94,310 at the 10th percentile to $323,270 at the 90th. BLS projects a strong 14.8% growth for the code over 2024–2034, much faster than average, with about 74,600 openings a year. The role is reached from senior-accounting and accounting-manager experience, usually with a CPA, and often precedes the CFO seat.
- Controllers earn a national median $166,570/yr ($80.08/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3031); the top 10% clear $323,270.
- Controller is a close match to Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031); the path runs through senior accounting and the CPA and often precedes the CFO seat.
- BLS projects a strong 14.8% growth for financial managers through 2034 — much faster than average — with about 74,600 openings a year.
- Pay runs from an accounting manager near $94,310 to a VP of finance or CFO at the $323,270 top decile.
Career Path
How do you become a controller?
Senior accountant / accounting manager
Building the accounting-leadership base before the controller role; the code's 10th percentile is $94,310.
Controller
Owning accounting operations and the close earns around the $166,570 financial-managers median.
Corporate / group controller
Leading accounting across entities pushes pay toward the $219,980 75th percentile.
VP of finance / CFO
Advancing to VP of finance or CFO reaches and exceeds the $323,270 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays controllers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3031. National median: $166,570. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does controller pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles controllers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: controllers 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 controllers 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 (controllers) 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 controllers need?
A Certified Public Accountant license, the near-standard credential for controllers. See all state licences →
The IMA credential valued for planning, analysis and cost management.
Command of GAAP, consolidations and SOX-style internal controls.
A record of leading the close and reporting for a business or unit.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do controllers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 11-3031
Salary Levers
How do controllers earn above the $166,570 BLS median?
CPA and technical depth
The CPA and deep GAAP expertise anchor a controller at the $166,570 median and above.
Company size and complexity
Leading accounting at a larger or multi-entity company pushes pay toward the $219,980 75th percentile and beyond.
Advancement to VP finance / CFO
Moving up to VP of finance or CFO reaches the $323,270 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a controller 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
Controller Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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