How much does a financial manager make?
The median financial manager in the United States earns $161,700 per year, about $77.74 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all financial managers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 11-3031.
Financial manager salary range
Pay for financial managers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $86,490 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $239,200+. The average (mean) wage of $180,470 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $86,490 | $41.58 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $118,360 | $56.91 | |
| Median (50th) | $161,700 | $77.74 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $214,210 | $102.98 | |
| 90th percentile | $239,200+ | $115.00+ | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for financial managers (SOC 11-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Financial manager salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Financial managers earn the most in New York at $215,740 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $103,410. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $215,740 | 67,510 |
| New Jersey | $188,750 | 32,370 |
| District of Columbia | $181,210 | 7,950 |
| Massachusetts | $181,170 | 27,690 |
| Delaware | $180,050 | 2,800 |
| California | $174,920 | 96,860 |
| Colorado | $174,840 | 11,460 |
| Washington | $171,300 | 13,890 |
| Virginia | $170,290 | 20,590 |
| Connecticut | $169,730 | 20,200 |
| Georgia | $163,450 | 22,720 |
| Rhode Island | $160,490 | 2,310 |
| Texas | $160,350 | 67,580 |
| North Carolina | $160,340 | 21,170 |
| Illinois | $159,990 | 53,400 |
| Minnesota | $158,040 | 16,520 |
| Maryland | $157,350 | 19,920 |
| South Dakota | $152,020 | 870 |
| Oregon | $147,240 | 7,230 |
| Florida | $143,100 | 47,710 |
| New Hampshire | $141,520 | 4,090 |
| Kansas | $138,980 | 4,820 |
| Alabama | $138,040 | 6,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $137,960 | 31,750 |
| Utah | $137,760 | 8,670 |
| Wisconsin | $137,530 | 13,750 |
| Michigan | $135,290 | 19,690 |
| Maine | $134,410 | 3,040 |
| Nebraska | $134,410 | 5,480 |
| Vermont | $133,720 | 1,960 |
| Missouri | $133,560 | 12,710 |
| Ohio | $133,450 | 27,920 |
| Tennessee | $133,010 | 18,650 |
| Indiana | $132,320 | 11,440 |
| Arizona | $132,290 | 14,570 |
| Iowa | $130,600 | 9,400 |
| North Dakota | $130,070 | 1,960 |
| South Carolina | $127,610 | 9,380 |
| Hawaii | $127,370 | 3,420 |
| Oklahoma | $126,890 | 6,000 |
| Montana | $126,190 | 1,400 |
| Kentucky | $125,490 | 6,120 |
| Nevada | $124,560 | 7,240 |
| Idaho | $123,570 | 2,720 |
| Alaska | $122,770 | 2,090 |
| New Mexico | $122,180 | 2,430 |
| Louisiana | $119,360 | 7,320 |
| Wyoming | $118,390 | 660 |
| Mississippi | $105,970 | 3,730 |
| West Virginia | $105,760 | 2,430 |
| Arkansas | $103,410 | 6,500 |
State median wages for financial managers (SOC 11-3031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for financial managers
The BLS projects employment of financial managers to grow 9.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 879,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 964,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 65,600 openings a year for financial managers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a financial manager
The typical entry-level education for financial managers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a financial manager earns
Company size, industry, and metro area drive most of the pay gap. Executives and managers at large firms in major markets sit near the top of the range, while smaller organizations and rural areas pay lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $215,740) and the lowest (Arkansas, $103,410) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 818,620 people work as financial managers in the United States. At $161,700 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Financial manager salary FAQ
How much does a financial manager make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a financial manager is $77.74. The middle half of financial managers earn between $56.91 and $102.98 per hour.
What is the highest financial manager salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of financial managers earn more than $239,200+ per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a financial manager make a year?
The median annual salary for a financial manager is $161,700. The average (mean) wage of $180,470 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a financial manager a well paid job?
At $161,700 a year, a financial manager earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 818,620 people work as financial managers in the United States.
Which state pays financial managers the most?
New York has the highest median salary for financial managers at $215,740 a year. New Jersey ($188,750) and District of Columbia ($181,210) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a financial manager a good career?
Employment of financial managers is projected to grow 9.7% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 65,600 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a financial manager?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for financial managers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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