Financial Examiner salary in the U.S.
Financial Examiners in the U.S. earn a median of $94,160 a year ($45.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 67,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,200 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $106,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for financial examiners in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,230 | $27.04 |
| 25th percentile | $70,660 | $33.97 |
| Median | $94,160 | $45.27 |
| 75th percentile | $129,600 | $62.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $174,200 | $83.75 |
| Average (mean) | $106,240 | $51.08 |
Half of financial examiners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,846.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,923.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,621.54 |
| Weekly | $1,810.77 |
| Hourly | $45.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Financial Examiner salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $198,720 | 470 |
| New York | $128,920 | 13,480 |
| Connecticut | $120,530 | n/a |
| Washington | $113,700 | 420 |
| Massachusetts | $111,110 | 950 |
| New Jersey | $106,410 | 2,190 |
| California | $106,000 | 4,200 |
| Minnesota | $104,260 | 1,280 |
| Virginia | $104,060 | 1,280 |
| Maryland | $102,980 | 350 |
| North Carolina | $100,730 | 2,610 |
| Colorado | $99,610 | 1,910 |
| Oregon | $94,630 | 820 |
| Rhode Island | $94,130 | 320 |
| Illinois | $93,150 | 4,050 |
| Delaware | $92,390 | 430 |
| Utah | $92,000 | 960 |
| Alaska | $90,530 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $88,690 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $87,110 | 500 |
| South Carolina | $86,440 | 480 |
| Wisconsin | $86,320 | 580 |
| Mississippi | $85,430 | 420 |
| Idaho | $85,260 | 210 |
| Nevada | $84,650 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $84,310 | 240 |
| North Dakota | $82,640 | 220 |
| Indiana | $81,300 | 420 |
| Montana | $80,970 | 140 |
| Maine | $80,840 | 230 |
| New Hampshire | $80,810 | 130 |
| Oklahoma | $80,760 | 400 |
| Kansas | $80,420 | 470 |
| Iowa | $80,370 | 1,020 |
| Arizona | $80,260 | 1,910 |
| Missouri | $79,990 | 2,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,500 | 2,590 |
| Texas | $78,140 | 5,230 |
| Georgia | $77,710 | 1,450 |
| Kentucky | $76,260 | 640 |
| Florida | $76,230 | 4,190 |
| Vermont | $74,680 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $74,460 | 840 |
| Michigan | $71,050 | 710 |
| Ohio | $69,040 | 3,680 |
| New Mexico | $67,950 | 220 |
| Hawaii | $62,720 | 270 |
| West Virginia | $60,590 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $57,590 | 540 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,470 | 1,270 |
Best-paying metro areas for financial examiners
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $158,960 | 80 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $157,560 | 890 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $133,380 | 13,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $131,820 | 750 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $128,960 | n/a |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,750 | 190 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $122,230 | 210 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $118,190 | 50 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $114,860 | 210 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $106,090 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $106,000 | 1,630 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $105,600 | 140 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $105,240 | 1,670 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $105,230 | 820 |
| Montgomery, AL | $105,180 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most financial examiners
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 13,400 | $133,380 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,160 | $98,470 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,240 | $79,980 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,770 | $80,490 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,670 | $105,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,630 | $106,000 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,550 | $101,070 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,380 | $80,350 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,320 | $46,960 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 1,180 | $37,470 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,110 | $77,650 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,070 | $82,350 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 940 | $104,260 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 940 | $59,470 |
| Columbus, OH | 930 | $81,000 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $102,740 | $49.40 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 | $36.87 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $105,070 | $50.51 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $81,100 | $38.99 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 | $39.12 |
| Tax Preparer | $54,920 | $26.40 |
| Credit Analyst | $83,510 | $40.15 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $117,330 | $56.41 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $67,960 | $32.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $62,370 | $29.98 |
| Budget Analyst | $91,640 | $44.06 |
| Credit Counselor | $52,230 | $25.11 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a financial examiner make in the U.S.?
The median salary for financial examiners in the U.S. is $94,160 a year, or $45.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid financial examiners make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of financial examiners in the U.S. earn at least $174,200 a year. The top 25% earn $129,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for financial examiners in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,230 a year, and a quarter of financial examiners earn $70,660 or less.
How many financial examiners work in the U.S.?
About 67,830 financial examiners are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.