Financial Examiner salary in California
Financial Examiners in California earn a median of $106,000 a year ($50.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,140 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $94,160. California ranks 7th of 49 states for financial examiners pay. There are 0.23 financial examiners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $118,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for financial examiners in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,680 | $32.06 |
| 25th percentile | $80,120 | $38.52 |
| Median | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| 75th percentile | $135,110 | $64.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,140 | $84.20 |
| Average (mean) | $118,710 | $57.07 |
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 | $8,833.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,416.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,076.92 |
| Weekly | $2,038.46 |
| Hourly | $50.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Financial Examiner salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $131,820 | 750 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,750 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $106,090 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $106,000 | 1,630 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $102,630 | 410 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $84,040 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $79,280 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,250 | 90 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $77,610 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for financial examiners
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $198,720 |
| New York | $128,920 |
| Connecticut | $120,530 |
| Washington | $113,700 |
| Massachusetts | $111,110 |
| New Jersey | $106,410 |
| California | $106,000 |
| Minnesota | $104,260 |
| Virginia | $104,060 |
| Maryland | $102,980 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $97,050 | $46.66 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $109,110 | $52.46 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Loan Officer | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,810 | $38.85 |
| Tax Preparer | $70,030 | $33.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $88,900 | $42.74 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Credit Analyst | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Budget Analyst | $99,520 | $47.84 |
| Credit Counselor | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for financial examiners in California is $106,000 a year, or $50.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $175,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid financial examiners make in California?
The top 10% of financial examiners in California earn at least $175,140 a year. The top 25% earn $135,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for financial examiners in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,680 a year, and a quarter of financial examiners earn $80,120 or less.
How many financial examiners work in California?
About 4,200 financial examiners are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.