Financial Manager salary in California
Financial Managers in California earn a median of $180,770 a year ($86.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 93,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $101,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $341,670 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $166,570. California ranks 8th of 51 states for financial managers pay. There are 5.1 financial managers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $210,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for financial managers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,820 | $48.95 |
| 25th percentile | $136,030 | $65.40 |
| Median | $180,770 | $86.91 |
| 75th percentile | $269,990 | $129.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $341,670 | $164.27 |
| Average (mean) | $210,490 | $101.20 |
Half of financial managers 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 | $15,064.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,532.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,952.69 |
| Weekly | $3,476.35 |
| Hourly | $86.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Financial Manager salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $225,280 | 7,970 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $216,150 | 17,040 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $175,310 | 34,480 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $174,210 | 7,350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $169,900 | 1,330 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $165,800 | 400 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $164,270 | 760 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $164,140 | 800 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $163,090 | 4,840 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $160,230 | 4,120 |
| Modesto, CA | $160,180 | 600 |
| Vallejo, CA | $157,530 | 460 |
| Salinas, CA | $153,370 | 450 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $153,030 | 900 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $152,090 | 790 |
| Yuba City, CA | $148,640 | 140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $140,670 | 420 |
| Visalia, CA | $138,630 | 370 |
| Redding, CA | $138,350 | 230 |
| Fresno, CA | $137,650 | 1,370 |
| Merced, CA | $134,170 | 210 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $131,320 | 100 |
| Chico, CA | $130,600 | 260 |
| El Centro, CA | $129,480 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for financial managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $219,880 |
| Massachusetts | $206,760 |
| New Jersey | $199,110 |
| District of Columbia | $188,880 |
| Virginia | $185,220 |
| Colorado | $182,690 |
| Delaware | $181,580 |
| California | $180,770 |
| Washington | $174,840 |
| Connecticut | $174,830 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $218,290 | $104.95 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $108,890 | $52.35 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $123,780 | $59.51 |
| Human Resources Manager | $170,080 | $81.77 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Facilities Manager | $118,620 | $57.03 |
| Purchasing Manager | $159,830 | $76.84 |
| Training and Development Managers | $156,260 | $75.13 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $166,730 | $80.16 |
| General and Operations Managers | $124,390 | $59.81 |
| Sales Manager | $134,910 | $64.86 |
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Marketing Manager | $193,620 | $93.09 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-3031. 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 manager make in California?
The median salary for financial managers in California is $180,770 a year, or $86.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $101,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $341,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid financial managers make in California?
The top 10% of financial managers in California earn at least $341,670 a year. The top 25% earn $269,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for financial managers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $101,820 a year, and a quarter of financial managers earn $136,030 or less.
How many financial managers work in California?
About 93,310 financial managers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.