Financial Examiners
Median wage · national
$94,160
Range: $71K – $130K
Employed
68K
Openings/yr
6K
Typically: bachelor's degree
BUSINESS
Financial Manager
With a national median of $166,570 and +14.8% projected job growth through 2034, Financial Manager offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Financial Manager
Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
- Median Wage
- $166,570
- Employed Nationally
- 842K
- Openings / Year
- 74,600
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Accountant Supervisor
Accounting Director
Accounting Manager
Accounting Supervisor
Accounts Manager
How Much Do Financial Managers Make?
Financial Manager earn $166,570 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $125,490 and $219,980. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$166,570
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$125K–$220K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$125,490
Entry-level
$166,570
Median
$219,980
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $186,910, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Financial Managers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Financial Manager roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Establish and maintain relationships with individual or business customers or provide assistance with problems these customers may encounter.
- Oversee the flow of cash or financial instruments.
- Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of workers in branches, offices, or departments of establishments, such as branch banks, brokerage firms, risk and insurance departments, or credit departments.
- Recruit staff members.
- Evaluate data pertaining to costs to plan budgets.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Complex Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Where Do Financial Managers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Financial Managers?
The BLS projects +14.8% employment change for Financial Manager through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 74,600 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +14.8%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Faster than average.
74,600
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
842K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Financial Manager professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $166,570 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 96,860 | $174,920 | +5.0% |
| 2 | Texas | 67,580 | $160,350 | -3.7% |
| 3 | New York | 67,510 | $215,740 | +29.5% |
| 4 | Illinois | 53,400 | $159,990 | -4.0% |
| 5 | Florida | 47,710 | $143,100 | -14.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Financial Manager positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 5 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | 395,227 | $68,257 | 2,611 |
| 2 | Accounting | 84,760 | $76,194 | 2,112 |
| 3 | Finance | 58,013 | $83,343 | 949 |
| 4 | Data Analytics | 7,294 | — | 292 |
| 5 | Accounting and Computer Science | 55 | — | 13 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Financial Managers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Financial Manager, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Financial Manager pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Financial Manager Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Financial Manager a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $166,570 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Fast-growing field At +14.8% projected growth through 2034, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $219,980 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Large, established field 842K people work in this occupation nationally, creating a broad job market with openings spread across every region and industry.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $166,570 median while building the experience employers require.
Financial Manager Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Financial Manager professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Financial Manager is $166,570, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $125,490 and $219,980. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Financial Manager a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. A $166,570 median with +14.8% projected growth through 2034 is a combination most career fields can't match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $125,490, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to become a Financial Manager?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Business Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $166,570 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Financial Manager?
The BLS projects +14.8% employment change for Financial Manager through 2034, faster than average compared to all occupations. About 74,600 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 842K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Financial Manager salaries vary so widely?
The $94,490 gap between the 25th ($125,490) and 75th ($219,980) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Financial Manager professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Financial Manager roles: Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
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- High paying careers
- Associate degree
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- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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