How Much Does a CFO Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$166,570
Cfos in the U.S. earn a median of $166,570 a year, or $80.08 an hour. Half of cfos earn more than $166,570 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $323,270.
Pay percentiles for cfos
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45.34 | $94,310 |
| 25th | $60.33 | $125,490 |
| 50th (median) | $80.08 | $166,570 |
| 75th | $105.76 | $219,980 |
| 90th | $155.42 | $323,270 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for cfos
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $219,880 | $105.71 | +32% |
| Massachusetts | $206,760 | $99.40 | +24% |
| New Jersey | $199,110 | $95.73 | +20% |
| District of Columbia | $188,880 | $90.81 | +13% |
| Virginia | $185,220 | $89.05 | +11% |
| Colorado | $182,690 | $87.83 | +10% |
| Delaware | $181,580 | $87.30 | +9% |
| California | $180,770 | $86.91 | +9% |
| Washington | $174,840 | $84.06 | +5% |
| Connecticut | $174,830 | $84.05 | +5% |
| United States | $166,570 | $80.08 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many cfos are there?
BLS counts about 841,710 cfos employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Financial Managers”. The most jobs are in California (93,310), New York (80,810) and Texas (71,870).
The mean (average) annual wage is $186,910, higher than the median of $166,570.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $13,881
- Biweekly
- $6,407
- Weekly
- $3,203
- Daily (8 hours)
- $641
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cfos make an hour?
The median hourly wage for cfos is $80.08. The middle 50% earn between $60.33 and $105.76 an hour.
Which state pays cfos the most?
New York has the highest median wage for cfos at $219,880, +32% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for cfos?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of cfos earn less than $94,310 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.