Assistant Controller Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$162,000
national median salary
$118,000 to $214,000. Last updated August 2026.
Orbyt prices 3 titles at this same figure: Controller, Payroll Operations Manager, and Assistant Controller. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $166,570 for Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031) across the United States, based on 841,710 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$94,310
25th percentile
$125,490
Median
$166,570
75th percentile
$219,980
90th percentile
$323,270
Workers surveyed
841,710
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$161,700
May 2025 release
$166,570
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031) rather than Assistant Controllerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 11-3031Highest Paying
$233,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$169,000
San Jose, CA
Lowest Paying
$126,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 11-3031. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Assistant Controller salary in the United States at $162,000 in 2026, within a range of $118,000 to $214,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 3 titles at the same estimate. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $233,000, while San Jose offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Assistant Controller compensation is driven by CPA or similar certification, industry specialization, and firm tier (Big Four vs mid-tier vs in-house).
Assistant Controller salary by city.
Skills that increase Assistant Controller pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Assistant Controllers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $22,680 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$22,680 per year
≈ +$21,060 per year
≈ +$19,440 per year
≈ +$17,820 per year
≈ +$17,820 per year
≈ +$16,200 per year
≈ +$16,200 per year
≈ +$14,580 per year
What you should know.
Assistant Controller compensation is driven by CPA or similar certification, industry specialization, and firm tier (Big Four vs mid-tier vs in-house). Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 12% in a typical year. Within finance and business operations, licensure (CFA, CPA, FP&A) and industry (tech, banking, consulting) shift the compensation band by 20–40%.
Assistant Controllers progress Staff Accountant → Senior → Manager → Senior Manager → Partner at public firms over 10 to 15 years. In-house tracks progress Staff → Senior → Accounting Manager → Controller → CFO. CPA licensure is the gate to senior levels.
Total compensation for Assistant Controllers runs roughly $151K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~12% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. In corporate finance and banking, bonus is a major component and can double the base in top-performing years (investment banking) or add 20–40% (corporate finance).
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Assistant Controllers typically earn $138,000 (15% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Assistant Controller pay.
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