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Average Salary of a Controller

Financial controllers prepare financial reports, oversee budgets and analyze a company's overall financial position. The median salary for a controller ranges from $61,779 to $102,118, according to PayScale. Factors that influence the salary for this position are education, certifications, work experience, industry and location.
  • Salary

    • The hourly wage for controllers possessing less than five years of experience is between $15.50 and $27.50, according to PayScale.com. More experienced controllers earn an average wage of $21 to $42 per hour.

    Qualifications

    • Minimum qualifications for a controller typically include an undergraduate degree in accounting, finance or economics along with five to nine years of experience in accounting. Preferred qualifications include a master's degree or professional certification.

    Education

    • According to PayScale, the type of degree a controller possesses can affect his or her salary. The most common undergraduate degrees held by controllers are a bachelor of science in accounting, bachelor of arts in accounting, and bachelor of business administration in accounting. Many controllers also hold a master of business administration degree.

    Certification

    • Common professional certifications held by controllers include bookkeeping, certified public accountant (CPA), business certificate, certified management accountant (CMA) and notary public, according to PayScale.

    Top Paying Industries

    • The industry that offers the highest pay for controllers is the financial investment industry with an annual mean wage of $165,160 as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other industries that offer high pay are the securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage industry, $154,770; the information services industry, $153,280; the securities and commodity exchanges industry, $151,070; and the cable and other subscription programming industry, $143,610.

    Highest Paying States

    • New York offers the highest pay for controllers with an annual mean wage of $148,070 as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other states that offer high pay are Delaware, $131,810; New Jersey, $130,500; California, $128,100; and Massachusetts, $122,370.

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