The following article discusses the career path of Controller. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Controllers.
Job Duties
A controller is someone who manages a company’s financial departments. These include all finance-related departments, such as audit, budget, and accounting. They usually have very wide-ranging responsibilities, including such things as writing financial prospectuses, balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and other critical financial reports. Additionally, they must focus on financial predictions in terms of how the company will perform. Furthermore, they must write and submit any and all state and federal regulatory reports.
Unsurprisingly, these professionals must have an in-depth understanding of financial reporting. They are problem solvers with excellent mathematical skills and great communicators. Usually, they have a background in business, finance, or accounting and then obtain advanced certifications. Additionally, in order to be a controller, most will have worked for at least 10 years in a supervisory role.
Other duties of a controller are:
- To present financial reports, including on potential areas of risk, to senior management teams.
- To manage financial analysis and reporting, oversee the accounting practices, and prepare consolidated financial statements. These include tax compliance schedules.
- To make sure that policies and procedures are in place that fully comply with federal and state regulatory requirements as well as the relevant professional standards.
- To put internal controls in place and maintain them in order to ensure that the financial infrastructure is supported.
Where We Work
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,397,700 accountants and auditors, the profession most closely related to that of the controller, in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals are:
- Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services – 25%
- Government – 8%
- Finance and insurance – 8%
- Management of companies and enterprises – 7%
- Self-employed workers – 7%
How to Become
The role of the controller is unique, which means many have different educational backgrounds. However, there are some qualifications and skills that most of them share. For instance, they require a financial or accounting bachelor’s degree, although a master’s is preferred, and particularly the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Many also have Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
It is common for controllers to start their career as accountants or auditors in the Big Four firms. They then become assistant controllers and work their way up. Once qualified, they can work in public organizations, for profit businesses, or nonprofits. This means it is a very diverse role that can suit anyone with an interest in finance and accounting.
Education Requirements
The position is highly analytical in nature and requires a solid understanding of business and accounting concepts. Controllers must also have strong analytical skills, obtained through years of work in auditing and accounting. Because their job is to reconcile the budget of their organization with the actual outcomes and to report on this to the executive team, they must also be able to explain how they calculate numbers and how the processes work.
A controller is a member of the leadership team. This means they also require a number of soft skills that enable them to garner respect, motivate, and organize their staff. Courses in business leadership, behavioral studies, and managerial finance are therefore recommended. It is also common for these professionals to continue to develop their skills and knowledge by taking further leadership courses.
The MBA and CPA designation are the most commonly obtained. Others become Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) or Certified Management Accountants (CMA).
Traits & Qualities
The most effective controllers have the following traits to some degree or other:
– Strong analytical skills
– Excellent communication skills
– Highly detail oriented
– Great mathematical skills
– Organizational skills
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s with further education, master’s preferred Degree
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- Most Reported
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$31,000
$192,000
The following section lists Controller salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $113,452 while Wyoming had the smallest quoted salary of $56,354.
| Alaska – $87,130 | Rank: 22nd |
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The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Mendenhall Auto Center, Air Force Nonappropriated Fund (AFNAF) Services Career Program, and City & Borough of Juneau.
$33,000 $165,000 Salary Distribution
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| Alabama – $83,427 | Rank: 31st |
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The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Career Brokers, Inc., PANGEATWO, Vaco, and ITAC Solutions, LLC.
$34,000 $153,000 Salary Distribution
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| Arkansas – $80,164 | Rank: 41st |
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The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Carter Recruiting and Associates, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Arkansas Department Of Human Services, and Accountemps.
$26,000 $164,000 Salary Distribution
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| Arizona – $86,714 | Rank: 25th |
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The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker+Lynch, Headfarmer, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Confidential: Real Estate Company.
$33,000 $164,000 Salary Distribution
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| California – $109,237 | Rank: 3rd |
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The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Murdock Martell, Buxbaum HCS, VincentBenjamin, and Enlightsearch.
$40,000 $211,000 Salary Distribution
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| Colorado – $88,786 | Rank: 20th |
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The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like G. Peterson Consulting Group, Inc., Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Now CFO, and Regis University.
$31,000 $174,000 Salary Distribution
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| Connecticut – $100,734 | Rank: 6th |
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The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Atlas Search LLC, Thomas Byrne Associates, and JWM Group, LLC.
$36,000 $198,000 Salary Distribution
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| DC – $113,452 | Rank: 1st |
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The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Capital Search Group, Casino Careers, CyberCoders, and Medical Nonprofit.
$44,000 $214,000 Salary Distribution
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| Delaware – $99,944 | Rank: 9th |
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The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like AppleOne, Aerotek, Accountemps, and Accounting Career Network.
$32,000 $204,000 Salary Distribution
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| Florida – $89,570 | Rank: 17th |
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The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Idea Recruitment, South Florida Recruiters, Taylor White Specialized Staffing Services, Inc., and Ferreri Search.
$33,000 $173,000 Salary Distribution
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| Georgia – $89,067 | Rank: 19th |
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The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Execusource, Inc., ExecuSource, The Royak Group, and The Royak Group Inc..
$32,000 $173,000 Salary Distribution
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| Hawaii – $85,045 | Rank: 28th |
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The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like All US Jobs, NewSat North America, LLC, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Express Employment Professionals.
$35,000 $156,000 Salary Distribution
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| Iowa – $79,268 | Rank: 43rd |
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The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aureus Group, Palmer Group, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Accountemps.
$27,000 $157,000 Salary Distribution
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| Idaho – $75,969 | Rank: 48th |
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The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Accountemps, and University of Idaho.
$20,000 $168,000 Salary Distribution
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| Illinois – $100,035 | Rank: 8th |
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The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Grayson Search Partners, SBI Partners, CFS, Inc., and CFS Inc..
$37,000 $193,000 Salary Distribution
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| Indiana – $80,425 | Rank: 40th |
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The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Philips Recruiting Services, Pinnacle Partners, Vaco, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.
$27,000 $161,000 Salary Distribution
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| Kansas – $83,356 | Rank: 32nd |
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The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Cameron Craig Group, Jim Crumpley & Associates, and fulltimeGiGS.
$32,000 $157,000 Salary Distribution
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| Kentucky – $83,278 | Rank: 33rd |
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The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like HR Affiliates, Talis Group Inc., Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Angel Group.
$24,000 $177,000 Salary Distribution
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| Louisiana – $81,687 | Rank: 38th |
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The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Career Brokers, Inc., Nathan Paul Finance & Accounting, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Advantage Personnel.
$28,000 $162,000 Salary Distribution
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| Massachusetts – $105,355 | Rank: 5th |
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The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CINQ Recruitment, Brook Street Company Profile, Manning Personnel Group Inc, and Boylston Search Associates.
$37,000 $207,000 Salary Distribution
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| Maryland – $100,139 | Rank: 7th |
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The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air, Sequoia Consulting, CPS Recruitment, and Merito Group LLC.
$36,000 $194,000 Salary Distribution
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| Maine – $78,912 | Rank: 44th |
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The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like BerryDunn (Client), Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Goodwill Industries of Northern New England.
$29,000 $153,000 Salary Distribution
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| Michigan – $86,988 | Rank: 24th |
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The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker+Lynch, UHY LLP, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Statewide-Staffing.
$29,000 $174,000 Salary Distribution
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| Minnesota – $91,464 | Rank: 15th |
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The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Creative Financial Staffing, JP Staffing, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Robert Half.
$34,000 $176,000 Salary Distribution
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| Missouri – $85,052 | Rank: 27th |
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The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Burchard and Associates, ProEnlist, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Accounting Career Consultants.
$28,000 $172,000 Salary Distribution
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| Mississippi – $89,883 | Rank: 16th |
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The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Vaco, StaffPointe, and A-Line Staffing.
$26,000 $192,000 Salary Distribution
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| Montana – $61,820 | Rank: 50th |
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The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like LC Staffing and Platypus Co..
$16,000 $137,000 Salary Distribution
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| North Carolina – $88,438 | Rank: 21st |
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The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like BeardowAdams, Inc., Sherpa LLC, Maganti IT Resources LLC, and The Bolton Group.
$31,000 $175,000 Salary Distribution
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| North Dakota – $63,904 | Rank: 49th |
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The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Nigel Frank International.
$15,000 $145,000 Salary Distribution
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| Nebraska – $81,935 | Rank: 37th |
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The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Lutz, Noll Human Resource Services, Aureus Group, and Must have expertise with Multi-State Payroll – this company is growing coast to coast! ** Hemphill Exclusive!.
$26,000 $168,000 Salary Distribution
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| New Hampshire – $80,744 | Rank: 39th |
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The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, BizRez Recruiters, CyberCoders, and Creative Financial Staffing.
$26,000 $166,000 Salary Distribution
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| New Jersey – $110,589 | Rank: 2nd |
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The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like GSP International, firstPROPhiladelphia, Professional Search Network, and Horizon Healthcare Staffing.
$41,000 $212,000 Salary Distribution
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| New Mexico – $84,540 | Rank: 30th |
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The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Nigel Frank International, Parker and Lynch, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Accountemps.
$25,000 $179,000 Salary Distribution
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| Nevada – $94,101 | Rank: 12th |
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The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like All US Jobs, My New Recruiter, Kula Consulting, and Savvy Legal Recruiting.
$31,000 $190,000 Salary Distribution
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| New York – $105,409 | Rank: 4th |
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The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Henderson Harbor Group, Accounting and Finance, Faststream Recruitment, INC, and Addition Management, LLC.
$32,000 $219,000 Salary Distribution
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| Ohio – $84,722 | Rank: 29th |
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The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like NORTH STAR, Endevis, Vaco, and North Peak Recruiting.
$35,000 $155,000 Salary Distribution
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| Oklahoma – $87,100 | Rank: 23rd |
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The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker+Lynch, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, DirectConnect, and ProRecruiters.
$30,000 $172,000 Salary Distribution
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| Oregon – $89,501 | Rank: 18th |
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The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Austin Allen Company, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, State of Oregon, and BolyWelch.
$37,000 $165,000 Salary Distribution
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| Pennsylvania – $93,351 | Rank: 13th |
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The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, firstPROIncPhiladelphia, Laurus Group, and Xplora Search Group.
$31,000 $189,000 Salary Distribution
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| Rhode Island – $82,703 | Rank: 36th |
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The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Randstad Professionals, and Kforce Finance and Accounting.
$26,000 $171,000 Salary Distribution
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| South Carolina – $82,956 | Rank: 34th |
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The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like THE BEACH HOUSE, Nigel Frank International, Cypress Hospitality Group, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.
$33,000 $154,000 Salary Distribution
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| South Dakota – $77,033 | Rank: 46th |
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The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Spherion, Express Employment Professionals, and Key Staffing.
$26,000 $154,000 Salary Distribution
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| Tennessee – $82,740 | Rank: 35th |
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The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Millennium Search, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Protech Systems Group, Inc., and Marcum Search LLC.
$32,000 $155,000 Salary Distribution
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| Texas – $96,115 | Rank: 11th |
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The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like NextStep Recruiting, Aggreko, 3coast, and CIG.
$32,000 $192,000 Salary Distribution
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| Utah – $77,781 | Rank: 45th |
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The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PrincePerelson & Associates, Nigel Frank International, CyberCoders, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.
$28,000 $151,000 Salary Distribution
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| Virginia – $96,320 | Rank: 10th |
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The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Him Tech Inc, Kforce Finance and Accounting, and Capital Search Group.
$33,000 $192,000 Salary Distribution
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| Vermont – $79,659 | Rank: 42nd |
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The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Spherion, and Clinical Management Consultants.
$15,000 $197,000 Salary Distribution
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| Washington – $92,815 | Rank: 14th |
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The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Gourmondo Catering & Caf Company, Ocean Gold Seafood, and Seattle Search Group.
$31,000 $186,000 Salary Distribution
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| Wisconsin – $86,199 | Rank: 26th |
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The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Extension, Inc., Parker+Lynch, JRP Group, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.
$38,000 $153,000 Salary Distribution
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| West Virginia – $76,754 | Rank: 47th |
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The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting.
$24,000 $159,000 Salary Distribution
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| Wyoming – $56,354 | Rank: 51st |
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The average salary ranks 51st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like U.S. Air Force.
$14,000 $134,000 Salary Distribution
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According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Controller. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
| Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Merito Group LLC Controller | Maryland | $200,000 |
| CINQ Recruitment Controller | Massachusetts | $200,000 |
| Capital Search Group Controller | Maryland | $186,485 |
| A-Line Staffing Controller | Mississippi | $170,000 |
| Seattle Search Group Controller | Washington | $164,581 |
| Michael Page US Controller | Indiana | $162,279 |
| Murdock Martell Controller | California | $156,919 |
| NextStep Recruiting Controller | Texas | $156,117 |
| GSP International Controller | New Jersey | $155,350 |
| Accounting Career Network Controller | Delaware | $154,919 |
| firstPROPhiladelphia Controller | New Jersey | $153,833 |
| Henderson Harbor Group Controller | New York | $151,482 |
| Grayson Search Partners Controller | Illinois | $150,000 |
| Dynamic, entrepreneurial Omaha company poised to double in size in next five years! $125-150k W2 Income! Controller | Nebraska | $150,000 |
| Buxbaum HCS Controller | Nevada | $147,553 |
| Accounting and Finance Controller | New York | $146,864 |
| Parker and Lynch Controller | Nevada | $146,772 |
| Sabio Systems Controller | New Mexico | $145,873 |
Learn More
- Nevada State Controller’s Office
- California State Controller’s Office: Unclaimed Property
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts – Official Site
| Career Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Economist | $97,781 |
| Operations Officer | $96,045 |
| Director of Nursing | $95,821 |
| Business Intelligence Developer | $95,026 |
| Disaster Recovery Manager | $94,956 |
| Network Manager | $94,442 |
| Treasury Manager | $94,000 |
| Data Manager | $93,937 |
| Transportation Manager | $93,639 |
| Nursing Home Administrator | $93,462 |
