Chief Finance Officer Salary By State: Highest-Paid Chief Finance Officers by State [2026]
Research Summary. Following comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest insights into chief finance officer salaries across the United States for 2026:
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California continues to offer the highest average salary for chief finance officers at $150,852.
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Arkansas remains at the bottom with the lowest chief finance officer salary of $73,092.
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The national average salary for chief finance officers is now $143,947.
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The national hourly wage for chief finance officers is approximately $69.21.
You can explore further details on the specific methodology.
Background
Surveys consistently show that salary remains the most crucial factor in job satisfaction for professionals, including chief finance officers. Many individuals seek to understand how much they can expect to earn in their region.
While various factors influence individual salaries, we provide detailed average salary data for chief finance officers by state, categorized by seniority level. This data aids in setting realistic salary expectations based on geographical location.
As of 2026, California tops the list for chief finance officer salaries.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for chief finance officer salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the state rankings and overall salary insights.
Highest-Paid Chief Finance Officers By State
| Rank | State | Average Chief Finance Officer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $150,852 | $96,000 | $234,000 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $149,930 | $94,000 | $236,000 |
| 3 | New York | $149,128 | $94,000 | $235,000 |
| 4 | Nevada | $144,744 | $92,000 | $227,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $139,359 | $86,000 | $225,000 |
| 6 | Illinois | $137,229 | $85,000 | $221,000 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $135,949 | $83,000 | $220,000 |
| 8 | Washington | $135,880 | $87,000 | $211,000 |
| 9 | Michigan | $134,904 | $83,000 | $218,000 |
| 10 | Virginia | $133,818 | $81,000 | $220,000 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $133,469 | $81,000 | $218,000 |
| 12 | Maryland | $133,249 | $81,000 | $218,000 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $132,888 | $81,000 | $217,000 |
| 14 | Texas | $129,667 | $78,000 | $215,000 |
| 15 | Delaware | $127,040 | $76,000 | $210,000 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $125,781 | $74,000 | $211,000 |
| 17 | Arizona | $124,490 | $75,000 | $204,000 |
| 18 | Colorado | $122,958 | $75,000 | $200,000 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $120,695 | $73,000 | $198,000 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $115,005 | $67,000 | $194,000 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $114,548 | $70,000 | $186,000 |
| 22 | Georgia | $112,884 | $64,000 | $196,000 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $112,869 | $68,000 | $185,000 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $110,747 | $63,000 | $192,000 |
| 25 | Missouri | $109,808 | $64,000 | $186,000 |
| 26 | Ohio | $109,654 | $64,000 | $187,000 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $109,426 | $63,000 | $188,000 |
| 28 | Florida | $108,369 | $60,000 | $193,000 |
| 29 | Oregon | $108,107 | $66,000 | $175,000 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $107,169 | $62,000 | $184,000 |
| 31 | Vermont | $105,568 | $61,000 | $182,000 |
| 32 | Maine | $105,340 | $60,000 | $181,000 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $102,549 | $57,000 | $182,000 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $102,546 | $60,000 | $174,000 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $102,124 | $58,000 | $177,000 |
| 36 | Utah | $98,170 | $58,000 | $163,000 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $98,094 | $60,000 | $159,000 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $95,993 | $56,000 | $163,000 |
| 39 | Alabama | $95,819 | $53,000 | $170,000 |
| 40 | Iowa | $91,900 | $53,000 | $157,000 |
| 41 | Indiana | $90,477 | $51,000 | $158,000 |
| 42 | Idaho | $89,915 | $54,000 | $148,000 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $89,507 | $49,000 | $160,000 |
| 44 | Montana | $87,198 | $54,000 | $139,000 |
| 45 | Alaska | $84,799 | $55,000 | $129,000 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $83,624 | $53,000 | $130,000 |
| 47 | Kansas | $83,342 | $47,000 | $144,000 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $83,240 | $49,000 | $138,000 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $78,010 | $44,000 | $137,000 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $73,092 | $41,000 | $130,000 |
Methodology: Chief Finance Officer Salary By State
To analyze chief finance officer salaries by state, Zippia compiles data from various reputable sources including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is further enhanced with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team computes a weighted average using these inputs to establish the average salaries for chief finance officers across states.
We ranked the states based on the average annual salary estimates for chief finance officers, with the highest earning state receiving the top ranking.
Chief Finance Officer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for chief finance officers?
The highest-paid state for chief finance officers is California, with an average salary of $150,852 per year.
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What city pays chief finance officers the most?
Washington, DC offers the highest salaries for chief finance officers, averaging $164,149 per year.
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What is the worst state for chief finance officers?
The state with the lowest average salary for chief finance officers is Arkansas, at $73,092 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
