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Best states for a corporate controller
Quoted expert
Carol Sullivan
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Are you thinking of becoming a corporate controller and really want to work at Robert Half? Turns out, your chances to become a corporate controller are better in some states than others.Our research shows that Massachusetts is the best state in the country for corporate controllers.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for corporate controllers.We found that the South is best for corporate controllers, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for corporate controller jobs, where as Massachusetts is the best state in the country.
10 best states for corporate controllers in 2025
1. Massachusetts
Total corporate controller jobs: 855 Average annual salary: $157,103 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
2. Washington
Total corporate controller jobs: 771 Average annual salary: $153,247 Lowest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
3. California
Total corporate controller jobs: 3,389 Average annual salary: $160,353 Lowest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location Quotient: 1.63
4. Delaware
Total corporate controller jobs: 124 Average annual salary: $145,741 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
5. Pennsylvania
Total corporate controller jobs: 720 Average annual salary: $144,704 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
6. Wisconsin
Total corporate controller jobs: 333 Average annual salary: $139,375 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $201,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
7. Connecticut
Total corporate controller jobs: 299 Average annual salary: $141,588 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
8. Nevada
Total corporate controller jobs: 163 Average annual salary: $136,255 Lowest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
9. Arizona
Total corporate controller jobs: 399 Average annual salary: $138,459 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
10. Texas
Total corporate controller jobs: 1,528 Average annual salary: $131,130 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
Corporate controller jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a corporate controller
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a corporate controller
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $157,103 | $110,000 | 6,859,819 | 855 |
| 2 | Washington | $153,247 | $107,000 | 7,405,743 | 771 |
| 3 | California | $160,353 | $111,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,389 |
| 4 | Delaware | $145,741 | $100,000 | 961,939 | 124 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $144,704 | $100,000 | 12,805,537 | 720 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $139,375 | $96,000 | 5,795,483 | 333 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $141,588 | $98,000 | 3,588,184 | 299 |
| 8 | Nevada | $136,255 | $92,000 | 2,998,039 | 163 |
| 9 | Arizona | $138,459 | $94,000 | 7,016,270 | 399 |
| 10 | Texas | $131,130 | $87,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,528 |
| 11 | New York | $135,721 | $93,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,381 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $136,699 | $93,000 | 4,454,189 | 154 |
| 13 | Alaska | $139,171 | $99,000 | 739,795 | 46 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $134,455 | $94,000 | 755,393 | 37 |
| 15 | Michigan | $130,430 | $89,000 | 9,962,311 | 396 |
| 16 | Utah | $127,135 | $86,000 | 3,101,833 | 279 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $133,727 | $92,000 | 9,005,644 | 551 |
| 18 | Vermont | $133,985 | $93,000 | 623,657 | 34 |
| 19 | Illinois | $127,754 | $87,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,010 |
| 20 | Colorado | $128,515 | $87,000 | 5,607,154 | 549 |
| 21 | Georgia | $127,979 | $86,000 | 10,429,379 | 621 |
| 22 | Missouri | $129,643 | $88,000 | 6,113,532 | 288 |
| 23 | Maine | $130,395 | $90,000 | 1,335,907 | 57 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $127,087 | $87,000 | 1,342,795 | 99 |
| 25 | Maryland | $130,159 | $89,000 | 6,052,177 | 448 |
| 26 | Ohio | $123,111 | $83,000 | 11,658,609 | 528 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $123,942 | $84,000 | 693,972 | 232 |
| 28 | Iowa | $125,685 | $85,000 | 3,145,711 | 147 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $122,662 | $84,000 | 1,059,639 | 68 |
| 30 | Virginia | $124,167 | $84,000 | 8,470,020 | 644 |
| 31 | Oregon | $119,567 | $81,000 | 4,142,776 | 349 |
| 32 | Alabama | $121,211 | $81,000 | 4,874,747 | 156 |
| 33 | Indiana | $120,310 | $81,000 | 6,666,818 | 290 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $119,279 | $82,000 | 5,576,606 | 457 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $122,072 | $82,000 | 2,088,070 | 81 |
| 36 | Kansas | $119,844 | $81,000 | 2,913,123 | 130 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $120,051 | $80,000 | 5,024,369 | 214 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $117,739 | $79,000 | 6,715,984 | 272 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $116,385 | $79,000 | 579,315 | 31 |
| 40 | Idaho | $119,921 | $82,000 | 1,716,943 | 63 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $112,077 | $79,000 | 1,427,538 | 67 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $112,453 | $75,000 | 10,273,419 | 572 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $110,106 | $74,000 | 3,004,279 | 136 |
| 44 | Florida | $113,665 | $73,000 | 20,984,400 | 866 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $113,816 | $77,000 | 1,815,857 | 34 |
| 46 | Montana | $109,863 | $76,000 | 1,050,493 | 71 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $109,551 | $75,000 | 869,666 | 37 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $109,634 | $74,000 | 1,920,076 | 90 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $111,071 | $73,000 | 2,984,100 | 63 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $110,903 | $74,000 | 3,930,864 | 100 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $112,287 | $73,000 | 4,684,333 | 99 |
Highest paying states for corporate controllers
| Rank | State | Avg. Corporate Controller Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $157,103 |
| 2 | Washington | $153,247 |
| 3 | California | $160,353 |
| 4 | Delaware | $145,741 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $144,704 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $139,375 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $141,588 |
| 8 | Nevada | $136,255 |
| 9 | Arizona | $138,459 |
| 10 | Texas | $131,130 |
| 11 | New York | $135,721 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $136,699 |
| 13 | Alaska | $139,171 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $134,455 |
| 15 | Michigan | $130,430 |
| 16 | Utah | $127,135 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $133,727 |
| 18 | Vermont | $133,985 |
| 19 | Illinois | $127,754 |
| 20 | Colorado | $128,515 |
| 21 | Georgia | $127,979 |
| 22 | Missouri | $129,643 |
| 23 | Maine | $130,395 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $127,087 |
| 25 | Maryland | $130,159 |
| 26 | Ohio | $123,111 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $123,942 |
| 28 | Iowa | $125,685 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $122,662 |
| 30 | Virginia | $124,167 |
| 31 | Oregon | $119,567 |
| 32 | Alabama | $121,211 |
| 33 | Indiana | $120,310 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $119,279 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $122,072 |
| 36 | Kansas | $119,844 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $120,051 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $117,739 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $116,385 |
| 40 | Idaho | $119,921 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $112,077 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $112,453 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $110,106 |
| 44 | Florida | $113,665 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $113,816 |
| 46 | Montana | $109,863 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $109,551 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $109,634 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $111,071 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $110,903 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $112,287 |
Expert opinions on the best states for corporate controllers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for corporate controllers to find work opportunities?
Carol Sullivan
Associate Professor, The University of Texas Permian Basin
Texas is still extremely fertile and the best region in the United States in my opinion. West Texas is excellent, but my perception is that Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, and South Texas may be better. It really depends on the type of lifestyle a person wants to live.
Corporate controller best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025