California Median
$106,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$50.96
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+13% vs US median
US median $94,160
State Rank
#7 of 49
4,200 employed here
How much does a Financial Examiner make in California?
A Financial Examiner working in California earns a median salary of $106,000 per year, or about $50.96 per hour. That is 13% above the national median of $94,160 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $66,680 while the top 10% make $175,140 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $80,120 and $135,110 a year.
Financial Examiner salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,680 | $32.06 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $80,120 | $38.52 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $106,000 | $50.96 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $135,110 | $64.96 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,140 | $84.20 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 7th out of 49 states and territories for Financial Examiner pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Financial Examiner salary in other states
District of Columbia $198,720New York $128,920Connecticut $120,530Washington $113,700Massachusetts $111,110New Jersey $106,410Minnesota $104,260Virginia $104,060Maryland $102,980North Carolina $100,730Colorado $99,610Oregon $94,630Rhode Island $94,130Illinois $93,150Delaware $92,390Utah $92,000Alaska $90,530South Dakota $88,690Tennessee $87,110South Carolina $86,440Wisconsin $86,320Mississippi $85,430Idaho $85,260Nevada $84,650Louisiana $84,310North Dakota $82,640Indiana $81,300Montana $80,970Maine $80,840New Hampshire $80,810Oklahoma $80,760Kansas $80,420Iowa $80,370Arizona $80,260Missouri $79,990Pennsylvania $78,500Texas $78,140Georgia $77,710Kentucky $76,260Florida $76,230Vermont $74,680Nebraska $74,460Michigan $71,050Ohio $69,040New Mexico $67,950Hawaii $62,720West Virginia $60,590Arkansas $57,590
Working as a Financial Examiner in California
Nationally, about 68,000 people work as Financial Examiners in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($106,000) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Financial Examiner make in California?
The median Financial Examiner salary in California is $106,000 per year, or about $50.96 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $66,680 at the entry level to $175,140 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Financial Examiners about 13% more than the national median of $94,160. California ranks 7th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Financial Examiners?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $106,000 a year. About 4,200 Financial Examiners are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Financial Examiner salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.