What a financial manager costs in 2026
The median financial manager in the United States earned $166,570 a year, $80.08 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. With benefits at a small employer, a full-time financial manager at the median costs about $224,900 a year, or about $18,700 a month.
The middle half of financial managers earn $125,490 to $219,980. There are 841,710 of them across the country, and what one costs you depends most on where you are: New York has the highest median at $219,880, and Mississippi the lowest of the 50 states at $111,390.
Liaison does the routine half of a financial manager’s job for 3% of that. See how.
What a financial manager would cost you
Pick a state or a metro area and the hours you need. The cost is the median hourly wage there plus benefits at the rate you choose.
Financial manager, the United States, 40 hours a week
$224,877 a year
$18,740 a month. Wages $166,566 at the median of $80.08 an hour, plus $58,310 in benefits. The middle half of financial managers here earn $125,490 to $219,980 in wages.
Financial manager wages and cost by state
Median wage, May 2025. The cost column adds benefits at the rate for employers with 1 to 49 workers (35% on top of wages).
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Cost to a small employer | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $140,500 | $67.55 | $189,685 | $108,390 to $191,080 | 7,200 |
| Alaska | $127,030 | $61.07 | $171,500 | $102,560 to $163,560 | 2,020 |
| Arizona | $139,830 | $67.23 | $188,781 | $104,250 to $183,860 | 14,900 |
| Arkansas | $116,570 | $56.05 | $157,378 | $82,140 to $168,060 | 7,120 |
| California | $180,770 | $86.91 | $244,052 | $136,030 to $269,990 | 93,310 |
| Colorado | $182,690 | $87.83 | $246,645 | $149,120 to $238,380 | 10,640 |
| Connecticut | $174,830 | $84.05 | $236,033 | $135,540 to $233,210 | 20,040 |
| Delaware | $181,580 | $87.30 | $245,146 | $156,330 to $226,040 | 2,810 |
| District of Columbia | $188,880 | $90.81 | $255,002 | $161,470 to $231,000 | 8,930 |
| Florida | $153,280 | $73.69 | $206,939 | $105,440 to $207,150 | 48,910 |
| Georgia | $166,790 | $80.19 | $225,178 | $126,560 to $215,910 | 21,390 |
| Guam | $80,390 | $38.65 | $108,532 | $63,760 to $105,010 | 380 |
| Hawaii | $134,210 | $64.52 | $181,193 | $103,090 to $167,910 | 3,790 |
| Idaho | $127,210 | $61.16 | $171,743 | $96,210 to $165,780 | 3,120 |
| Illinois | $165,880 | $79.75 | $223,950 | $128,370 to $216,800 | 52,720 |
| Indiana | $135,840 | $65.31 | $183,394 | $101,970 to $183,130 | 12,560 |
| Iowa | $133,320 | $64.10 | $179,992 | $102,130 to $173,660 | 9,130 |
| Kansas | $159,380 | $76.62 | $215,174 | $122,290 to $200,970 | 5,190 |
| Kentucky | $130,650 | $62.81 | $176,387 | $100,190 to $169,680 | 6,630 |
| Louisiana | $126,800 | $60.96 | $171,189 | $99,200 to $168,340 | 7,070 |
| Maine | $133,610 | $64.24 | $180,383 | $104,150 to $172,110 | 3,120 |
| Maryland | $158,750 | $76.32 | $214,324 | $117,640 to $209,550 | 19,770 |
| Massachusetts | $206,760 | $99.40 | $279,141 | $161,870 to $287,520 | 26,150 |
| Michigan | $139,370 | $67.01 | $188,159 | $105,490 to $182,120 | 22,490 |
| Minnesota | $163,410 | $78.56 | $220,615 | $126,580 to $212,250 | 16,680 |
| Mississippi | $111,390 | $53.55 | $150,384 | $79,640 to $155,580 | 3,470 |
| Missouri | $143,460 | $68.97 | $193,681 | $112,650 to $198,110 | 13,330 |
| Montana | $131,060 | $63.01 | $176,940 | $100,770 to $181,260 | 1,510 |
| Nebraska | $140,360 | $67.48 | $189,496 | $108,040 to $177,000 | 5,630 |
| Nevada | $132,490 | $63.70 | $178,871 | $95,990 to $174,550 | 8,090 |
| New Hampshire | $144,730 | $69.58 | $195,396 | $115,390 to $187,240 | 4,330 |
| New Jersey | $199,110 | $95.73 | $268,813 | $162,800 to $279,330 | 32,510 |
| New Mexico | $133,700 | $64.28 | $180,505 | $107,920 to $176,620 | 2,530 |
| New York | $219,880 | $105.71 | $296,854 | $166,410 to $328,210 | 80,810 |
| North Carolina | $166,780 | $80.18 | $225,165 | $129,780 to $223,540 | 22,460 |
| North Dakota | $135,890 | $65.33 | $183,461 | $106,490 to $176,440 | 2,140 |
| Ohio | $140,870 | $67.73 | $190,185 | $107,000 to $192,560 | 27,360 |
| Oklahoma | $132,460 | $63.68 | $178,831 | $96,610 to $179,750 | 6,670 |
| Oregon | $156,460 | $75.22 | $211,232 | $124,190 to $202,730 | 7,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $145,610 | $70.01 | $196,584 | $109,470 to $200,530 | 32,180 |
| Puerto Rico | $90,660 | $43.59 | $122,398 | $71,410 to $127,180 | 3,800 |
| Rhode Island | $166,940 | $80.26 | $225,381 | $131,000 to $218,390 | 2,570 |
| South Carolina | $136,160 | $65.46 | $183,826 | $102,610 to $193,090 | 9,020 |
| South Dakota | $159,700 | $76.78 | $215,606 | $134,980 to $192,530 | 1,000 |
| Tennessee | $141,010 | $67.79 | $190,374 | $107,450 to $194,620 | 17,630 |
| Texas | $164,860 | $79.26 | $222,573 | $127,480 to $214,070 | 71,870 |
| Utah | $150,450 | $72.33 | $203,118 | $116,940 to $190,780 | 8,860 |
| Vermont | $128,690 | $61.87 | $173,741 | $100,480 to $172,530 | 1,790 |
| Virgin Islands | $94,990 | $45.67 | $128,243 | $77,720 to $116,800 | 170 |
| Virginia | $185,220 | $89.05 | $250,060 | $146,320 to $224,130 | 20,850 |
| Washington | $174,840 | $84.06 | $236,047 | $138,450 to $222,240 | 12,930 |
| West Virginia | $113,140 | $54.40 | $152,747 | $82,280 to $153,370 | 2,610 |
| Wisconsin | $139,720 | $67.17 | $188,632 | $106,820 to $178,160 | 15,530 |
| Wyoming | $124,910 | $60.06 | $168,637 | $90,270 to $161,590 | 730 |
Highest and lowest paying metro areas
Out of the 390 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for financial managers. The lowest list covers the 50 states and DC; the calculator above has every metro area, Puerto Rico’s included.
| Highest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $225,280 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $221,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $216,150 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $211,000 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $209,780 |
| Lowest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Hot Springs, AR | $95,010 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $98,510 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $99,740 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $102,010 |
| Johnstown, PA | $102,420 |
The routine part of the financial manager’s job
Much of what a financial manager does every week is routine: the follow-ups, the reconciling, the scheduling, the reports pulled together from three systems. That routine part is what Liaison does, inside the tools the business already runs: $629 a month on Professional, set up with you, or $149 a month self-serve. The judgment stays with your people.
The routine half of a financial manager’s job, for 3% of what one costs.
- Watches cash, receivables, payables and margin every morning, from the books and the bank.
- Forecasts cash 30, 60 and 90 days out from how customers actually pay.
- Answers “can we make payroll Friday” with the numbers behind it.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $224,900 a year for a financial manager at the median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI CFO.
Questions
How much does a financial manager cost a small business?
The median financial manager earned $166,570 a year, or $80.08 an hour, in May 2025. Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages (June 2026), so a full-time financial manager at the median costs about $224,900 a year. The middle half earn $125,490 to $219,980.
Which states pay financial managers the most?
New York ($219,880), Massachusetts ($206,760) and New Jersey ($199,110) have the highest median wage for financial managers. The lowest among the 50 states and DC are Mississippi ($111,390), West Virginia ($113,140) and Arkansas ($116,570).
Which metro areas pay financial managers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($225,280), New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($221,010) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($216,150), out of the 390 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for financial managers.
Where does this data come from?
Wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation 11-3031. The benefit cost is from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026. Recruiting, training, equipment and turnover are not included.
See it on your own business.
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