The complete guide to finance salaries in 2026

Across 24 finance roles, the median salary is $90K, and demand is growing about 12% a year. The top payer is Chief Financial Officer at $230K, the fastest-growing is ESG Analyst (~35%/yr), and one of the most automation-resilient is Chief Financial Officer.

Highest-paying finance roles

  1. 1Chief Financial Officer$230K/yr
  2. 2Investment Banker$185K/yr
  3. 3Quantitative Analyst$155K/yr
  4. 4Portfolio Manager$145K/yr
  5. 5Private Equity Analyst$130K/yr
  6. 6Actuary$125K/yr
  7. 7Financial Controller$118K/yr
  8. 8Risk Manager$112K/yr
  9. 9Crypto / Digital Asset Analyst$108K/yr
  10. 10Compliance Officer$98K/yr
See the full finance ranking →

Plan your finance pay

Chief Financial Officer pay by experience →How to negotiate a finance salary →Finance total comp: base vs bonus vs equity →Fastest-growing careers in 2026 →

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Common questions

What is the average finance salary in 2026?

Across 24 finance roles we track, the median salary is about $90K. The highest-paying is Chief Financial Officer at $230K; demand across the field is growing ~12% a year.

Which finance job pays the most?

Chief Financial Officer leads at roughly $230K. See the full ranking for how the top roles compare.

Which finance careers are growing fastest?

ESG Analyst is the fastest-growing at ~35% a year, and Chief Financial Officer is among the most resilient to automation.

Figures from BLS-anchored medians across tracked roles; individual pay varies.