Controller: career path and pay in the US
Where a Controller goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Assistant Controller to VP of Finance / CFO.
Also for the United Kingdom: Controller in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 3 to 7 years
Assistant Controller
$85K to $130K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CPA - US, ACCA - UK/EU, ICAEW - UK/EU, ICAS - UK/EU.
Step 2 · 7 to 12 years
Controller
$100K to $150K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CPA - US, CMA (optional) - US, ACCA - UK/EU, CIMA - UK/EU.
Step 3 · 12+ years
VP of Finance / CFO
$135K to $200K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CPA - US, ACCA - UK/EU, ICAEW - UK/EU, MBA (preferred).
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$85K to $130K → $135K to $200K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US.
What the work involves
Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Economics and Accounting
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Law and Government
Education people bring
- Bachelor's Degree: 56%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate: 21%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED): 14%
Job Zone 4, job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Other paths from here
- CFO
- Finance Director
- VP of Finance
More Finance paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Accountants and Auditors, Financial and Investment Analysts, Personal Financial Advisors, Credit Analysts, Loan Officers.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.