Job title · SOC 13-2061

Bank / Financial Examiner

Also known as: bank examiner

01

Overview

Sourced

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

O*NET definition of Financial Examiners (SOC 13-2061) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.

11,990
in government (SOC 13-2061)
18%
of this occupation works for government
$106,440
median pay in government
Federal · State
levels of government

Titles employers use

Bank ExaminerBank Secrecy Act Anti-Money Laundering Officer (BSA/AML Officer)Credit Union ExaminerExamining OfficerCommunity Reinvestment Act Officer (CRA Officer)Compliance AnalystCompliance SpecialistCredit Union Field ExaminerInternal Auditor
How people usually get in Editorial
finance/accounting degree. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

02

Requirements

Sourced
Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 13-2061)
Education needed to enter
Bachelor's degree
Related work experience
None
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training

Education workers say the job requires

Bachelor's Degree
87%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
9%
Master's Degree
4%

Share of surveyed workers in Financial Examiners (SOC 13-2061) naming each level as required to be hired, 23 respondents, O*NET survey August 2020. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

03

How to get hired

Sourced

Financial examiners typically need a bachelor's degree that includes some coursework in accounting. Entry-level examiners are trained on the job by senior examiners.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Financial Examiners”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.

04

Academy and training

Sourced
Training to become competent (BLS)
SOC 13-2061
Long-term on-the-job training
Preparation level (O*NET)
Job zone
Considerable Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

06

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Federal grade and step: federal grade × step (GS/FWS/agency bands: FAA ATC, TSA SV, VA nurse, LEO special rates). Typical structure for a federal general schedule; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

  1. GS-5/7 entry (Pathways / recent grad)
  2. Career-ladder promotions to full-performance level (GS-9/11/12/13)
  3. GS-14/15 (competitive)
  4. Senior Executive Service
  5. within-grade steps 1–10 (steps 2–4 yearly, 5–7 every 2 yrs, 8–10 every 3 yrs)
  6. special rates: LEO (LEAP 25%), FAA ATC AT-bands, TSA SV bands, VA Nurse I–V

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

07

Pay

Sourced
Federal
$151,360
State
$85,860
Local
$73,600
All government
$106,440
Private sector
$90,000

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer typeWorkers10th pct.25thMedian75th90th
Federal6,390$78,690$102,210$151,360$207,600$254,090
State5,360$55,990$66,620$85,860$106,510$124,830
Local240$49,400$57,000$73,600$93,860$111,030
All government11,990$63,230$78,690$106,440$159,950$223,970
Private sector55,840$53,730$66,710$90,000$127,020$168,970

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

State government pay plans

Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Bank / Financial Examiner in 30 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.

StateJob classes in the state planAnnual range
AlabamaBank Examiner
1 class · effective September 1, 2026 · Alabama State Personnel Department
$48,797 – $81,725
ArizonaFinancial Institutions Examiner Entry, Financial Institutions Examiner Journey, Financial Institutions Examiner Senior, Financial Examiner, Chief$40,496 – $129,812
ArkansasBank Examiner I–VI, Certified Financial Examiner$58,700 – $139,915
CaliforniaFinancial Institutions Examiner, Senior Financial Institutions Examiner
2 classes · effective September 14, 2026 · California Department of Human Resources (CalHR)
$59,136 – $139,176
ConnecticutFinancial Examiner, Associate Financial Examiner, Principal Financial Examiner$82,261 – $133,870
DelawareBank Examiner I–IV$46,039 – $92,536
GeorgiaFinancial Examiner 1–3, Financial Examiner 1 Non Exempt, Financial Examiner 2 Non Exempt, Financial Examiner 3 Non Exempt$41,570 – $91,044
HawaiiFinancial Inst Examiner I–IV$66,324 – $119,520
IdahoFinancial Examiner / Investigator 1–4, Financial Institution Examiner 1–3
7 classes · effective June 8, 2025 · Idaho Division of Human Resources
$49,733 – $165,027
IllinoisFinancial Institutions Examiner Trainee, Bank Examiner I–III, Financial Institutions Examiner I–III
7 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Illinois Department of Central Management Services
$59,064 – $140,784
IndianaFinancial Examiner 4–1$53,222 – $123,812
KentuckyFinancial Institutions Examiner I–II
2 classes · effective September 16, 2026 · Kentucky Personnel Cabinet
$40,071 – $67,124
MaineBank Examiner, Senior Bank Examiner, Principal Bank Examiner$44,949 – $94,515
MassachusettsBank Examiner I–IV$66,890 – $150,776
MichiganFinancial Inst Examiner-E, Financial Inst Examiner-A
2 classes · effective October 1, 2025 · Michigan Civil Service Commission
$51,917 – $100,069
MinnesotaFinancial Inst Examiner, Financial Inst Examiner Senior
2 classes · effective July 2, 2026 · Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB)
$68,578 – $108,888
MississippiBank Examiner I–III
3 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Mississippi State Personnel Board
$36,624 – $130,592
NevadaFinancial Institutions Examiner I–V$59,257 – $109,641
New JerseyFinancial Examiner Trainee, Financial Examiner 1–4, Certified Financial Examiner
6 classes · effective July 11, 2026 · New Jersey Civil Service Commission
$58,222 – $148,187
New MexicoFinancial Examiner, Senior Financial Examiner$56,931 – $93,936
OhioFinancial Institution Examiner Trainee, Financial Institution Examiner 1–5$51,750 – $127,899
OregonFinancial Examiner 1–3$56,856 – $129,300
TennesseeBank Examiner 1–4, Credit Union Examiner 1–5
9 classes · effective September 1, 2026 · Tennessee Department of Human Resources
$48,684 – $124,356
TexasFinancial Examiner I–VII
7 classes · effective September 1, 2025 · Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO), State Classification Team
$42,976 – $172,272
UtahFinancial Institutions Examiner I–III$60,195 – $125,237
VermontFinancial Examiner I–III
3 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Vermont Department of Human Resources
$52,166 – $102,856
WashingtonFinancial Examiner 1–4$45,924 – $122,448
West VirginiaFinancial Institution Examiner, Trainee, Financial Institution Examiner, Assistant, Financial Institution Examiner, +2 more$39,461 – $92,680
WisconsinFinancial Examiner, Financial Examiner-Journey, Financial Examiner-Senior, Financial Examiner-Adv$45,136 – $157,893
WyomingFinancial Examiner$70,533 – $105,810

Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Sources: 30 official state pay plans, linked in each row.

08

Schedule

Sourced
Work schedule
Regular
87%
Irregular
13%
Seasonal
0%
Typical work week
Less than 40 hours
9%
40 hours
65%
More than 40 hours
26%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2020). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

12

Day-to-day work

Sourced
  1. Direct and participate in formal and informal meetings with bank directors, trustees, senior management, counsels, outside accountants, and consultants to gather information and discuss findings.4.7
  2. Recommend actions to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, or to protect solvency of institutions.4.7
  3. Prepare reports, exhibits, and other supporting schedules that detail an institution's safety and soundness, compliance with laws and regulations, and recommended solutions to questionable financial conditions.4.5
  4. Resolve problems concerning the overall financial integrity of banking institutions including loan investment portfolios, capital, earnings, and specific or large troubled accounts.4.2
  5. Investigate activities of institutions to enforce laws and regulations and to ensure legality of transactions and operations or financial solvency.4.2
  6. Plan, supervise, and review work of assigned subordinates.4.1
  7. Review balance sheets, operating income and expense accounts, and loan documentation to confirm institution assets and liabilities.4.1
  8. Review audit reports of internal and external auditors to monitor adequacy of scope of reports or to discover specific weaknesses in internal routines.4.0
  9. Examine the minutes of meetings of directors, stockholders, and committees to investigate the specific authority extended at various levels of management.4.0
  10. Train other examiners in the financial examination process.3.8

The 10 most important of 16 core tasks for Financial Examiners, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2020.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived
16

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Financial Examiners (SOC 13-2061) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

StateWorkers10th pct.Median90th pct.
District of Columbia470$84,050$198,720$256,820
New York13,480$70,710$128,920$216,090
ConnecticutNot published$61,660$120,530$210,270
Washington420$74,690$113,700$172,300
Massachusetts950$68,520$111,110$187,910
New Jersey2,190$72,800$106,410$205,030
California4,200$66,680$106,000$175,140
Minnesota1,280$65,950$104,260$156,710
Virginia1,280$62,310$104,060$176,290
Maryland350$61,980$102,980$165,780
North Carolina2,610$64,760$100,730$166,110
Colorado1,910$64,770$99,610$169,400
Oregon820$63,170$94,630$128,480
Rhode Island320$60,930$94,130$160,350
Illinois4,050$59,800$93,150$167,270
Delaware430$57,790$92,390$162,760
Utah960$55,000$92,000$155,440
Alaska50$57,550$90,530$128,410
South Dakota150$54,790$88,690$162,970
Tennessee500$51,170$87,110$160,710
South Carolina480$52,530$86,440$164,260
Wisconsin580$64,490$86,320$149,120
Mississippi420$44,990$85,430$137,880
Idaho210$58,060$85,260$156,190
Nevada180$50,750$84,650$131,210
Louisiana240$50,800$84,310$164,300
North Dakota220$60,560$82,640$128,670
Indiana420$47,960$81,300$157,040
Montana140$50,440$80,970$156,990
Maine230$53,910$80,840$145,110
New Hampshire130$59,220$80,810$203,840
Oklahoma400$46,280$80,760$151,620
Kansas470$55,330$80,420$147,990
Iowa1,020$55,650$80,370$149,160
Arizona1,910$60,000$80,260$129,300
Missouri2,290$48,140$79,990$148,400
Pennsylvania2,590$56,420$78,500$137,770
Texas5,230$51,400$78,140$137,260
Georgia1,450$53,100$77,710$166,540
Kentucky640$50,400$76,260$135,570
Florida4,190$49,190$76,230$129,090
Vermont170$64,090$74,680$113,380
Nebraska840$49,490$74,460$127,000
Michigan710$50,310$71,050$121,620
Ohio3,680$46,960$69,040$127,710
New Mexico220$49,460$67,950$107,170
Hawaii270$49,440$62,720$96,550
West Virginia240$40,980$60,590$105,610
Arkansas540$46,630$57,590$125,840

49 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

  • 05 Probation
    Probation length and what ends it
    Not yet collected
  • 09 Benefits and pension
    Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
    Not yet collected
  • 10 Union contracts
    Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
    Not yet collected
  • 11 Transfers and lateral entry
    Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
    Not yet collected
  • 14 Exam practice
    Named exams → OpenExamPrep practice
    Not yet collected
  • 15 Employer directory
    L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
    Not yet collected