Overview
SourcedEnforce 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.
Titles employers use
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.
Requirements
Sourced- 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
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.
How to get hired
SourcedFinancial 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.
Academy and training
Sourced- SOC 13-2061
- Long-term on-the-job training
- 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.
Promotion ladder
EditorialFederal 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.
- GS-5/7 entry (Pathways / recent grad)
- Career-ladder promotions to full-performance level (GS-9/11/12/13)
- GS-14/15 (competitive)
- Senior Executive Service
- within-grade steps 1–10 (steps 2–4 yearly, 5–7 every 2 yrs, 8–10 every 3 yrs)
- 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).
Pay
SourcedMedian annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 6,390 | $78,690 | $102,210 | $151,360 | $207,600 | $254,090 |
| State | 5,360 | $55,990 | $66,620 | $85,860 | $106,510 | $124,830 |
| Local | 240 | $49,400 | $57,000 | $73,600 | $93,860 | $111,030 |
| All government | 11,990 | $63,230 | $78,690 | $106,440 | $159,950 | $223,970 |
| Private sector | 55,840 | $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.
| State | Job classes in the state plan | Annual range |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Bank Examiner 1 class · effective September 1, 2026 · Alabama State Personnel Department | $48,797 – $81,725 |
| Arizona | Financial Institutions Examiner Entry, Financial Institutions Examiner Journey, Financial Institutions Examiner Senior, Financial Examiner, Chief 4 classes · effective July 9, 2022 · Arizona Department of Administration, Human Resources Division | $40,496 – $129,812 |
| Arkansas | Bank Examiner I–VI, Certified Financial Examiner 7 classes · effective July 1, 2025 · Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services, Office of Personnel Management | $58,700 – $139,915 |
| California | Financial Institutions Examiner, Senior Financial Institutions Examiner 2 classes · effective September 14, 2026 · California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) | $59,136 – $139,176 |
| Connecticut | Financial Examiner, Associate Financial Examiner, Principal Financial Examiner 3 classes · effective June 26, 2026 · Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Statewide Human Resources | $82,261 – $133,870 |
| Delaware | Bank Examiner I–IV | $46,039 – $92,536 |
| Georgia | Financial Examiner 1–3, Financial Examiner 1 Non Exempt, Financial Examiner 2 Non Exempt, Financial Examiner 3 Non Exempt 6 classes · effective July 10, 2024 · Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation | $41,570 – $91,044 |
| Hawaii | Financial Inst Examiner I–IV 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) | $66,324 – $119,520 |
| Idaho | Financial Examiner / Investigator 1–4, Financial Institution Examiner 1–3 7 classes · effective June 8, 2025 · Idaho Division of Human Resources | $49,733 – $165,027 |
| Illinois | Financial 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 |
| Indiana | Financial Examiner 4–1 4 classes · Indiana State Personnel Department | $53,222 – $123,812 |
| Kentucky | Financial Institutions Examiner I–II 2 classes · effective September 16, 2026 · Kentucky Personnel Cabinet | $40,071 – $67,124 |
| Maine | Bank Examiner, Senior Bank Examiner, Principal Bank Examiner 3 classes · effective August 30, 2026 · Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Human Resources | $44,949 – $94,515 |
| Massachusetts | Bank Examiner I–IV 4 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD) | $66,890 – $150,776 |
| Michigan | Financial Inst Examiner-E, Financial Inst Examiner-A 2 classes · effective October 1, 2025 · Michigan Civil Service Commission | $51,917 – $100,069 |
| Minnesota | Financial Inst Examiner, Financial Inst Examiner Senior 2 classes · effective July 2, 2026 · Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) | $68,578 – $108,888 |
| Mississippi | Bank Examiner I–III 3 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Mississippi State Personnel Board | $36,624 – $130,592 |
| Nevada | Financial Institutions Examiner I–V 5 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Nevada Department of Administration, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM) | $59,257 – $109,641 |
| New Jersey | Financial 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 Mexico | Financial Examiner, Senior Financial Examiner 2 classes · effective July 4, 2026 · New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification | $56,931 – $93,936 |
| Ohio | Financial Institution Examiner Trainee, Financial Institution Examiner 1–5 6 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation | $51,750 – $127,899 |
| Oregon | Financial Examiner 1–3 | $56,856 – $129,300 |
| Tennessee | Bank Examiner 1–4, Credit Union Examiner 1–5 9 classes · effective September 1, 2026 · Tennessee Department of Human Resources | $48,684 – $124,356 |
| Texas | Financial Examiner I–VII 7 classes · effective September 1, 2025 · Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO), State Classification Team | $42,976 – $172,272 |
| Utah | Financial Institutions Examiner I–III 3 classes · effective June 21, 2025 · Utah Department of Government Operations, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM) | $60,195 – $125,237 |
| Vermont | Financial Examiner I–III 3 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Vermont Department of Human Resources | $52,166 – $102,856 |
| Washington | Financial Examiner 1–4 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources | $45,924 – $122,448 |
| West Virginia | Financial Institution Examiner, Trainee, Financial Institution Examiner, Assistant, Financial Institution Examiner, +2 more 5 classes · effective August 24, 2024 · West Virginia Department of Administration, Division of Personnel | $39,461 – $92,680 |
| Wisconsin | Financial Examiner, Financial Examiner-Journey, Financial Examiner-Senior, Financial Examiner-Adv 4 classes · effective June 28, 2026 · Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Management | $45,136 – $157,893 |
| Wyoming | Financial Examiner 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Human Resources Division | $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.
Schedule
SourcedShare 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.
Day-to-day work
Sourced- 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
- Recommend actions to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, or to protect solvency of institutions.4.7
- 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
- Resolve problems concerning the overall financial integrity of banking institutions including loan investment portfolios, capital, earnings, and specific or large troubled accounts.4.2
- Investigate activities of institutions to enforce laws and regulations and to ensure legality of transactions and operations or financial solvency.4.2
- Plan, supervise, and review work of assigned subordinates.4.1
- Review balance sheets, operating income and expense accounts, and loan documentation to confirm institution assets and liabilities.4.1
- 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
- Examine the minutes of meetings of directors, stockholders, and committees to investigate the specific authority extended at various levels of management.4.0
- 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.
Related jobs
DerivedBy state
SourcedMedian annual wage for Financial Examiners (SOC 13-2061) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.
| State | Workers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 470 | $84,050 | $198,720 | $256,820 |
| New York | 13,480 | $70,710 | $128,920 | $216,090 |
| Connecticut | Not published | $61,660 | $120,530 | $210,270 |
| Washington | 420 | $74,690 | $113,700 | $172,300 |
| Massachusetts | 950 | $68,520 | $111,110 | $187,910 |
| New Jersey | 2,190 | $72,800 | $106,410 | $205,030 |
| California | 4,200 | $66,680 | $106,000 | $175,140 |
| Minnesota | 1,280 | $65,950 | $104,260 | $156,710 |
| Virginia | 1,280 | $62,310 | $104,060 | $176,290 |
| Maryland | 350 | $61,980 | $102,980 | $165,780 |
| North Carolina | 2,610 | $64,760 | $100,730 | $166,110 |
| Colorado | 1,910 | $64,770 | $99,610 | $169,400 |
| Oregon | 820 | $63,170 | $94,630 | $128,480 |
| Rhode Island | 320 | $60,930 | $94,130 | $160,350 |
| Illinois | 4,050 | $59,800 | $93,150 | $167,270 |
| Delaware | 430 | $57,790 | $92,390 | $162,760 |
| Utah | 960 | $55,000 | $92,000 | $155,440 |
| Alaska | 50 | $57,550 | $90,530 | $128,410 |
| South Dakota | 150 | $54,790 | $88,690 | $162,970 |
| Tennessee | 500 | $51,170 | $87,110 | $160,710 |
| South Carolina | 480 | $52,530 | $86,440 | $164,260 |
| Wisconsin | 580 | $64,490 | $86,320 | $149,120 |
| Mississippi | 420 | $44,990 | $85,430 | $137,880 |
| Idaho | 210 | $58,060 | $85,260 | $156,190 |
| Nevada | 180 | $50,750 | $84,650 | $131,210 |
| Louisiana | 240 | $50,800 | $84,310 | $164,300 |
| North Dakota | 220 | $60,560 | $82,640 | $128,670 |
| Indiana | 420 | $47,960 | $81,300 | $157,040 |
| Montana | 140 | $50,440 | $80,970 | $156,990 |
| Maine | 230 | $53,910 | $80,840 | $145,110 |
| New Hampshire | 130 | $59,220 | $80,810 | $203,840 |
| Oklahoma | 400 | $46,280 | $80,760 | $151,620 |
| Kansas | 470 | $55,330 | $80,420 | $147,990 |
| Iowa | 1,020 | $55,650 | $80,370 | $149,160 |
| Arizona | 1,910 | $60,000 | $80,260 | $129,300 |
| Missouri | 2,290 | $48,140 | $79,990 | $148,400 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,590 | $56,420 | $78,500 | $137,770 |
| Texas | 5,230 | $51,400 | $78,140 | $137,260 |
| Georgia | 1,450 | $53,100 | $77,710 | $166,540 |
| Kentucky | 640 | $50,400 | $76,260 | $135,570 |
| Florida | 4,190 | $49,190 | $76,230 | $129,090 |
| Vermont | 170 | $64,090 | $74,680 | $113,380 |
| Nebraska | 840 | $49,490 | $74,460 | $127,000 |
| Michigan | 710 | $50,310 | $71,050 | $121,620 |
| Ohio | 3,680 | $46,960 | $69,040 | $127,710 |
| New Mexico | 220 | $49,460 | $67,950 | $107,170 |
| Hawaii | 270 | $49,440 | $62,720 | $96,550 |
| West Virginia | 240 | $40,980 | $60,590 | $105,610 |
| Arkansas | 540 | $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 ProbationNot yet collectedProbation length and what ends it
- 09 Benefits and pensionNot yet collectedPension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
- 10 Union contractsNot yet collectedBargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
- 11 Transfers and lateral entryNot yet collectedLateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
- 14 Exam practiceNot yet collectedNamed exams → OpenExamPrep practice
- 15 Employer directoryNot yet collectedL4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values