Finance salaries rise 6% amid talent crunch, survey finds

North American companies increased salaries for finance-related roles by an average of 6% over the past 12 months amid heightened competition for skilled talent, according to Controllers Council, a professional association.

Executives received the largest average increases at 6.7%, followed by directors at 6.2%, managers at 5.9% and clerical and administrative staff at 5.7%, according to the council’s 2026 Corporate Finance and Accounting Talent Study released July 6.

The higher salaries reflect a more competitive market for finance talent. Sixty-one percent of survey respondents said they are experiencing either minor or significant shortages of finance and accounting talent, up from 46% who reported shortages in the prior year.

For the first time in four years, competitive salary ranked as the top strategy organizations use to attract and retain finance professionals, followed by comprehensive benefits packages, training and development opportunities and company culture. See more survey results.