IT Controller Salary in the United States

How much does an IT Controller make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for an IT Controller in the United States is $145,323 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $70.

However, an IT Controller's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $170,445
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $130,768 to $158,473
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $117,516
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View as table View as graph 25% $130,768 10% $117,516 90% $170,445 75% $158,473 $145,323 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

IT Controller Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $158,473 $13,206 $3,048 $76
Average $145,323 $12,110 $2,795 $70
25th Percentile $130,768 $10,897 $2,515 $63
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Key Factors That Influence IT Controller Salaries

An IT Controller's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects IT Controller Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an IT Controller's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $138,021
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $139,230
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $140,440
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $142,860
  • Expert (over 8 years): $145,279
Levels Salary
Entry Level IT Controller$138,021
Intermediate Level IT Controller$139,230
Senior Level IT Controller$140,440
Specialist Level IT Controller$142,860
Expert Level IT Controller$145,279
$138,021 0 yr
$139,230 < 2 yrs
$140,440 2-4 yrs
$142,860 5-8 yrs
$145,279 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for IT Controllers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $183,296
  • San Francisco: $181,494
  • Oakland: $177,468

What Skills Can Increase an IT Controller's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 11.34% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Accounts Payable (Mentioned in 1.71% Job Postings): Accounts payable (AP) is money owed by a business to its suppliers shown as a liability on a company's balance sheet. It is distinct from notes payable liabilities, which are debts created by formal legal instrument documents.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.09% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.34%
Accounts Payable 1.71%
Continuous Improvement 1.09%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an IT Controller's salary.
  • Accounting: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accounting
$158,402
9%
Leadership
$155,496
7%
Initiative
$151,136
4%
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How Education impacts an IT Controller's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many IT Controllers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an IT Controller with a Bachelor's Degree is between $142,237 and $153,214).

IT Controller Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for IT Controller
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 14.5%
High School 14.5%
Associates 4.8%
Bachelors 33.9%
Masters 43.5%
Doctorate 3.2%
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IT Controller Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an IT Controller's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

IT Controller Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an IT Controller, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

IT Controller Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Financial Control Senior Manager $162,981 12%
Business Unit Controller, Sr. $179,890 24%

Most common benefits for IT Controller

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for IT Controller

Here are companies hiring for IT Controller and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about IT Controller

1. Where can an IT Controller earn the most?

An IT Controller's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an IT Controller earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an IT Controller is $183,296.

2. What is the highest pay for IT Controller?

The highest pay for IT Controller is $170,445.

3. What is the lowest pay for IT Controller?

The lowest pay for IT Controller is $117,516.

4. What are the responsibilities of IT Controller?

Manages and establishes budget, business plan, and financial policies for IT function. Supervises accounting personnel. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a CFO or top management. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Extensive knowledge of department processes. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 to 3 years supervisory experience may be required.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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