BLS OEWS May 2025
Corporate Controller salary, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
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For a Corporate Controller pay comparison in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, BLS reports a median annual wage of $125,690 for Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031, May 2025). This is the mapped occupation's benchmark, not a separate title-specific survey. That is $40,880 (24.5%) below the U.S. median of $166,570.
Broader occupation
BLS reports Corporate Controller within a broader occupation. It does not publish separate wages for this exact title, credentials, seniority or industry. Compare the listed SOC duties with your actual role before using this range.
| Percentile | Wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $80,800 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th | $100,440 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $125,690 | Half earned less and half earned more. |
| 75th | $172,890 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th | $216,490 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $142,480 | Average wage across all workers. |
| Percentile | Wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $94,310 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th | $125,490 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $166,570 | Half earned less and half earned more. |
| 75th | $219,980 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th | $323,270 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $186,910 | Average wage across all workers. |
What BLS wages include and exclude
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
- Employment, area
- 370
- Location quotient
- 0.81
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, released 2026-05-15. SOC 11-3031 Financial Managers, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, IA. BLS source tables and downloads; release notes. Select this SOC and area in the source files; the tables index is not an exact-row link.
What changed since May 2024
| Release | Median |
|---|---|
| BLS OEWS May 2024 | $116,030 |
| BLS OEWS May 2025 | $125,690 |
The published medians differ by $9,660. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2024 and May 2025. This is not an annualized growth claim. Area definitions and the workers represented can change.
What belongs in the pay comparison
OEWS includes straight-time gross wages, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and employer-paid benefits. It is neither pure base salary nor total compensation. Financial Managers is the occupation benchmark, not a separate CFO or Controller compensation survey. Compare company size, ownership and PE reporting, financial complexity, team scope and decision authority before comparing offers. A controller responsible for the close and audit may have a different remit from a CFO responsible for financing and a sponsor exit. Specify incentives and equity separately; this occupation row cannot price those differences or justify a fixed executive premium.
Recruiter's read
Qualitative view from our desk. Not BLS data.
For Corporate Controller, discuss the work behind these requirements: CPA; multi-entity consolidation; manages external audit; how they shortened the close. Ask what the person completed themselves and what a manager or specialist reviewed. A system name on a resume does not establish depth in that workflow. The BLS figure describes the listed occupation, not a separately measured rate for this exact opening.
Common questions
Which median is used when comparing pay for Corporate Controller?
$125,690 is the annual median for Financial Managers (SOC 11-3031) in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, IA, based on BLS May 2025. It is an occupation benchmark, not a separate compensation survey for this hiring title.
What does the middle half of workers earn?
The 25th percentile is $100,440 and the 75th percentile is $172,890 in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, IA. That is where the middle half of workers in this occupation fall.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimates 370 workers in Financial Managers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, IA.
What does the upper percentile show?
The 90th percentile for Financial Managers is $216,490. 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned more.
Does BLS publish this exact title?
BLS reports Corporate Controller within a broader occupation. It does not publish separate wages for this exact title, credentials, seniority or industry. Compare the listed SOC duties with your actual role before using this range.
Related areas and roles
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Corporate Controller in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, from BLS data.
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BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. These are published occupation estimates, not a quote for an exact niche title. Tool calculations use BLS values or your inputs, not predictions.