Financial Risk Specialist salary in California
Financial Risk Specialists in California earn a median of $129,110 a year ($62.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,740 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $208,360 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $117,330. California ranks 8th of 50 states for financial risk specialists pay. There are 0.32 financial risk specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $137,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for financial risk specialists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,610 | $36.83 |
| 25th percentile | $100,160 | $48.15 |
| Median | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| 75th percentile | $168,980 | $81.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $208,360 | $100.17 |
| Average (mean) | $137,030 | $65.88 |
Half of financial risk specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,759.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,379.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,965.77 |
| Weekly | $2,482.88 |
| Hourly | $62.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $129,110 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Financial Risk Specialist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $167,440 | 1,380 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,240 | 480 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $122,530 | 290 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $121,010 | 380 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $113,230 | 1,540 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,640 | 110 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $101,280 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $96,310 | 160 |
| Fresno, CA | $93,310 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for financial risk specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $158,320 |
| Maine | $141,020 |
| Delaware | $139,440 |
| New York | $136,830 |
| North Carolina | $132,040 |
| Massachusetts | $130,400 |
| New Jersey | $129,220 |
| California | $129,110 |
| Virginia | $126,510 |
| Washington | $123,150 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $97,050 | $46.66 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $109,110 | $52.46 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Loan Officer | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,810 | $38.85 |
| Tax Preparer | $70,030 | $33.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $88,900 | $42.74 |
| Credit Analyst | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Financial Examiner | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Budget Analyst | $99,520 | $47.84 |
| Credit Counselor | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2054. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a financial risk specialist make in California?
The median salary for financial risk specialists in California is $129,110 a year, or $62.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $208,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid financial risk specialists make in California?
The top 10% of financial risk specialists in California earn at least $208,360 a year. The top 25% earn $168,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for financial risk specialists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,610 a year, and a quarter of financial risk specialists earn $100,160 or less.
How many financial risk specialists work in California?
About 5,740 financial risk specialists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.