What Does a Financial Examiner Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a financial examiner do?

Financial examiners enforce or ensure compliance with laws governing financial institutions and financial transactions, reviewing balance sheets, operations and risk. The median pay is $94,160 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Several years of exam training, and employment is projected to grow +9.3% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$94,160
$45.27/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+9.3%
2025–35, much faster than average
Openings per year
4,500
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
Several years of exam training
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
70,000
Employment, 2025

What financial examiners do

Financial examiners protect the financial system. They examine banks, credit unions, insurers and other firms, review loans, capital and controls, check compliance with laws like fair lending and anti-money laundering, and write findings that firms must fix. Many work for federal and state regulators.

Most have a bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting, plus long-term on-the-job training. BLS projects faster than average growth.

Typical duties

Examine financial institutions
Review loan quality
Assess capital and liquidity
Check compliance with laws
Interview management
Write exam reports
Track corrective actions

Work environment and schedule

Examiners work on-site at financial institutions and in regulator offices.

Schedule: Full time, with frequent travel.

A day in the life

8:00 AMArrive at a bank for an exam.
9:00 AMReview loan files.
11:00 AMInterview the chief credit officer.
1:00 PMTest BSA/AML controls.

See a full day in the life of a financial examiner →

Financial Examiner salary

Half of financial examiners earned more than $94,160 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $56,230 for the lowest 10% to $174,200 for the top 10%.

$56,23010th$94,160Median$174,20090th

Full financial examiner pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a financial examiner

Earn a bachelor’s
Join a regulator
Complete training
Earn a commission
Advance

A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or economics is typical, plus long-term training.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a financial examiner →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Financial analysis
Loan review
Banking regulation
Auditing
Risk assessment

People skills

Integrity
Skepticism
Communication
Professionalism

All financial examiner skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Faster-than-average growth
Stable government jobs
Good benefits
Important public role

Cons

Frequent travel
Long training
Deadline pressure
Adversarial moments

Certifications and licenses

Commissioned examiner: Federal agency credential.
CPA: Optional.
CAMS: Anti-money laundering.
CRCM: Compliance credential.

Career path

Examiner Trainee: Learn.
Commissioned Examiner: Lead areas.
Examiner in Charge: Lead exams.
Supervisory Examiner: Lead regions.

Learn the job before day one

Our Financial Examiner training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as review a commercial loan file in an exam and test a bank’s anti-money laundering program, safety and how to land your first job.

View Financial Examiner training Is this career right for me?

Compliance Officer

Make sure an organization follows the laws and rules that apply to it.

$80,730
Moderate on-the-job training

Accountant

Prepare and examine financial records, taxes and reports that guide business decisions.

$83,680
4+ years

Credit Analyst

Decide whether borrowers can repay by studying their finances.

$83,510
Bank credit training programs

Budget Analyst

Help organizations plan spending and stick to their budgets.

$91,640
Entry-level with a degree

Compare: Financial Examiner vs. Compliance Officer · Financial Examiner vs. Accountant · Financial Examiner vs. Credit Analyst · Financial Examiner vs. Budget Analyst

Financial Examiner FAQ

Who hires financial examiners?

Federal and state regulators, plus some private firms.

Is travel required?

Often, yes.

Is the field growing?

Yes, BLS projects faster than average growth.

How much does a financial examiner make?

The median annual wage for financial examiners was $94,160 ($45.27 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $56,230 and the highest 10% earned more than $174,200.

How long does it take to become a financial examiner?

Most people need about Several years of exam training of training. A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or economics is typical, plus long-term training.

Do you need a degree to be a financial examiner?

Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 13-2061 (Financial examiners).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Financial examiners (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Financial Examiner