Financial Examiners vs Tax Preparers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Examiners professionals earn $39,840 more per year than Tax Preparers professionals — that's 78.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Financial Examiners earns $171,540 compared to $96,240 for Tax Preparers.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Examiners$53,420 – $171,540
Tax Preparers$30,500 – $96,240
$30,500$171,540
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Examiners | Tax Preparers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $53,420 | $30,500 | +$22,920 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,800 | $37,750 | +$29,050 |
| Median (50th) | $90,400 | $50,560 | +$39,840 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,210 | $75,590 | +$51,620 |
| 90th Percentile | $171,540 | $96,240 | +$75,300 |
| Mean (Average) | $103,650 | $58,860 | +$44,790 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Examiners
62,830
employed nationwide
Tax Preparers
73,570
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Examiners
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $139,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $132,190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $131,670 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,780 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,450 |
Best Cities for Tax Preparers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $83,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $83,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $71,990 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $68,160 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Financial Examiners or Tax Preparers?
Financial Examiners professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $39,840 (78.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Examiners?
Financial Examiners salaries range from $53,420 (10th percentile) to $171,540 (90th percentile), with a median of $90,400.
What is the salary range for Tax Preparers?
Tax Preparers salaries range from $30,500 (10th percentile) to $96,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $50,560.
How many Financial Examiners and Tax Preparers jobs are there?
There are approximately 62,830 Financial Examiners positions and 73,570 Tax Preparers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Tax Preparers to Financial Examiners?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Examiners has a median salary of $90,400 while Tax Preparers earns $50,560. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS