Family Office · Senior · 9 to 18 years typical
Controller Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $210,000 | $270,000 | $365,000 | $475,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $195,000 | $250,000 | $340,000 | $440,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $185,000 | $245,000 | $325,000 | $425,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $185,000 | $245,000 | $325,000 | $425,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $185,000 | $240,000 | $320,000 | $415,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $180,000 | $235,000 | $315,000 | $410,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $180,000 | $235,000 | $315,000 | $410,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $170,000 | $225,000 | $300,000 | $390,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $155,000 | $205,000 | $275,000 | $355,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $150,000 | $195,000 | $260,000 | $340,000 |
Time to fill 9 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Multi-entity consolidation and alternative investment accounting driving complexity
What does a Controller do?
The Controller operates within single-family or multi-family offices, working directly with principals, family members, and co-investment partners. Professionals in this role typically bring 9 to 18 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 403-865 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives Controller compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Controller is $195,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $150,000 to $260,000. The 58% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by assets under management, family office structure (single vs. multi-family), investment strategy complexity, geographic market, and whether the office manages direct investments or outsources to external managers. Demand is holding stable, with compensation levels expected to track broader market adjustments.
Controller career path
Professionals who move into Controller roles most commonly come from institutional asset management, private banking, wealth management, accounting firms, or corporate finance. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward chief investment officer roles, family office CEO positions, or founding their own advisory practice. The average tenure in this role is approximately 3.7 years, with an annual turnover rate of 19%.
Hiring a Controller?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.