Financial Examiners Salary
Financial Examiners in Washington make a median of $113,700 a year, or about $54.66 an hour. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $172K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $111,460 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $114K get you in Washington?
About financial examiners
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for financial examiners, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,830/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Washington offers a genuinely strong financial position for financial examinerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level financial examiners (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $114K. Top earners bring in $172K or more, a $98K spread from bottom to top.
Financial Examiners salary by metro in Washington
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $122K | +8% | 210 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $106K | -7% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track financial examiners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a financial examiner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $114K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for financial examiners in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new financial examiners typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,481/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is financial examiner a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $114K here vs. $94K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for financial examiners?
Washington pays $114K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $111K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do financial examiners make in Washington?
The median is $113,700 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,690, and experienced financial examiners can clear $172,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $114K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,365/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 24.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a financial examiners salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median financial examiners salary is worth about $111,460 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do financial examiners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.