Serves as the part-time chief financial officer for several small and growing companies at once. BLS does not publish separate figures for financial managers; it counts them within financial manager (SOC 11-3031), whose median pay is $166,570 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 11-3031
- Management
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Fractional CFO in four numbers
- Median pay
- $166,570a year, or $80.08/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $94KTop 10% $323K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +9.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+9.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +9.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 65,600879,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025879.7K
- Projected 2035964.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 879.7K Projected 2035 964.6K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school14.2%
- Some college4.6%
- Associate's3.9%
- Bachelor's56.3%
- Post-bacc certificate21%
Highest education held by financial managers Segment Value High school 14.2% Some college 4.6% Associate's 3.9% Bachelor's 56.3% Post-bacc certificate 21%
Also advertised as: Part-Time CFO, Outsourced CFO, Interim CFO, Virtual CFO, Fractional Chief Financial Officer.
Pay
How much do Financial Managers make?
Every fractional cfo in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$166,570
Middle half earn $125,490 to $219,980
- 10th
- $94,310
- 25th
- $125,490
- 75th
- $219,980
- 90th
- $323,270
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $94,310 |
| 25th | $125,490 |
| Median | $166,570 |
| 75th | $219,980 |
| 90th | $323,270 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $166,570
- Median hourly wage
- $80.08/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $186,910
- People employed
- 841,710
Versus all US occupations
At $166,570, Financial Managers earn 227% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $115,590 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 32% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $323,270 or more while the bottom 10% earn $94,310, a gap of 3.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 94% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $219,880, and still leads at $203,742 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Financial Managers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $219,880 | $203,742 | 80,810 |
| 2Massachusetts | $206,760 | $195,505 | 26,150 |
| 3New Jersey | $199,110 | $182,997 | 32,510 |
| 4District of Columbia | $188,880 | $171,864 | 8,930 |
| 5Virginia | $185,220 | $183,197 | 20,850 |
| 6Colorado | $182,690 | $177,279 | 10,640 |
| 7Delaware | $181,580 | $181,929 | 2,810 |
| 8California | $180,770 | $163,268 | 93,310 |
| 9Washington | $174,840 | $163,382 | 12,930 |
| 10Connecticut | $174,830 | $168,739 | 20,040 |
Job outlook
Is Fractional CFO a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +9.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Managers | +9.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Financial Managers to change 9.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.8× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 84,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 65,600 openings are projected each year, 7.5% of the 879,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Fractional CFO
Most fractional CFOs have many years of experience as a controller, finance director or full-time CFO, and many hold a CPA license or a Certified Management Accountant credential from the Institute of Management Accountants. A bachelor's degree in accounting or finance is standard, and an MBA is common.
Some work independently and find clients through referrals, accountants and investors. Others join firms that place fractional finance executives. Building a reputation in one industry and a network of founders and investors is key to keeping a steady roster of clients.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as financial managers.
- Bachelor's Degree56.3%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate21%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)14.2%
- Some College Courses4.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree3.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 56.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 21% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 14.2% |
| Some College Courses | 4.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 3.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Fractional CFO do?
A fractional CFO gives growing companies senior financial leadership without the cost of a full-time executive. They typically work with several clients at once, spending a set number of days or hours each month with each business.
Fractional CFOs build financial models and budgets, manage cash flow forecasts, set up reporting and key metrics, and oversee bookkeepers and controllers. They prepare companies to raise money from investors or lenders, lead due diligence when a company is sold, and advise founders on pricing, hiring and growth decisions. Some focus on a niche, such as software startups, medical practices or construction firms.
Day-to-day tasks
- Build budgets, forecasts and financial models for clients
- Manage cash flow and working capital planning
- Prepare board and investor reporting
- Lead fundraising and lender negotiations
- Oversee bookkeepers and accounting staff
- Advise founders on pricing and growth decisions
- Prepare companies for audits, due diligence or sale
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Fractional CFOs often work remotely or from a home office, visiting client sites as needed. Juggling several companies means a varied schedule, with peaks around month-end close, board meetings and fundraising. Self-employed fractional CFOs manage their own business development and income.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Writing3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Mathematics3.5
- Active Learning3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.6
- Coordination3.6
- Service Orientation3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Time Management3.6
- Management of Personnel Resources3.6
- Persuasion3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.6 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.6 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Fractional CFO?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ECI) built on O*NET's Financial Manager profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Fractional CFO |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 7 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising7.0
- Conventional5.8
- Investigative3.5
- Social3.0
- Artistic1.6
- Realistic1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Fractional CFO
O*NET related occupations
- Management
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
More management careers
Median annual pay, with financial managers highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Fractional CFO$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Fractional CFO | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Fractional CFO appears on
Questions
Fractional CFO: frequently asked questions
How much do Financial Managers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for financial managers. It counts them within financial manager, whose median pay is $166,570 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $125,490 and $219,980, and the top 10% earn $323,270 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Fractional CFO?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Financial Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 56.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Fractional CFO a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 9.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 65,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Fractional CFO do?
A fractional CFO gives growing companies senior financial leadership without the cost of a full-time executive. A typical task: build budgets, forecasts and financial models for clients. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Financial Managers the most?
The highest state medians for Financial Managers are New York ($219,880), Massachusetts ($206,760), New Jersey ($199,110) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Fractional CFO?
O*NET scores Financial Managers highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.