Side-by-side distribution
Controller
$165,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 31.4%
- Live roles
- 622
Investment Banking
$206,250
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 33.3%
- Live roles
- 24
Highest-paying jobs
Revenue & Accounting Operations Controller
Revenue & Accounting Operations Controller
Corporate Controller
Controller
Partner 36, Corporate Controller
Controller
Controller, Vice President of Accounting
Assistant Controller
Corporate Controller
Assistant Controller
Highest-paying jobs
Investment Banker II
Investment Banker I
Associate - Investment Banking - Los Angeles
Investment Banking, Vice President & Associate, Consumer & Retail
Investment Banking, Associate, M&A
Investment Banking, Associate, Private Capital Advisory
Investment Banking, Senior Analyst/Associate, DCM
Analyst - Investment Banking - Los Angeles
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Air Apps
|
$43,650 | 9 |
Attivo Partners
|
$182,500 | 5 |
Crosscountry Consulting
|
$172,125 | 4 |
Metropolis
|
$180,000 | 3 |
The Symicor Group
|
$125,000 | 3 |
Cheer Home Care
|
$124,800 | 3 |
| IE Industrial Electric Manufacturing | $68,120 | 3 |
|
Versapay
|
$534,560 | 2 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| BT BTIG | $185,000 | 4 |
|
OffDeal
|
$486,250 | 2 |
|
Ducera Partners - Experienced Hires
|
$175,000 | 2 |
Controller salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $216,250 | 16 |
| New York | $192,250 | 23 |
| Denver | $183,750 | 4 |
| Los Angeles | $165,000 | 13 |
| Seattle | $159,997 | 4 |
| Chicago | $158,750 | 6 |
| London | $123,339 | 4 |
| Toronto | $103,672 | 4 |
Investment Banking salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $206,250 | 6 |
Controller vs Investment Banking: which pays more?
The median for Controller is $165,000 per year (typically $129,375–$205,125), versus $206,250 for Investment Banking ($176,250–$228,750). That puts Investment Banking about 25% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Controller and Investment Banking are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.