Housing
Housing dominates the budget at $2,415 monthly, with a 1-bedroom city center apartment costing $2,200. Basic utilities add $149 and internet runs $66, making housing account for over 80% of total expenses in this DC metro area.
Controller Salary in Arlington
Market ranges & how to evaluate your offer
$0k – $0k/yr
Most offers in Arlington fall between $100k–$125k depending on seniority, location, and role scope.
Last updated: March 2026Self-reported salaries + labor statisticsArlingtonConfidence: High
10th
percentile$0
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Median$0
90th
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Local vs National
Arlington$125k
National Average$0k
Arlington
Salary data is self-reported and varies by scope, company, and location. Use ranges, not single numbers.
Offer sanity-check
Compare your total comp for Controller — pick seniority, enter an offer, and preview the layout. Percentiles use your selected seniority when market data is available.
Salary Range for Controller
Seniority-level breakdown for this market.
Cost of Living in Arlington, VA
Cost of living breakdown for Arlington, VA market.
118avg = 100
Estimated monthly costs for this basket run about 118% of our comparable national baseline—plan for higher everyday spend than typical US markets.
Overall COL Index
HOUSING+72%
National avg (100)
FOOD-43%
National avg (100)
TRANSPORT-74%
National avg (100)
LIFESTYLE-46%
National avg (100)
Monthly cost breakdown
How the estimated monthly cost bundle splits across categories for a typical Controller earner.
$2,895.67/ mo
HOUSING
$2,414.54 USD (83.4% of est. monthly costs)
FOOD
$241.20 USD (8.3% of est. monthly costs)
TRANSPORT
$90.00 USD (3.1% of est. monthly costs)
LIFESTYLE
$149.93 USD (5.2% of est. monthly costs)
+72%
Food & dining
Food costs $241 monthly with modest grocery prices — milk at $1.29/liter and eggs $4.23/dozen suggest reasonable supermarket costs. Restaurant meals at $17 each indicate dining out remains affordable compared to other high-cost East Coast metros.
Transportation
Public transit costs $90 monthly for a Metro pass, reflecting Arlington's strong connectivity to Washington DC. This price point supports car-free commuting for professionals working across the region's job centers.
Lifestyle & leisure
Discretionary spending totals $150 monthly, with gym memberships at $73 and movie tickets $15. Coffee at $4.66 per cappuccino aligns with upscale suburban pricing, keeping leisure costs reasonable relative to the high housing burden.
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Top-Paying Cities for Controller
Location-specific ranges with optional cost-of-living adjustment.
Remote Pay Bands Explained
Controller compensation in financial services varies significantly by location, with major financial centers commanding premium salaries. New York and San Francisco Controllers typically earn 25-40% more than national averages, while Charlotte and Dallas offer competitive packages at 10-15% above baseline. Many firms now offer location-adjusted remote pay, maintaining 80-90% of metro rates for qualified candidates working from secondary markets.
The trend toward hybrid work has created tiered compensation structures for Controllers, with most financial institutions requiring 2-3 days in office for senior finance roles. When negotiating remote arrangements, emphasize your experience with virtual team leadership and digital financial reporting systems. Controllers who can demonstrate successful remote management of month-end close processes often secure flexible arrangements with minimal pay adjustments.
Moving from high-cost metros like Manhattan or downtown San Francisco to markets like Austin or Nashville can increase purchasing power by 30-50% while maintaining 85-95% of previous compensation. Controllers relocating from $180K in NYC to $160K in Nashville effectively gain $40K+ in spending power due to housing, tax, and living cost differences, making strategic relocation highly attractive for wealth building.
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Related Roles
How adjacent roles compare in pay and scope.
Accountant
$78k-$150k
High overlap in accountant roles
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$105k-$256k
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$74k-$150k
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DetailsTax Accountant
$77k-$130k
High overlap in accountant roles
DetailsSoftware Engineer
$120k-$495k
High overlap in software-engineer roles
DetailsFull Stack Software Engineer
$112k-$432k
High overlap in software-engineer roles
DetailsHow to Negotiate Your Offer
Practical steps that move the number without damaging the relationship.
Start your ask above the median. You'll rarely be offered more than you ask, so anchor high and let the employer negotiate you down.
Stronger approach:
- Start your ask above the median
- You'll rarely be offered more than you ask, so anchor high and let the employer negotiate you down
Say 'market data puts this role at $X–$Y' — not 'I was hoping for more'. External benchmarks are harder to argue against than personal expectations.
Stronger approach:
- Say 'market data puts this role at $X–$Y' — not 'I was hoping for more'
- External benchmarks are harder to argue against than personal expectations
When base is stuck, negotiate equity vesting schedule, signing bonus, or accelerated refresh grants. Total comp has more levers than base alone.
Stronger approach:
- When base is stuck, negotiate equity vesting schedule, signing bonus, or accelerated refresh grants
- Total comp has more levers than base alone
Ask for 48 hours to review. This creates time to counter and signals that you take offers seriously — not that you are uncertain.
Stronger approach:
- Ask for 48 hours to review
- This creates time to counter and signals that you take offers seriously — not that you are uncertain
Negotiate Salary
Generate an aware negotiation email using Google market positioning data.
Practice Interviews
Mock interviews tailored to Google's process and evaluation criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Controller compensation.
Controllers in financial services typically earn $120K-$200K base salary, with total compensation reaching $150K-$280K including bonuses. Large investment banks and asset managers offer the highest packages.
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