Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) roles are evolving rapidly, adapting to new technologies and business strategies. In 2025, salary benchmarks are expected to shift significantly, reflecting how organizations rely on FP&A experts for strategic insights. That's why we've put together an in-depth look at FP&A salaries across various role levels. From entry-level positions to director-level roles, you'll gain the information you need to make an informed decision about your career path and negotiate your salary with confidence. If you're interested in an FP&A role, read on to discover the latest compensation trends in the industry.
The career path of a financial planner and analyst can be more unconventional than that of similar finance roles, such as a financial controller or treasurer. This unconventional approach can actually be an advantage for anyone looking to enter FP&A, since progression is more flexible as you gain experience.
Are you looking to learn how to break into FP&A?
An FP&A career path is both challenging and rewarding. If you're looking to conduct forecasting, create financial models, and help senior management with business planning and decision-making, the FP&A role is a great option. Entry-level FP&A analysts traditionally earned $50,000-$70,000, but real-time data from June 2025 shows a national average of $138,141 annually, representing a 52% premium over earlier projections.
It's often challenging to provide a precise roadmap for every FP&A role, but a typical career path might look like this:
Then pursue an MBA. Many F500 companies recruit senior-level FP&A manager roles directly from business schools. Global FP&A compensation shows dramatic regional disparities, with North American managers earning $132,500 on average compared to $75,714 in Europe and $55,813 in Asia.
Spend 2–4 years at a Big 4 accounting firm (PwC, Deloitte, EY, or KPMG), a top consulting firm (McKinsey, Deloitte), or in the banking or finance department of a Fortune 500 company.
Then pursue an MBA. Many F500 companies recruit senior-level FP&A manager roles directly from business schools.
Get hired as a senior FP&A analyst.
Get promoted to FP&A Manager.
Get promoted to FP&A Director.
As you progress into more challenging roles, your FP&A salary expectations will rise. We'll walk you through different job descriptions and compensation estimates (for the US) so you'll know what interview questions and FP&A salaries to expect when you're looking for a new job. Read on to learn about the average base salary and job roles for FP&A professionals.
Factors Affecting an FP&A Salary
Several factors can influence how much an FP&A professional can earn, including the size of the organization, the individual's certifications (like an MBA or CFA), and regional cost-of-living variations. Larger companies often pay higher salaries, while specialized skills and credentials can give you a competitive edge. Professionals in major financial hubs also command higher compensation because of market demand.
Learn more: The FP&A manager profile at startups and scale-ups
Roles in FP&A
Want to know more about the different corporate FP&A jobs available?
The following is a typical progression from an entry-level role to a more senior position, with their respective FP&A salary ranges.
1) FP&A analyst
Role Responsibilities: An FP&A analyst is the backbone of financial planning and analysis. You're usually responsible for data collection, model development and maintenance, and coordination among numerous stakeholders.
Qualifications Needed: Most FP&A analyst positions require 1–3 years of finance-related experience. It's uncommon to hire directly out of undergrad, but larger corporations occasionally offer immediate entry to new graduates.
Salary Insights: The typical salary for an FP&A analyst ranges from $50,000 to $70,000, plus bonuses.
2) FP&A senior analyst
Role Responsibilities: Senior analysts typically supervise junior analysts and manage projects, but they're still heavily involved in the [financial modeling process](https://www.abacum.ai/use-cases/budgeting-forecasting).
Qualifications Needed: Senior analyst positions usually require an MBA, and candidates with consulting or banking backgrounds are preferred. The standard senior analyst has between 3 and 5 years of relevant finance experience.
Salary Insights: A typical FP&A senior analyst earns $65,000 to $85,000, plus bonuses.
3) FP&A manager
Role Responsibilities: An FP&A manager focuses on business forecasting, spotting data anomalies and trends, and recommending improvements to senior management. This role involves creating financial models and forecasts to help CFOs plan for the future and make well-informed decisions.
Qualifications Needed: Most FP&A manager positions require 5–10 years of experience, either through internal promotion, lateral hiring, or recruitment from consulting firms. You'll typically need an MBA or a CFA to qualify for these roles.
Salary Insights: FP&A managers usually earn $85,000 to $115,000, plus bonuses.
Learn more:
4) Director / Vice-President of FP&A
Role Responsibilities: A Director or VP of FP&A ensures the finance strategy supports business growth and delivers robust financial analysis for effective decision-making.
Qualifications Needed: These roles usually require 10 or more years of experience managing corporate planning cycles, establishing new processes, and leading multiple projects.
Salary Insights: Directors and VPs of FP&A can earn $100,000 to $250,000, plus stock options and bonuses.
Do you want a job in FP&A but aren't sure where to start? |
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You can find the latest job openings on sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, or LinkedIn Jobs. These platforms will help you find the best positions for your skills and expectations, whether you're searching for full-time or part-time opportunities. |
Potential career progression after being a Director or Vice-President of FP&A
Most FP&A specialists, after reaching the Director or VP level, tend to stay in the field, either at their current organization or at other companies.
Directors can advance internally at large corporations by overseeing larger profit and loss accounts.
Transitioning to the CFO role is exceptionally difficult because there's only one CFO in an organization, but FP&A, controller, and treasury roles have all been identified as possible steps toward the CFO seat.
Finance professionals who want to make this move often choose rotations into other critical departments, such as controllership, business development, corporate development, or operational management.
To be considered for a CFO position, you need a diverse blend of skills and experience.
It's even rarer to advance to CEO within an organization. However, many successful FP&A professionals pursue entrepreneurship, launching ventures in various industries thanks to their analytical mindset and inquisitive nature.
Learn more: What does a modern CFO need to become a COO?
Conclusion and Next Steps
The FP&A path is becoming more popular every day, so it's a great time to start your career, especially now that you know how much potential there is for growth.
Whether you're just starting out as an FP&A analyst or you're already a director, you can benefit from using FP&A software for day-to-day forecasting and modeling practices.
At Abacum, we empower Finance teams at high-growth tech companies to become true strategic partners by driving time-to-insight with powerful automation and seamless collaboration. Reach out to learn how we can support your FP&A transformation.
