Controller.
Salt Lake City.
$147,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
$113,000 to $194,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
A Controller in Salt Lake City earns a median of $147,000 in 2026. That is 2% below the national average. The range runs from $113,000 to $194,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Company revenue and organizational complexity are the dominant pay factors.
Salary range
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How Salt Lake City compares
Salt Lake City, UT
$147,000
Cost of living: 2% below average
National Average
$150,000
Salt Lake City is $3,000 below
What you should know
The Controller landscape in Salt Lake City is not what most salary sites will tell you. Salt Lake City anchors the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, home to companies like Qualtrics, Pluralsight, and Domo. The region has attracted significant venture investment and tech relocations. Utah's business friendly environment, young educated workforce, and outdoor lifestyle make it a rising destination for tech professionals seeking affordability without sacrificing career growth. Company revenue and organizational complexity are the dominant pay factors. Controllers at companies generating $100 million or more in revenue earn 25 to 40% more than those at smaller firms. Public company experience, especially SEC reporting and SOX compliance expertise, commands significant premiums over private company controller roles.
Senior accountants earn $80,000 to $100,000 before advancing. Accounting managers earn $100,000 to $130,000. Assistant controllers reach $120,000 to $160,000. Controllers earn $140,000 to $200,000. The path to CFO typically goes through VP of Finance at $180,000 to $260,000. In Salt Lake City, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Annual bonuses of 15 to 25% tied to audit outcomes, reporting accuracy, and financial close timelines are standard. Equity grants at pre-IPO companies can be substantial, ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 annually. Controllers often receive professional development budgets for CPA CPE. And on the tax side: utah has a flat 4.65% state income tax. Salt Lake City imposes no additional city income tax. The moderate rate combined with affordable living costs results in strong net compensation. When someone quotes you $147,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference Silicon Slopes growth when negotiating. Local employers are increasingly matching 85 to 95% of Seattle or Bay Area salaries to compete for tech talent. The range for Controllers in Salt Lake City runs from $113,000 to $194,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Salt Lake City
Negotiating in Salt Lake City
Reference Silicon Slopes growth when negotiating. Local employers are increasingly matching 85 to 95% of Seattle or Bay Area salaries to compete for tech talent.