What does a controller actually earn?
Robert Half is an international personnel service provider with decades of experience in the placement of specialists and managers. The company is represented at over 300 locations worldwide and specializes in the areas of finance and accounting, among others. In its regularly published salary studies and labor market analyses, Robert Half provides valuable insights into current developments, trends and prospects – including in the field of controlling. This is what the personnel service provider has to say about the current job prospects and salary trends in controlling.
Robert Half: Job prospects remain excellent, salary increase moderate
Qualified specialists are in demand, but rare
Following a significant rise in salaries for controlling experts last year, the current trend is more moderate. According to the Robert Half Salary Survey 2025, the average increase is around 6%. However, there are also some outliers: while one position has seen double-digit growth, another has even seen a slight decrease.
Evaluations and forecasts at a glance
Although general salary growth is more subdued than in the previous year, there are some positions that continue to experience noticeable increases. This is particularly evident in the following controlling roles:
- Head of Accounting (25th percentile): + 11 %
- Risk controller: + 9 %
- Plant/production controller: + 8 %
- IT controller: + 8 %
In contrast, the study also shows an exception: the starting salary for CFOs has fallen slightly by 1.3%.
The increasing requirements in finance and accounting mean that the demand for qualified specialists remains high. Nevertheless, many companies have problems finding suitable applicants. The most common reasons for this are
- Non-competitive starting salaries: Many companies do not adjust their salary offers to the market.
- Requirements are too high: Job profiles often contain an unrealistic number of qualification requirements.
- Lack of flexibility: Companies offer too few hybrid or remote working options, which are increasingly important for skilled workers.
In addition to specialist knowledge, soft skills are also crucial for success in controlling. The study shows which skills are particularly in demand – and which companies find the hardest to find.
Specialist skills in demand:
- Data analysis
- Financial analysis
- Business Intelligence Tools
- Automation
Specialist skills that are hard to find:
- Taxes
- Financial analysis
- Automation
- Business Intelligence Tools
Soft skills in demand:
- Problem-solving skills
- Leadership quality
- Communication skills
- Creative thinking
Soft skills that are hard to find:
- Emotional intelligence
- Leadership quality
- Creative thinking
- Ability to collaborate
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