Corporate finance salary the corporate finance salary landscape

The corporate finance salary landscape is tightening at the senior level as financial sector EPS beats drive excess capital returns, encouraging competition for top equity markets talent. Among them is Umpqua Bank, which in March 2023 completed a merger with Columbia Bank. Umpqua was rebranded as Columbia last month. In 2024, the median base salary increase for CFOs was 4%, while CEOs saw no change—mirroring 2023. In 2022, median base salary increases were 3.8% for CFOs and 2.9% for CEOs. Corporate finance salary growth remains strongest in buy-side firms managing high-performing equity portfolios, benefiting from sector-wide market cap expansion across fintech and traditional banks.