Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Financial Examiner's pay go, state by state?
A Financial Examiner's pay leaves the most room in District of Columbia — about $11,719/mo take-home against $1,900/mo typical rent — and the least in Hawaii.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $11,719/mo | $1,900/mo | 16% |
| Connecticut | $7,260/mo | $1,483/mo | 20% |
| New York | $7,121/mo | $1,621/mo | 23% |
| Rhode Island | $6,657/mo | $1,289/mo | 19% |
| North Carolina | $6,362/mo | $1,147/mo | 18% |
| Louisiana | $5,951/mo | $1,028/mo | 17% |
| New Jersey | $6,566/mo | $1,656/mo | 25% |
| Vermont | $5,958/mo | $1,207/mo | 20% |
| New Hampshire | $6,153/mo | $1,424/mo | 23% |
| Washington | $6,356/mo | $1,641/mo | 26% |
| Colorado | $6,326/mo | $1,659/mo | 26% |
| California | $6,526/mo | $1,969/mo | 30% |
| Virginia | $6,050/mo | $1,547/mo | 26% |
| Minnesota | $5,691/mo | $1,230/mo | 22% |
| Wisconsin | $5,483/mo | $1,033/mo | 19% |
| Illinois | $5,530/mo | $1,246/mo | 23% |
| Iowa | $5,189/mo | $932/mo | 18% |
| South Dakota | $5,110/mo | $910/mo | 18% |
| Alabama | $5,146/mo | $967/mo | 19% |
| Missouri | $5,169/mo | $997/mo | 19% |
| Pennsylvania | $5,327/mo | $1,176/mo | 22% |
| Montana | $5,154/mo | $1,031/mo | 20% |
| Arkansas | $5,015/mo | $903/mo | 18% |
| Idaho | $5,273/mo | $1,163/mo | 22% |
| South Carolina | $5,150/mo | $1,131/mo | 22% |
| Massachusetts | $5,719/mo | $1,716/mo | 30% |
| Nevada | $5,348/mo | $1,478/mo | 28% |
| Delaware | $5,160/mo | $1,321/mo | 26% |
| Oklahoma | $4,772/mo | $970/mo | 20% |
| North Dakota | $4,682/mo | $911/mo | 19% |
| Indiana | $4,740/mo | $1,022/mo | 22% |
| New Mexico | $4,748/mo | $1,034/mo | 22% |
| Oregon | $5,132/mo | $1,431/mo | 28% |
| Mississippi | $4,601/mo | $933/mo | 20% |
| Arizona | $5,075/mo | $1,419/mo | 28% |
| Michigan | $4,692/mo | $1,072/mo | 23% |
| Kansas | $4,593/mo | $1,025/mo | 22% |
| Kentucky | $4,456/mo | $918/mo | 21% |
| Georgia | $4,852/mo | $1,320/mo | 27% |
| Maryland | $5,182/mo | $1,683/mo | 32% |
| Maine | $4,519/mo | $1,104/mo | 24% |
| Ohio | $4,330/mo | $986/mo | 23% |
| Texas | $4,586/mo | $1,328/mo | 29% |
| Utah | $4,635/mo | $1,396/mo | 30% |
| Nebraska | $4,202/mo | $1,017/mo | 24% |
| Tennessee | $4,134/mo | $1,111/mo | 27% |
| Alaska | $4,017/mo | $1,361/mo | 34% |
| West Virginia | $3,476/mo | $848/mo | 24% |
| Florida | $3,996/mo | $1,542/mo | 39% |
| Hawaii | $4,187/mo | $1,927/mo | 46% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.