# Financial Examiners

US SOC code 13-2061. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/13-2061

Also called: Bank examiner, Bank safety and soundness examiner, BSA/AML examiner, Securities examiner, Bank supervisor.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **67,830** US financial examiners, with median pay of **$94,160** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **68,210**, in May 2020, close to the May 2025 count. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.occ.gov/about/who-we-are/history/history-of-the-occ/1863-1865/index-occ-history-1863-1865.html) of **72** from 1870, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for financial examiners: Electronic call report analytics and off-site monitoring, 1990 to 2010. Off-site monitoring systems changed the pre-examination workflow: examiners arrived on-site with a risk hypothesis already formed by the surveillance model, rather than starting with a blank sheet.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 9.3% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=13-2061&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **57.6%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Financial Examiners employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1863
- Latest US employment: 67,830 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Latest US median pay: $94,160 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [9]
- Outlook: +9.3% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [22]

### All 29 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1870 | 72 (estimate) | n/a | Est., OCC History [1] |
| 1913 | 400 (estimate) | n/a | Est., OCC [2] |
| 1934 | 1,800 (estimate) | n/a | Est., FDIC [3] |
| 1983 | n/a | $14,000 (estimate) | Est., FDIC [7] |
| 1984 | 10,500 (estimate) | n/a | Est., FDIC [4] |
| 2000 | 28,000 (estimate) | $54,000 (estimate) | Est., Federal Reserve History (employment) [5]; Est., OCC Salary Structure (pay) [8] |
| 2003 | 22,720 | $58,990 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [6] |
| 2004 | 23,400 | $60,310 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [6] |
| 2005 | 22,160 | $63,090 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [6] |
| 2006 | 24,430 | $65,370 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [6] |
| 2007 | 25,510 | $66,670 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [6] |
| 2008 | 26,020 | $70,930 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [6] |
| 2009 | 26,050 | $71,750 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [6] |
| 2010 | 27,860 | $74,940 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [6] |
| 2011 | 28,050 | $75,250 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [6] |
| 2012 | 28,060 | $75,800 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [6] |
| 2013 | 30,680 | $76,890 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [6] |
| 2014 | 36,830 | $76,310 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [6] |
| 2015 | 44,200 | $78,010 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [6] |
| 2016 | 49,750 | $79,280 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [6] |
| 2017 | 52,580 | $81,690 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [6] |
| 2018 | 58,590 | $80,180 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [6] |
| 2019 | 64,550 | $81,090 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [6] |
| 2020 | 68,210 | $81,430 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [6] |
| 2021 | 60,750 | $81,410 | BLS OEWS May 2021 (employment) [6]; BLS OEWS May 2021 (pay) [10] |
| 2022 | 63,370 | $82,210 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [6] |
| 2023 | 63,440 | $84,300 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [6] |
| 2024 | 62,830 | $90,400 | BLS OEWS May 2024 (employment) [6]; BLS OEWS May 2024 (pay) [11] |
| 2025 | 67,830 | $94,160 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [6] |

## Sources (83)

### Employment series

1. [OCC History: 1863-1865 — founding of the OCC and the national bank examination system](https://www.occ.gov/about/who-we-are/history/history-of-the-occ/1863-1865/index-occ-history-1863-1865.html), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
2. [OCC — Evolution of Bank Supervision 1863-1913: fee-paid to salaried examiner corps, Federal Reserve Act 1913](https://occ.gov/about/who-we-are/history/evolution-of-bank-supervision/1863-1913/index-evolution-of-bank-supervision-1863-1913.html), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
3. [FDIC — An Examination of the First Fifty Years, Chapter 6: Bank Examination and Supervision (1934-1984)](https://www.fdic.gov/resources/publications/first-fifty-years/book/first-fifty-chapter6.pdf), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
4. [FDIC — History of the Eighties, Volume 1: The S&L Crisis and Its Relationship to Banking (examiner staffing and compensation data)](https://www.fdic.gov/resources/publications/history-eighties/volume-1/history-80s-volume-1-part1-04.pdf), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
5. [Federal Reserve History — Savings and Loan Crisis: context for examination staffing expansion in the 1990s](https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/savings-and-loan-crisis), Federal Reserve History / Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

7. [FDIC — History of the Eighties, Volume 1: The S&L Crisis (starting examiner salary of $14,000 in 1983)](https://www.fdic.gov/resources/publications/history-eighties/volume-1/history-80s-volume-1-part1-04.pdf), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
8. [OCC Salary Structure — NB Pay Plan history and compensation band context for the national bank examiner corps](https://careers.occ.gov/pay-and-benefits/salary/index-occ-salary-structure.html), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
9. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
10. [BLS OEWS May 2021 — Financial Examiners median annual wage $81,410](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2021/may/oes132061.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
11. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Financial Examiners: median annual wage $90,400 in May 2024](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-examiners.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Tool eras

12. [OCC — Evolution of Bank Supervision 1863-1913: National Banking Era examination practices](https://occ.gov/about/who-we-are/history/evolution-of-bank-supervision/1863-1913/index-evolution-of-bank-supervision-1863-1913.html), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
13. [Calomiris and Carlson (FEDS 2014-19) — National Bank Examinations and Operations in the Early 1890s](https://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2014/201419/index.html), Federal Reserve Board / Finance and Economics Discussion Series
14. [National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864 — Federal Reserve History (legislative foundation for standardized examination)](https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/national-banking-acts), Federal Reserve History
15. [FDIC — An Examination of the First Fifty Years, Chapter 6: Bank Examination and Supervision](https://www.fdic.gov/resources/publications/first-fifty-years/book/first-fifty-chapter6.pdf), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
16. [OCC Comptroller's Handbook: Bank Supervision Process — CAMELS rating framework and uniform financial institution rating system](https://www.occ.treas.gov/publications-and-resources/publications/comptrollers-handbook/files/bank-supervision-process/index-bank-supervision-process.html), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
17. [FDIC — Crisis and Response: Bank Supervision 2008-2013 (off-site monitoring development and FDIC Improvement Act context)](https://www.fdic.gov/resources/publications/crisis-response/book/crisis-response-chapter-4.pdf), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
18. [Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act — Wikipedia (scope, CFPB creation, examination expansion)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodd%E2%80%93Frank_Wall_Street_Reform_and_Consumer_Protection_Act), Wikipedia
19. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Financial Examiners: employment growth and regulatory drivers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-examiners.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
20. [FinCEN — Proposed Rule to Reform AML/CFT Programs (April 2026): risk-based AML program standards and examiner assessment of institutions' compliance programs](https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-proposes-rule-fundamentally-reform-financial-institution-programs), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
21. [BankRegData — Call Report Analytics and Examiner Peer-Benchmarking: 525+ metrics, automated anomaly detection](https://www.bankregdata.com/main.asp), BankRegData

### Forecasts and exposure studies

22. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 13-2061 Financial examiners (2025: 70.0 thousand; 2035: 76.5 thousand; +9.3%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=13-2061&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
23. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 13-2061.00, human-rated β 0.576)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

24. [OCC — Hugh McCulloch, the First Comptroller: background and founding examiner guidance](https://www.occ.treas.gov/about/who-we-are/history/history-of-the-occ/hugh-mcculloch-first-comptroller/index-hugh-mcculloch-the-first-comptroller.html), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
25. [OCC — Evolution of Bank Supervision 1863-1913: transition from fee-paid to salaried examiners under the Federal Reserve Act](https://occ.gov/about/who-we-are/history/evolution-of-bank-supervision/1863-1913/index-evolution-of-bank-supervision-1863-1913.html), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
26. [FDIC — An Examination of the First Fifty Years, Chapter 6: Bank Examination and Supervision (FDIC founding examination mandate)](https://www.fdic.gov/resources/publications/first-fifty-years/book/first-fifty-chapter6.pdf), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
27. [FFIEC — BSA/AML Examination Manual: FFIEC background and coordinated examination procedures](https://www.ffiec.gov/bsa_aml_infobase/pages_manual/manual_online.htm), Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
28. [Savings and Loan Crisis — Federal Reserve History: FIRREA 1989, RTC, and examination failure context](https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/savings-and-loan-crisis), Federal Reserve History
29. [Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodd%E2%80%93Frank_Wall_Street_Reform_and_Consumer_Protection_Act), Wikipedia
30. [FinCEN — Proposed Rule to Reform AML/CFT Programs (April 2026): risk-based standards and new examiner responsibilities](https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-proposes-rule-fundamentally-reform-financial-institution-programs), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

### Predecessors & successors

31. [FDIC History — 1850-1899: state banking systems before the National Banking Acts](https://www.fdic.gov/history/1850-1899), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
32. [OCC — Evolution of Bank Supervision 1863-1913: backgrounds of early national bank examiners (attorneys, auditors, former bankers)](https://occ.gov/about/who-we-are/history/evolution-of-bank-supervision/1863-1913/index-evolution-of-bank-supervision-1863-1913.html), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
33. [BLS OOH — Financial Examiners: common career transitions; former examiners highly sought by institutions as compliance officers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-examiners.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Financial Examiners (13-2061.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2061.00), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-23
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Financial Examiners (2024): 7%+ projected growth 2024-2034](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-examiners.htm), accessed 2026-05-23
- [OCC — Comptroller's Handbook: Bank Supervision Process — examination authority, CAMELS ratings, and MRA/MRIA standards](https://www.occ.treas.gov/publications-and-resources/publications/comptrollers-handbook/files/bank-supervision-process/index-bank-supervision-process.html), accessed 2026-05-23
- [FinCEN / Federal Register — Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Programs (2026 NPRM): risk-based standards and human accountability requirements for AI-assisted AML programs](https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-07033/anti-money-laundering-and-countering-the-financing-of-terrorism-programs), accessed 2026-06-21
- [FFIEC — BSA/AML Examination Manual: core examiner procedures for anti-money laundering program assessment, including investigative analysis and regulator-institution supervisory relationships](https://www.ffiec.gov/bsa_aml_infobase/pages_manual/manual_online.htm), accessed 2026-05-23
- [BankRegData — Call Report Analytics and Peer-Benchmarking for Bank Examiners: Sentry Event Engine automates anomaly detection across 525+ metrics](https://www.bankregdata.com/main.asp), accessed 2026-05-23
- [Compliance.ai — Regulatory Change Management AI: real-time monitoring of OCC, FinCEN, CFPB, FDIC, and SEC updates](https://www.compliance.ai/), accessed 2026-05-23

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.