2026 Financial Salary Guide and Employment Outlook
Alliance Resource Group's 2026 Financial Salary Guide and Employment Outlook
The Financial Imperative: Pursuing Stability in a World of Uncertainty
Our 23rd annual Alliance Resource Group Salary Guide and Employment Outlook speaks directly to the challenges confronting Finance and Accounting leaders across the country and especially here in Southern California.
Nationally, the economic landscape has shifted in ways that few anticipated just a year ago. Revised labor data showed that nearly a million fewer jobs were created through March than initially reported, highlighting a significant softening in employment trends. August brought only 22,000 new jobs nationwide, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%—its highest level since 2021. These figures underscore the reality that the U.S. labor market, while still resilient, is cooling.
However, many economists believe inflation is gradually easing in certain areas — such as consumer and industrial goods — and the Federal Reserve made the first of several expected cuts in mid-September.
Most economists anticipate a period of slower but stable growth ahead. Meanwhile, equity markets have shown selective strength, particularly in companies harnessing AI and productivity gains.
Yet this stability is fragile. Tariffs, shifts in immigration and ICE enforcement, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping supply chains, cost structures, and the availability of talent.
For Finance leaders, the task is twofold: guard against volatility while positioning their organizations to capture opportunity amid uncertainty.
So, what does this mean for 2026? How should finance leaders approach a year with so many variables.
Complete the form below to get your copy of our 2026 Financial Salary Guide and Employment Outlook.
ALLIANCE'S 2026 FINANCIAL SALARY GUIDE AND EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK INCLUDES:
- A review of the 2025 Finance and Accounting labor and recruiting market with a specific focus on Southern California.
- Projected changes for 2026 and a forecast of next year’s Finance and Accounting labor market.
- Trends and issues that will likely shape the Finance and Accounting industry in 2026.
- A comparison of key regional and national economic data.
- A thorough overview of compensation ranges and average bonuses paid at all levels of finance and accounting, public accounting, accounting operations, treasury, tax and internal audit positions.
COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW TO GET YOUR COPY STARTING OCTOBER 1, 2025.
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