Accountants, who maintain and analyze financial records and data, earn a median annual salary of $79,880. Salaries vary considerably, however. For instance, the bottom 10% earn less than $50,440 annually, while the top 10% earn $137,280 or more, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salaries are based on many factors, including location.
Accountants and Auditors
10%$50,440
25%$62,720
50%$79,880Median
75%$103,990
90%$137,280
Median Hourly Wage$38
Job growth4.4%
Total Employment1,435,770
State
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Alabama
$65,930
$45,670
$119,100
Alaska
$78,580
$52,620
$112,360
Arizona
$78,060
$50,250
$130,550
Arkansas
$62,570
$40,890
$106,070
California
$92,160
$59,570
$159,330
Colorado
$84,200
$55,960
$139,980
Connecticut
$81,560
$58,080
$131,480
Delaware
$82,050
$53,650
$135,830
District of Columbia
$101,940
$65,500
$171,720
Florida
$76,480
$46,380
$130,460
Georgia
$78,970
$46,740
$139,420
Hawaii
$69,490
$50,060
$115,890
Idaho
$62,610
$43,200
$104,360
Illinois
$78,280
$49,200
$129,790
Indiana
$74,590
$46,930
$120,030
Iowa
$71,440
$48,850
$109,200
Kansas
$75,870
$48,600
$118,620
Kentucky
$67,210
$45,200
$109,670
Louisiana
$66,310
$45,840
$105,760
Maine
$76,660
$52,840
$126,850
Maryland
$83,060
$57,770
$141,400
Massachusetts
$87,890
$62,480
$143,440
Michigan
$76,190
$48,730
$125,120
Minnesota
$78,220
$51,240
$133,710
Mississippi
$61,250
$39,440
$108,620
Missouri
$70,870
$43,480
$130,640
Montana
$67,190
$45,080
$110,830
Nebraska
$68,950
$46,890
$107,270
Nevada
$73,720
$36,570
$106,470
New Hampshire
$78,860
$54,290
$123,770
New Jersey
$99,710
$64,940
$169,740
New Mexico
$69,990
$48,330
$115,880
New York
$101,090
$61,810
$178,170
North Carolina
$79,920
$52,000
$138,990
North Dakota
$65,350
$46,360
$103,420
Ohio
$75,550
$48,180
$125,250
Oklahoma
$75,500
$47,040
$126,240
Oregon
$78,420
$55,640
$121,710
Pennsylvania
$75,370
$47,180
$124,870
Rhode Island
$92,150
$58,740
$149,980
South Carolina
$66,780
$44,560
$111,010
South Dakota
$75,110
$55,180
$106,200
Tennessee
$72,980
$48,600
$126,800
Texas
$78,900
$50,810
$132,750
Utah
$73,920
$39,620
$127,770
Vermont
$73,520
$55,270
$116,570
Virginia
$81,590
$51,900
$140,360
Washington
$88,630
$62,020
$136,100
West Virginia
$67,500
$45,760
$104,920
Wisconsin
$76,510
$52,140
$121,240
Wyoming
$74,660
$48,770
$117,730
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Location can influence how much you'll earn as an accountant. The BLS says the highest paying states for accountants are California, New York, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania—all highly populated states. The 10 metropolitan areas with the highest annual median salaries for the field are located primarily on the East and West coasts and tend to be in densely populated areas.
The difference in wages can be significant: Median salaries in the top 10 metro areas are between $13,000 and $22,000 higher than the median wage for the U.S. overall.
Metro Area
Median Annual Salary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$113,980
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
$103,990
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
$103,900
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$97,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
$95,580
Trenton, NJ
$94,370
Santa Rosa, CA
$93,650
Napa, CA
$92,810
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
$91,370
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
$91,100
How does an accountant's salary compare to similar occupations?
Here's a look at how median salaries for accountants compare to similar professions that require comparable education, according to the BLS.
Career
Median Annual Salary
Accountants and Auditors
$79,880
Budget Analysts
$84,940
Personal Financial Advisors
$99,580
Financial Managers
$156,100
Factors that influence Accountant pay
Aside from location, there are several other factors that can play a role in your salary. You may want to consider how they will affect your career—not just now, but also in the future.
Initially, your education and becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) will have the biggest influence on your salary, said Angel Chatterton, a senior instructor of accountancy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a CPA herself.
"Starting out, it's definitely the CPA and your education," she said. "As you get more experience, it's going to be the experience factor and your industry."
Education
Having more education will often play a role in which positions you qualify for, and as a result, what you will earn.
For example, an associate degree can prepare you for a job as a bookkeeper or accounting clerk, roles that the BLS states have an annual median salary of $47,440.
Experience
Accountants with experience often are rewarded with higher salaries. In addition to seniority, taking continuing education courses can help you qualify for a promotion into management or leadership and boost your pay.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA): for accountants who specialize in analyzing investments and advising individuals and businesses on how to manage their portfolios.
Jobs in accounting will grow by 4.4% through 2032, just under the rate for jobs overall, according to the BLS. Demand may be particularly strong in international trade and technology.
Globalization will require accountants with expertise in international business and fields such as mergers and acquisitions, according to the BLS. Complex tax laws and regulations also will drive demand for accountants.
Jobs in accounting will grow by 4.4% through 2032, according to the BLS, and demand may be particularly strong in international trade and technology.
Chatterton agrees that accounting should continue to see strong growth and points to steady demand shown in U.S. labor reports. Accounting is generally a "recession-proof type of job. It's one of the last things that an entity will cut," she said.
