Accountants, who maintain and analyze financial records and data, earn a median annual salary of $81,680. Salaries vary considerably, however. For instance, the bottom 10% earn less than $52,780 annually, while the top 10% earn $141,420 or more, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salaries are based on many factors, including location.
Accountants and Auditors
10%$52,780
25%$64,660
50%$81,680Median
75%$106,450
90%$141,420
Median Hourly Wage$39
Job growth5.8%
Total Employment1,448,290
State
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Alabama
$71,070
$48,600
$123,410
Alaska
$81,950
$56,020
$128,150
Arizona
$78,620
$52,130
$125,990
Arkansas
$64,180
$41,670
$118,730
California
$96,360
$60,920
$162,150
Connecticut
$89,630
$61,390
$135,090
Delaware
$84,560
$56,500
$133,550
District of Columbia
$103,030
$65,540
$180,890
Florida
$78,470
$49,830
$132,070
Georgia
$80,100
$48,140
$140,640
Hawaii
$67,820
$49,050
$108,520
Idaho
$64,840
$43,260
$109,270
Illinois
$79,300
$51,690
$132,080
Indiana
$77,410
$49,810
$125,160
Iowa
$74,290
$48,300
$121,940
Kansas
$76,400
$49,770
$122,650
Kentucky
$72,220
$47,880
$114,800
Louisiana
$69,540
$46,950
$117,190
Maine
$77,680
$52,920
$124,990
Maryland
$84,890
$59,040
$150,560
Massachusetts
$96,580
$64,370
$152,960
Michigan
$77,720
$50,240
$130,320
Minnesota
$81,100
$54,840
$135,370
Mississippi
$64,170
$43,090
$115,350
Missouri
$73,210
$45,760
$128,240
Montana
$74,400
$48,730
$121,140
Nebraska
$69,980
$47,370
$106,770
Nevada
$78,220
$51,430
$119,110
New Hampshire
$82,830
$58,300
$128,400
New Jersey
$101,340
$65,670
$166,230
New Mexico
$77,420
$51,590
$119,020
New York
$101,780
$62,430
$178,500
North Carolina
$80,490
$50,940
$137,260
North Dakota
$72,180
$49,470
$103,400
Ohio
$77,640
$49,480
$129,640
Oklahoma
$76,820
$46,670
$129,660
Oregon
$81,130
$58,950
$128,710
Pennsylvania
$77,330
$48,850
$128,300
Rhode Island
$90,040
$58,970
$145,290
South Carolina
$73,180
$48,220
$131,550
South Dakota
$77,310
$59,190
$110,630
Tennessee
$75,500
$50,400
$125,280
Texas
$80,000
$51,810
$132,550
Utah
$75,100
$43,780
$129,890
Vermont
$76,990
$56,460
$121,360
Virginia
$84,190
$57,150
$145,750
Washington
$96,180
$64,440
$143,210
West Virginia
$74,520
$47,400
$113,730
Wisconsin
$78,150
$56,360
$126,180
Wyoming
$77,400
$51,180
$123,330
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2033. 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
$121,630
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$105,750
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$105,100
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$99,440
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
$99,380
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT
$98,080
Trenton-Princeton, NJ
$97,670
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$97,580
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
$95,640
Napa, CA
$94,780
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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
$81,680
Budget Analysts
$87,930
Personal Financial Advisors
$102,140
Financial Managers
$161,700
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 $49,210.
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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 5.8% through 2033, faster than 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 5.8% through 2033, 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.
