Accountants, who maintain and analyze financial records and data, earn a median annual salary of $83,680. Salaries vary considerably, however. For instance, the bottom 10% earn less than $56,020 annually, while the top 10% earn $144,090 or more, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salaries are based on many factors, including location.
Accountants and Auditors
10%$56,020
25%$67,020
50%$83,680Median
75%$109,810
90%$144,090
Median Hourly Wage$40
Job growth5%
Total Employment1,449,500
State
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Alabama
$74,880
$50,240
$123,170
Alaska
$83,460
$57,690
$125,810
Arizona
$79,970
$55,430
$128,890
Arkansas
$66,330
$45,810
$119,520
California
$97,050
$61,770
$160,520
Colorado
$97,030
$60,760
$162,160
Connecticut
$97,550
$64,230
$156,670
Delaware
$95,020
$60,500
$132,550
District of Columbia
$111,530
$71,470
$185,220
Florida
$79,250
$50,280
$131,930
Georgia
$81,900
$51,830
$145,960
Hawaii
$74,500
$49,860
$117,840
Idaho
$74,730
$48,170
$121,820
Illinois
$80,230
$54,510
$131,990
Indiana
$77,720
$50,950
$125,880
Iowa
$77,440
$51,420
$123,700
Kansas
$79,000
$52,960
$129,800
Kentucky
$75,270
$50,750
$121,230
Louisiana
$73,810
$48,950
$117,110
Maine
$77,480
$55,640
$125,130
Maryland
$89,370
$59,760
$156,660
Massachusetts
$99,460
$70,460
$160,100
Michigan
$78,820
$52,620
$131,080
Minnesota
$81,600
$58,280
$138,960
Mississippi
$68,100
$45,440
$120,290
Missouri
$76,590
$49,290
$128,300
Montana
$75,810
$49,250
$125,290
Nebraska
$72,080
$48,590
$114,530
Nevada
$81,600
$58,630
$128,760
New Hampshire
$83,470
$59,920
$131,110
New Jersey
$100,830
$65,710
$167,080
New Mexico
$78,580
$52,390
$125,420
New York
$102,640
$63,700
$171,030
North Carolina
$82,050
$53,610
$146,100
North Dakota
$75,730
$49,330
$124,960
Ohio
$79,320
$52,140
$131,400
Oklahoma
$79,370
$47,670
$155,480
Oregon
$85,800
$62,590
$130,650
Pennsylvania
$79,000
$50,680
$130,270
Rhode Island
$95,820
$59,920
$150,320
South Carolina
$76,560
$50,370
$131,220
South Dakota
$78,880
$61,190
$115,470
Tennessee
$76,840
$49,920
$122,160
Texas
$80,920
$53,380
$132,040
Utah
$79,990
$48,770
$131,590
Vermont
$78,890
$59,770
$118,800
Virginia
$93,290
$60,000
$156,730
Washington
$96,550
$66,330
$152,310
West Virginia
$73,320
$49,240
$115,210
Wisconsin
$79,400
$58,340
$127,800
Wyoming
$77,620
$50,900
$126,520
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2035. 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
$121,700
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$110,730
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$105,650
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$102,140
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT
$102,020
Midland, TX
$100,890
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
$100,420
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$100,150
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
$100,020
Boulder, CO
$99,990
">
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
$83,680
Budget Analysts
$91,640
Personal Financial Advisors
$105,070
Financial Managers
$166,570
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 $50,670.
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% through 2035, 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% through 2035, 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.
