Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for an accountant/consultant
Quoted expert
John Thornton Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for accountant/consultants in the United States. Accountant/consultant positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for accountant/consultants.As accountant/consultants are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for accountant/consultants. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as an accountant/consultant, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
California is the best state for jobs for accountant/consultants, and North Dakota is the worst. The most common pay in California is $82,996, while the median pay in North Dakota is $48,930.We found that California is the best state for accountant/consultant jobs, whereas North Dakota is the worst.
10 best states for accountant/consultants in 2025
1. California
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 2,331 Average annual salary: $82,996 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. District of Columbia
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 178 Average annual salary: $82,613 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
3. Massachusetts
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 676 Average annual salary: $76,643 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
4. Connecticut
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 241 Average annual salary: $75,959 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
5. Rhode Island
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $69,985 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
6. Washington
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 324 Average annual salary: $78,426 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0.69
7. New Jersey
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 490 Average annual salary: $74,454 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
8. Pennsylvania
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 726 Average annual salary: $67,711 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
9. New York
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 897 Average annual salary: $73,139 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
10. Georgia
Total accountant/consultant jobs: 528 Average annual salary: $70,721 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
Accountant/consultant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an accountant/consultant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an accountant/consultant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $82,996 | $59,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,331 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $82,613 | $61,000 | 693,972 | 178 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $76,643 | $57,000 | 6,859,819 | 676 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $75,959 | $56,000 | 3,588,184 | 241 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $69,985 | $52,000 | 1,059,639 | 89 |
| 6 | Washington | $78,426 | $58,000 | 7,405,743 | 324 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $74,454 | $55,000 | 9,005,644 | 490 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $67,711 | $50,000 | 12,805,537 | 726 |
| 9 | New York | $73,139 | $54,000 | 19,849,399 | 897 |
| 10 | Georgia | $70,721 | $51,000 | 10,429,379 | 528 |
| 11 | Florida | $67,773 | $49,000 | 20,984,400 | 948 |
| 12 | Oregon | $67,374 | $49,000 | 4,142,776 | 292 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $67,550 | $49,000 | 10,273,419 | 470 |
| 14 | Virginia | $69,390 | $51,000 | 8,470,020 | 553 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $69,010 | $49,000 | 4,684,333 | 99 |
| 16 | Delaware | $66,712 | $49,000 | 961,939 | 78 |
| 17 | Nevada | $62,934 | $44,000 | 2,998,039 | 156 |
| 18 | Ohio | $62,594 | $46,000 | 11,658,609 | 561 |
| 19 | Maryland | $68,736 | $50,000 | 6,052,177 | 421 |
| 20 | Illinois | $62,976 | $46,000 | 12,802,023 | 941 |
| 21 | Alabama | $59,859 | $43,000 | 4,874,747 | 653 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $59,883 | $43,000 | 3,930,864 | 518 |
| 23 | Utah | $60,868 | $43,000 | 3,101,833 | 240 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $61,436 | $45,000 | 5,795,483 | 280 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $62,836 | $46,000 | 4,454,189 | 140 |
| 26 | Texas | $60,789 | $43,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,317 |
| 27 | Arizona | $62,037 | $44,000 | 7,016,270 | 355 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $63,620 | $45,000 | 2,088,070 | 67 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $61,022 | $45,000 | 5,576,606 | 462 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $61,099 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 104 |
| 31 | Colorado | $60,355 | $44,000 | 5,607,154 | 442 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $62,093 | $45,000 | 5,024,369 | 170 |
| 33 | Vermont | $61,198 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 39 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $52,735 | $39,000 | 869,666 | 192 |
| 35 | Alaska | $63,288 | $52,000 | 739,795 | 33 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $52,871 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 314 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $61,146 | $49,000 | 1,427,538 | 42 |
| 38 | Michigan | $57,816 | $42,000 | 9,962,311 | 361 |
| 39 | Maine | $58,900 | $44,000 | 1,335,907 | 55 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $58,334 | $42,000 | 3,004,279 | 87 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $57,742 | $42,000 | 1,815,857 | 35 |
| 42 | Montana | $50,447 | $37,000 | 1,050,493 | 95 |
| 43 | Kansas | $53,918 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 133 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $51,282 | $37,000 | 6,715,984 | 296 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $53,008 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 26 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $51,927 | $38,000 | 1,920,076 | 104 |
| 47 | Missouri | $50,733 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 338 |
| 48 | Iowa | $51,680 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 140 |
| 49 | Indiana | $51,239 | $37,000 | 6,666,818 | 250 |
| 50 | Idaho | $50,667 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 65 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $48,930 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 29 |
Highest paying states for accountant/consultants
| Rank | State | Avg. Accountant/Consultant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $82,996 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $82,613 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $76,643 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $75,959 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $69,985 |
| 6 | Washington | $78,426 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $74,454 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $67,711 |
| 9 | New York | $73,139 |
| 10 | Georgia | $70,721 |
| 11 | Florida | $67,773 |
| 12 | Oregon | $67,374 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $67,550 |
| 14 | Virginia | $69,390 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $69,010 |
| 16 | Delaware | $66,712 |
| 17 | Nevada | $62,934 |
| 18 | Ohio | $62,594 |
| 19 | Maryland | $68,736 |
| 20 | Illinois | $62,976 |
| 21 | Alabama | $59,859 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $59,883 |
| 23 | Utah | $60,868 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $61,436 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $62,836 |
| 26 | Texas | $60,789 |
| 27 | Arizona | $62,037 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $63,620 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $61,022 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $61,099 |
| 31 | Colorado | $60,355 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $62,093 |
| 33 | Vermont | $61,198 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $52,735 |
| 35 | Alaska | $63,288 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $52,871 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $61,146 |
| 38 | Michigan | $57,816 |
| 39 | Maine | $58,900 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $58,334 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $57,742 |
| 42 | Montana | $50,447 |
| 43 | Kansas | $53,918 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $51,282 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $53,008 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $51,927 |
| 47 | Missouri | $50,733 |
| 48 | Iowa | $51,680 |
| 49 | Indiana | $51,239 |
| 50 | Idaho | $50,667 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $48,930 |
Expert opinions on the best states for accountant/consultants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for accountant/consultants to find work opportunities?
John Thornton Ph.D.
Professor of Accounting, School of Business and Management | Azusa Pacific University
CPA firms and corporations are still hiring accounting professionals. The disruption will be temporary, and much of the work will bounce back. But the long-term trend of global outsourcing of professional services, including accounting, has been dramatically accelerated. More than ever, graduates need to focus on setting themselves above the competition through professional certifications, such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and the like. Graduates need to think beyond simple data collection and move to data analytics. Critical thinking skills, coupled with strong technical competencies, will win the day. One colossal growth area in accounting will be forensic and investigative accounting. With the increase in online everything, the protection of financial information will face ever-increasing pressures. Cybercrime is on the rise. So to demand innovative ways to stop fraud and white-collar crime. One impressive credential in this area is the Certified Forensic Accountant (CFE).
Accountant/consultant best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
Search for accountant/consultant jobs
Updated January 8, 2025