Average Accountant Salary
Percentile  | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
Average | $52,548 | $4,379 | $25 |
25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Average Accountant Salary By State
The darker areas on the map show where accountants earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
- State View
- Country View
Accountant average salary by State
| State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | $43,267 | $20.80 | 377 |
Alaska | $54,165 | $26.04 | |
Arizona | $45,929 | $22.08 | |
Arkansas | $40,958 | $19.69 | 202 |
California | $53,865 | $25.90 | 3,532 |
Colorado | $49,957 | $24.02 | 742 |
Connecticut | $58,432 | $28.09 | 392 |
Delaware | $53,112 | $25.53 | 158 |
District of Columbia | $60,653 | $29.16 | 317 |
Florida | $42,678 | $20.52 | 1,640 |
Georgia | $45,894 | $22.06 | 919 |
Hawaii | $40,365 | $19.41 | 94 |
Idaho | $45,245 | $21.75 | 138 |
Illinois | $48,767 | $23.45 | 1,472 |
Indiana | $44,862 | $21.57 | 476 |
Iowa | $42,965 | $20.66 | 419 |
Kansas | $42,766 | $20.56 | 204 |
Kentucky | $42,557 | $20.46 | 284 |
Louisiana | $42,225 | $20.30 | 253 |
Maine | $48,111 | $23.13 | 90 |
Maryland | $53,394 | $25.67 | 700 |
Massachusetts | $56,549 | $27.19 | 941 |
Michigan | $46,704 | $22.45 | 675 |
Minnesota | $47,742 | $22.95 | 725 |
Mississippi | $38,309 | $18.42 | 170 |
Missouri | $42,640 | $20.50 | 630 |
Montana | $42,222 | $20.30 | 182 |
Nebraska | $41,489 | $19.95 | 215 |
Nevada | $46,714 | $22.46 | 232 |
New Hampshire | $51,252 | $24.64 | 138 |
New Jersey | $60,211 | $28.95 | 686 |
New Mexico | $44,196 | $21.25 | 162 |
New York | $61,966 | $29.79 | 1,468 |
North Carolina | $47,584 | $22.88 | 758 |
North Dakota | $41,273 | $19.84 | 52 |
Ohio | $44,763 | $21.52 | 927 |
Oklahoma | $44,345 | $21.32 | 255 |
Oregon | $50,293 | $24.18 | 458 |
Pennsylvania | $49,875 | $23.98 | 1,074 |
Rhode Island | $57,855 | $27.81 | 114 |
South Carolina | $42,545 | $20.45 | 335 |
South Dakota | $43,519 | $20.92 | 73 |
Tennessee | $42,497 | $20.43 | 624 |
Texas | $49,939 | $24.01 | 2,234 |
Utah | $45,805 | $22.02 | 345 |
Vermont | $50,998 | $24.52 | 61 |
Virginia | $53,922 | $25.92 | 924 |
Washington | $53,749 | $25.84 | 657 |
West Virginia | $41,026 | $19.72 | 81 |
Wisconsin | $45,981 | $22.11 | 494 |
Wyoming | $41,463 | $19.93 | 49 |
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Highest Paying Cities For Accountant
| City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
New York, NY | $62,126 | $29.87 |
Washington, DC | $60,730 | $29.20 |
Fort Lee, NJ | $60,519 | $29.10 |
San Francisco, CA | $57,884 | $27.83 |
Boston, MA | $56,561 | $27.19 |
Arlington, VA | $55,608 | $26.73 |
The largest raises come from changing jobs.
See what's out there.
How much does an Accountant make?
Average Accountant Salary Over Time
Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
2021 | $52,500 | $25.26 | +1.6% |
2020 | $51,700 | $24.85 | +1.7% |
2019 | $50,800 | $24.42 | +1.4% |
2018 | $50,100 | $24.08 | +1.9% |
2017 | $49,100 | $23.63 | +1.3% |
How Much Do Accountants Make In Different Industries?
| Rank | Industry | Average Accountant Salary | Accountant Salary Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $58,876 | $43k $68k |
| 2 | Technology | $58,220 | $43k $68k |
| 3 | Health Care | $56,584 | $43k $68k |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $56,282 | $43k $68k |
| 5 | Retail | $53,800 | $43k $68k |
| 6 | Professional | $52,451 | $43k $68k |
| 7 | Hospitality | $51,353 | $43k $68k |
| 8 | Government | $50,125 | $43k $68k |
High Paying Accountant Jobs
Average JOB Salary by Field
Avg. salary: $53,442
Avg. salary: $66,723
Avg. salary: $56,955
Avg. salary: $57,128
Avg. salary: $57,369
Avg. salary: $61,438
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Accountant And Office Manager | $53,442 | $4,454 | $25.69 | 73,806 |
Certified Public Accountant | $66,723 | $5,560 | $32.08 | 86,369 |
Finance Analyst/Accountant | $56,955 | $4,746 | $27.38 | 87,858 |
General Ledger Accountant | $57,129 | $4,761 | $27.47 | 78,562 |
Fixed Asset Accountant | $57,369 | $4,781 | $27.58 | 27,344 |
Accountant/Consultant | $61,438 | $5,120 | $29.54 | 69,348 |
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Accountant Salaries By Years Of Experience
| Experience Level | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
Entry Level | $32,600 | $15.69 |
Mid Level | $48,900 | $23.51 |
Senior Level | $91,200 | $43.84 |
Which Companies Pay Accountants The Most?
| Rank | Company | Zippia Score | Average Accountant Salary | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $88,912 | |||
| 2 | $86,348 | |||
| 3 | $83,881 | |||
| 4 | $82,003 | |||
| 5 | $80,246 | |||
| 6 | $79,235 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for Accountants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Alyson Ma Ph.D. 
Chair and Professor, University of San Diego
Economics is a combination of critical thinking, problem-solving, and quantitatively analyzing relationships using data. Students studying Economics are trained to interpret the big picture and present complex information about how an economy functions. Given the analytical and quantitative skills, it is not surprising that Economics majors earn higher than average starting salaries. The preliminary 2020 data shows an average salary of $63k for Economics and Business Economics Majors at USD.
Coupled with work experience, students trained in Economics also outpace their peers to advance in their careers. According to Monster.com, a major in Economics ranks third on the fast track to $100K. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal shows that Economics has the highest Mid-Career 90th Percentile Salary for those with a bachelor's degree at $210,000.
A cautionary note is that Economics is not for everyone. Students who gravitate toward Economics tend to be fascinated by the world around them. They are the analytical type and appreciate the logical beauty of math. If you asked many 'why' questions when you were little, then Economics might be for you.Show more
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Recently Added Accountant Salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
City of Kansas City Missouri Accountant | Accountant | Kansas City, MO | 08/31/2021 | $38,067 08/31/2021 |
Teachers' Retirement System Senior Financial Accountant | Senior Financial Accountant | Oklahoma City, OK | 08/31/2021 | $87,654 08/31/2021 |
NGL Energy Partners LP Accountant-PP&E | Accountant-PP&E | Tulsa, OK | 08/31/2021 | $55,000 08/31/2021 |
Cascade Management Accountant | Accountant | Tigard, OR | 08/31/2021 | $45,914 08/31/2021 |
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Accountant II (Assets) | Accountant II (Assets) | Tampa, FL | 08/31/2021 | $49,192 08/31/2021 |
NGL Energy Partners LP Accountant-PP&E | Accountant-PP&E | Denver, CO | 08/31/2021 | $55,000 08/31/2021 |
Prologis Property Accountant | Property Accountant | Denver, CO | 08/31/2021 | $58,000 08/31/2021 |
Realmanage Community Accountant (SFL) | Community Accountant (SFL) | Osprey, FL | 08/31/2021 | $45,000 08/31/2021 |
OCHN Accountant II | Accountant II | Troy, MI | 08/31/2021 | $54,529 08/31/2021 |
Aimco Apartment Homes Property Accountant | Property Accountant | Denver, CO | 08/31/2021 | $52,000 08/31/2021 |
Related Job Salaries
Average Accountant Salary by Demographic
Accountant Gender Pay Gap
Gender   | Income |
|---|---|
| Male | $55,674 |
| Female | $53,539 |
Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| White | $55,119 |
| Black or African American | $53,857 |
| Asian | $55,721 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $53,855 |
Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $57,180 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $53,539 |
Accountant FAQs
How much do accountants make right out of college?
Right out of college, accountants can make between $35,000 per year and $55,000 per year. This estimate, though, refers to a starting salary in a completely entry-level accounting position. Accountants with additional qualifications may earn much higher starting salaries.
An entry-level position as an accountant typically refers to a position that requires only the basic qualifications for an accounting career. Thus, entry-level accounting positions typically only require a bachelor's degree.
An accountant who has earned some experience during their undergraduate career, like an internship, may expect to earn a higher salary than this.
An accountant starting their career with extra qualifications on top of a bachelor's degree may earn a far greater salary than $55,000 per year. For example, if one were to enter the workforce with a master's degree, their earning potential may be slightly higher.
How much does a CPA make a year?
A CPA makes between $55,000 per year and $100,000 per year. Most CPAs, or "certified public accountants," make around $70,000 per year.
The annual salary of a certified public accountant can fall anywhere in this range, and some outliers may even earn salaries that fall outside of this range.
Like most careers, a certified public accountant's annual salary is largely determined by experience. Higher earning certified public accountants tend to have many years of experience contributing to a great deal of expertise in their field.
Additionally, the salary of a certified public accountant may also depend on the type of organization that the certified public accountant works for. Different types of accounting are needed for different organizations, and the tax laws that a certified public accountant must be familiar with vary as well.
So, the annual salary of a certified public accountant may vary between industries.
What is the starting salary for accountants?
The starting salary for accountants is usually somewhere between $35,000 per year and $55,000 per year. This estimate, though, refers to a starting salary in a completely entry-level accounting position. Accountants with additional qualifications may earn much higher starting salaries.
An entry-level position as an accountant typically refers to a position that requires only the basic qualifications for an accounting career. Thus, entry-level accounting positions typically only require a bachelor's degree.
An accountant starting their career with extra qualifications on top of a bachelor's degree may earn a far greater salary than $55,000 per year. For example, if one were to enter the workforce with a master's degree, their earning potential may be slightly higher.