Accountant Salary
Accountant Salary Estimate
$54,890
How much does an Accountant make?
The average salary for an accountant in the United States is $54,890. Accountant salaries typically range between $41,000 and $72,000 a year. The average hourly rate for accountants is $26.39 per hour.
Location, education, and experience impacts how much an accountant can expect to make. Accountants make the most in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
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The average salary for an accountant is $54,890 in the US. -
The average accountant salary ranges between $41,000 and $72,000 in the US. -
Hourly rates for accountants in the US typically range between $19 and $34 an hour. -
The average accountant salary is $68,366 in New York, $67,833 in New Jersey, and $62,743 in Massachusetts. These are the three highest-paying states for accountants in the US. -
Meta has the highest average salary for accountants. -
Technology is the highest-paying industry for accountants in the US.
Highest Paying States For Accountants
- State View
- County View
Accountant average salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $71,993 | $34.61 | 317 |
| 2 | New York | $68,366 | $32.87 | 1,468 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $62,386 | $29.99 | 392 |
| 4 | Delaware | $59,242 | $28.48 | 158 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $62,743 | $30.16 | 941 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $60,990 | $29.32 | 114 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $67,833 | $32.61 | 686 |
| 8 | Virginia | $60,099 | $28.89 | 924 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $54,607 | $26.25 | 1,074 |
| 10 | Maryland | $58,489 | $28.12 | 700 |
| 11 | Washington | $56,929 | $27.37 | 657 |
| 12 | Colorado | $52,649 | $25.31 | 742 |
| 13 | Oregon | $52,823 | $25.40 | 458 |
| 14 | California | $55,339 | $26.61 | 3,532 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $54,960 | $26.42 | 138 |
| 16 | Michigan | $51,209 | $24.62 | 675 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $50,767 | $24.41 | 725 |
| 18 | Texas | $49,856 | $23.97 | 2,234 |
| 19 | Illinois | $50,229 | $24.15 | 1,472 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $51,783 | $24.90 | 758 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $49,883 | $23.98 | 494 |
| 22 | Ohio | $49,196 | $23.65 | 927 |
| 23 | Vermont | $52,073 | $25.04 | 61 |
| 24 | Alaska | $55,612 | $26.74 | |
| 25 | Georgia | $49,935 | $24.01 | 919 |
| 26 | Iowa | $46,149 | $22.19 | 419 |
| 27 | Nevada | $46,895 | $22.55 | 232 |
| 28 | Maine | $50,399 | $24.23 | 90 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $44,616 | $21.45 | 624 |
| 30 | Indiana | $47,841 | $23.00 | 476 |
| 31 | Utah | $45,148 | $21.71 | 345 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $46,027 | $22.13 | 73 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $44,642 | $21.46 | 215 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $45,426 | $21.84 | 284 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $45,280 | $21.77 | 255 |
| 36 | Missouri | $44,893 | $21.58 | 630 |
| 37 | Arizona | $47,972 | $23.06 | |
| 38 | New Mexico | $45,154 | $21.71 | 162 |
| 39 | Florida | $45,139 | $21.70 | 1,640 |
| 40 | Montana | $43,390 | $20.86 | 182 |
| 41 | Idaho | $45,231 | $21.75 | 138 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,027 | $21.17 | 377 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $45,123 | $21.69 | 335 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $38,954 | $18.73 | 94 |
| 45 | Kansas | $44,835 | $21.56 | 204 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $43,817 | $21.07 | 81 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $42,614 | $20.49 | 49 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $42,844 | $20.60 | 202 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $42,765 | $20.56 | 253 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,889 | $19.66 | 170 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $39,626 | $19.05 | 52 |
Highest Paying Cities For Accountants
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $71,991 | $34.61 | 47 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $68,492 | $32.93 | 94 |
| 3 | Fort Lee, NJ | $67,932 | $32.66 | 2 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $62,769 | $30.18 | 42 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $61,511 | $29.57 | 9 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $58,980 | $28.36 | 24 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $58,761 | $28.25 | 24 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,336 | $27.57 | 15 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,064 | $26.47 | 34 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $52,610 | $25.29 | 45 |
| 11 | Washington, MI | $52,023 | $25.01 | 47 |
| 12 | Duluth, MN | $51,899 | $24.95 | 4 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $50,764 | $24.41 | 44 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $50,446 | $24.25 | 62 |
| 15 | Duluth, GA | $50,014 | $24.05 | 4 |
Here Are The Five Most In Demand Cities Right Now:
Accountant Salary by Years of Experience
Accountant Salary By Experience Level
| Experience Level | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | $36,300 | $17.44 |
| Mid Level | $52,200 | $25.12 |
| Senior Level | $88,400 | $42.49 |
Accountants Salary Details
What is an Accountant's Salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $54,890 | $4,574 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest Paying Types of Accountants
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant And Office Manager | $51,217 | $4,268 | $24.62 | 107,701 |
| Certified Public Accountant | $76,693 | $6,391 | $36.87 | 78,792 |
| Finance Analyst/Accountant | $62,975 | $5,248 | $30.28 | 118,043 |
| General Ledger Accountant | $60,034 | $5,003 | $28.86 | 81,408 |
| Fixed Asset Accountant | $59,691 | $4,974 | $28.70 | 42,860 |
| Accountant/Consultant | $64,298 | $5,358 | $30.91 | 38,916 |
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
Here are the five companies hiring the most now:
Which Companies Pay Accountants The Most?
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $100,015 | $48.08 | 1 |
| 2 | PayPal | $99,145 | $47.67 | |
| 3 | The Carlyle Group | $96,880 | $46.58 | 7 |
| 4 | Apple | $96,163 | $46.23 | 3 |
| 5 | $91,469 | $43.98 | 24 | |
| 6 | Jordan Company | $91,459 | $43.97 | |
| 7 | Microsoft | $90,104 | $43.32 | 2 |
| 8 | Cisco | $89,933 | $43.24 | 2 |
| 9 | Oracle | $84,756 | $40.75 | 7 |
| 10 | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC | $83,766 | $40.27 | 4 |
| 11 | Adobe | $83,384 | $40.09 | 1 |
| 12 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $82,880 | $39.85 | |
| 13 | Ernst & Young | $82,205 | $39.52 | 190 |
| 14 | PBF Energy | $82,166 | $39.50 | 9 |
| 15 | Atlassian | $81,373 | $39.12 | 2 |
| 16 | Novartis | $79,911 | $38.42 | |
| 17 | American Century Investments | $79,738 | $38.34 | 2 |
| 18 | Nabors Holding Company | $79,544 | $38.24 | 3 |
| 19 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $78,973 | $37.97 | 26 |
| 20 | FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies | $78,550 | $37.76 | 1 |
How Much Do Accountants Make In Different Industries?
Here are some examples of how much an accountant salaries can based on different industries:
The technology industry pays accountants an average salary of $60,365
The finance industry pay $59,666
The lowest paying industry for accountants is the government industry. Accountants in this industry earn an average salary of $55,133
Highest Paying Industries For Accountants
| Rank | Industry | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $60,365 | $29.02 |
| 2 | Finance | $59,666 | $28.69 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $58,822 | $28.28 |
| 4 | Professional | $58,017 | $27.89 |
| 5 | Health Care | $56,686 | $27.25 |
| 6 | Hospitality | $56,335 | $27.08 |
| 7 | Government | $55,133 | $26.51 |
High Paying Accountant Jobs
Accountant Pay Trends
Average Accountant Salary Over Time
Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Accountant Salary By Year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $54,900 | $26.39 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $53,400 | $25.67 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $52,600 | $25.29 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | $51,700 | $24.88 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | $50,900 | $24.45 | +1.4% |
Recently Added Accountant Salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Ohio | Intermittent Accountant/Examiner 2 (P.N) | Columbus, OH | 05/04/2023 | $42,387 |
| The University of Oklahoma Human Resources | *Accountant, Operations Finance Team | Norman, OK | 05/04/2023 | $40,000 |
| TCW Global | Accountant | San Diego, CA | 05/04/2023 | $73,045 |
| Capps | Tahc-Accountant IV | Austin, TX | 05/04/2023 | $48,000 |
| Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company | Reinsurance Accountant-Mastery (Hybrid/Remote-US) | Springfield, MA | 05/03/2023 | $104,900 |
| Murray Resources | Accountant | Houston, TX | 05/03/2023 | $70,000 |
| Pulse Staffing | Property Accountant | New York, NY | 05/03/2023 | $80,000 |
| TMD Staffing | Accountant (IN Office)/Great Benefits and PAY! | Round Rock, TX | 05/03/2023 | $58,436 |
| Nuwest Group-Tech Jobs Board | Accountant-Mid Level | Bothell, WA | 05/03/2023 | $80,000 |
| A-1 Personnel of Houston | Accountant | Houston, TX | 05/03/2023 | $48,001 |
Accountant Salaries FAQs
What State Pays Accountants The Most?
New York pays Accountants the most in the United States, with an average salary of $71,993 per year, or $34.61 per hour.
How Do I Know If I'm Being Paid Fairly As An Accountant?
You know if you are being paid fairly as an Accountant if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in New York you should be paid close to $68,366 per year.
What Is A Good Starting Salary For An Accountant?
A good starting salary for an accountant is $40,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for an accountant in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for accountants is $52,965, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for an accountant can vary by state.
Fiscal Year Vs. Calendar Year
A fiscal year is a 12-month cycle used by companies and governments for accounting and budgeting purposes that does not necessarily start and end when the calendar year does, while a calendar year is a 12-month cycle that always begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st of that same year.
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.
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.
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.
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