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Best states for an accounting associate
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 accounting associates in the United States. Accounting associate 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 accounting associates.In fact, our research shows that District of Columbia is the best state for accounting associates in America. The best city in America for accounting associates with the highest pay is Washington, DC.
District of Columbia is the best state for jobs for accounting associates, and Wyoming is the worst. The most common pay in District of Columbia is $64,168, while the median pay in Wyoming is $34,253.If you are currently seeking employment as an accounting associate, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for accounting associates in 2026
1. District of Columbia
Total accounting associate jobs: 183 Average annual salary: $64,168 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
2. New York
Total accounting associate jobs: 1,018 Average annual salary: $62,327 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
3. California
Total accounting associate jobs: 2,569 Average annual salary: $59,988 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
4. Massachusetts
Total accounting associate jobs: 705 Average annual salary: $57,457 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
5. Connecticut
Total accounting associate jobs: 253 Average annual salary: $57,110 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
6. Maryland
Total accounting associate jobs: 533 Average annual salary: $55,589 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
7. Virginia
Total accounting associate jobs: 614 Average annual salary: $57,941 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
8. Pennsylvania
Total accounting associate jobs: 793 Average annual salary: $53,473 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
9. Rhode Island
Total accounting associate jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $53,016 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
10. Delaware
Total accounting associate jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $51,832 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
Accounting associate jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an accounting associate
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an accounting associate
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $64,168 | $41,000 | 693,972 | 183 |
| 2 | New York | $62,327 | $40,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,018 |
| 3 | California | $59,988 | $37,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,569 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $57,457 | $38,000 | 6,859,819 | 705 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $57,110 | $37,000 | 3,588,184 | 253 |
| 6 | Maryland | $55,589 | $35,000 | 6,052,177 | 533 |
| 7 | Virginia | $57,941 | $37,000 | 8,470,020 | 614 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $53,473 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 793 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $53,016 | $35,000 | 1,059,639 | 86 |
| 10 | Delaware | $51,832 | $33,000 | 961,939 | 109 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $55,565 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 566 |
| 12 | Texas | $50,617 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,388 |
| 13 | Utah | $49,098 | $32,000 | 3,101,833 | 228 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $48,278 | $32,000 | 4,454,189 | 235 |
| 15 | Illinois | $46,110 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,006 |
| 16 | Georgia | $50,892 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 563 |
| 17 | Florida | $45,855 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,258 |
| 18 | Nevada | $44,590 | $27,000 | 2,998,039 | 165 |
| 19 | Arizona | $45,352 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 453 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $49,561 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 483 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $44,666 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 127 |
| 22 | Vermont | $46,514 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 45 |
| 23 | Colorado | $43,879 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 524 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $48,965 | $29,000 | 4,684,333 | 120 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $41,330 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 439 |
| 26 | Ohio | $42,829 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 676 |
| 27 | Alabama | $46,025 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 196 |
| 28 | Alaska | $43,122 | $35,000 | 739,795 | 57 |
| 29 | Washington | $44,012 | $30,000 | 7,405,743 | 447 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $40,444 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 539 |
| 31 | Oregon | $39,600 | $26,000 | 4,142,776 | 369 |
| 32 | Kansas | $41,457 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 175 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $44,487 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 55 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $42,078 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 149 |
| 35 | Missouri | $39,921 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 392 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $41,550 | $26,000 | 2,088,070 | 99 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $40,558 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 145 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $41,972 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 81 |
| 39 | Iowa | $38,568 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 242 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $39,535 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 54 |
| 41 | Indiana | $39,607 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 338 |
| 42 | Michigan | $38,508 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 463 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $34,323 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 174 |
| 44 | Montana | $30,340 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 122 |
| 45 | Idaho | $38,760 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 94 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $37,835 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 333 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $38,548 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 224 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $36,409 | $23,000 | 1,815,857 | 61 |
| 49 | Maine | $34,433 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 76 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $35,064 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 47 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $34,253 | $24,000 | 579,315 | 27 |
Highest paying states for accounting associates
| Rank | State | Avg. Accounting Associate Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $64,168 |
| 2 | New York | $62,327 |
| 3 | California | $59,988 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $57,457 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $57,110 |
| 6 | Maryland | $55,589 |
| 7 | Virginia | $57,941 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $53,473 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $53,016 |
| 10 | Delaware | $51,832 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $55,565 |
| 12 | Texas | $50,617 |
| 13 | Utah | $49,098 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $48,278 |
| 15 | Illinois | $46,110 |
| 16 | Georgia | $50,892 |
| 17 | Florida | $45,855 |
| 18 | Nevada | $44,590 |
| 19 | Arizona | $45,352 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $49,561 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $44,666 |
| 22 | Vermont | $46,514 |
| 23 | Colorado | $43,879 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $48,965 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $41,330 |
| 26 | Ohio | $42,829 |
| 27 | Alabama | $46,025 |
| 28 | Alaska | $43,122 |
| 29 | Washington | $44,012 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $40,444 |
| 31 | Oregon | $39,600 |
| 32 | Kansas | $41,457 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $44,487 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $42,078 |
| 35 | Missouri | $39,921 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $41,550 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $40,558 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $41,972 |
| 39 | Iowa | $38,568 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $39,535 |
| 41 | Indiana | $39,607 |
| 42 | Michigan | $38,508 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $34,323 |
| 44 | Montana | $30,340 |
| 45 | Idaho | $38,760 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $37,835 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $38,548 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $36,409 |
| 49 | Maine | $34,433 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $35,064 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $34,253 |
Expert opinions on the best states for accounting associates
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for accounting associates 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).
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Updated January 8, 2025