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Accounting associate salary
Average accounting associate salary
$50,537
Average Accounting Associate Salary
The average salary for an Accounting Associate in the United States is approximately $50,537 per year or around $24 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors including geographic location, years of experience, and industry sector.
Factors Influencing Salary
- Experience Level: Entry-level positions typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can see higher salaries.
- Location: States like California and New York often offer higher wages due to the cost of living.
- Industry: Accounting Associates in specialized sectors, such as finance or healthcare, may command higher salaries compared to those in less competitive fields.
Salary by State
Salary varies significantly from state to state. For instance, New York is known for its higher salaries, while states with lower costs of living may offer less. Understanding these regional differences can help job seekers target their applications effectively.
Explore Opportunities
To maximize potential earnings, consider furthering education or certifications, which can enhance skills and lead to higher salary brackets. Explore available positions on job boards to find opportunities that align with your career goals.
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Where can an Accounting Associate earn more?
Accounting associate salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level accounting associate | $35,700 | $17.17 |
| Mid-level accounting associate | $51,000 | $24.52 |
| Senior-level accounting associate | $67,000 | $32.21 |
Accounting associate salary estimates from across the web
Average accounting associate salary by state
The highest-paying states for accounting associates are New York, California, and Virginia. The lowest average accounting associate salary states are West Virginia, South Dakota, and Maine.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for accounting associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $64,168 | $30.85 |
| 2 | New York | $62,327 | $29.96 |
| 3 | California | $59,988 | $28.84 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $57,457 | $27.62 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $57,110 | $27.46 |
| 6 | Maryland | $55,589 | $26.73 |
| 7 | Virginia | $57,941 | $27.86 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $53,473 | $25.71 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $53,016 | $25.49 |
| 10 | Delaware | $51,832 | $24.92 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $55,565 | $26.71 |
| 12 | Texas | $50,617 | $24.34 |
| 13 | Utah | $49,098 | $23.60 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $48,278 | $23.21 |
| 15 | Illinois | $46,110 | $22.17 |
| 16 | Georgia | $50,892 | $24.47 |
| 17 | Florida | $45,855 | $22.05 |
| 18 | Nevada | $44,590 | $21.44 |
| 19 | Arizona | $45,352 | $21.80 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $49,561 | $23.83 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $44,666 | $21.47 |
| 22 | Vermont | $46,514 | $22.36 |
| 23 | Colorado | $43,879 | $21.10 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $48,965 | $23.54 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $41,330 | $19.87 |
| 26 | Ohio | $42,829 | $20.59 |
| 27 | Alabama | $46,025 | $22.13 |
| 28 | Alaska | $43,122 | $20.73 |
| 29 | Washington | $44,012 | $21.16 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $40,444 | $19.44 |
| 31 | Oregon | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| 32 | Kansas | $41,457 | $19.93 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $44,487 | $21.39 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $42,078 | $20.23 |
| 35 | Missouri | $39,921 | $19.19 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $41,550 | $19.98 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $40,558 | $19.50 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $41,972 | $20.18 |
| 39 | Iowa | $38,568 | $18.54 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $39,535 | $19.01 |
| 41 | Indiana | $39,607 | $19.04 |
| 42 | Michigan | $38,508 | $18.51 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $34,323 | $16.50 |
| 44 | Montana | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| 45 | Idaho | $38,760 | $18.63 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $37,835 | $18.19 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $38,548 | $18.53 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $36,409 | $17.50 |
| 49 | Maine | $34,433 | $16.55 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $35,064 | $16.86 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $34,253 | $16.47 |
Highest paying cities for accounting associates
The highest-paying cities for accounting associates are Washington, DC, San Mateo, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $64,182 | $30.86 |
| 2 | San Mateo, CA | $63,566 | $30.56 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $62,824 | $30.20 |
| 4 | McLean, VA | $59,211 | $28.47 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $58,749 | $28.24 |
| 6 | Stamford, CT | $57,658 | $27.72 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $55,853 | $26.85 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $55,403 | $26.64 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,327 | $26.12 |
| 10 | Newark, DE | $51,714 | $24.86 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $51,317 | $24.67 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $50,655 | $24.35 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $50,593 | $24.32 |
| 14 | Richmond, KY | $48,960 | $23.54 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $48,473 | $23.30 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $46,318 | $22.27 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $46,293 | $22.26 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| 19 | Seattle, WA | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $43,654 | $20.99 |
Accounting Associates are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Accounting associate salary details
An accounting associate's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $74,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an accounting associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $50,537 | $4,211 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying accounting associate jobs
The highest paying types of accounting associates are account auditor, accounting analyst, and staff accountant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | $40,337 | $3,361 | $19.39 | 38,481 |
| Finance Clerk | $39,225 | $3,269 | $18.86 | 143,372 |
| Accounts Receivable Clerk | $36,425 | $3,035 | $17.51 | 87,935 |
| Accounts Payable Clerk | $38,333 | $3,194 | $18.43 | 89,564 |
| Accountable Clerk | $38,120 | $3,177 | $18.33 | 81,209 |
| Staff Accountant | $54,216 | $4,518 | $26.07 | 115,930 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for accounting associates, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Alyson Ma Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, University of San Diego
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.
Top companies hiring accounting associates now:
Which companies pay accounting associates the most?
Accounting associate salaries at Point72 and BMO Capital Markets are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average accounting associate salary at companies like OCC and Asana are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Point72 | $100,358 | $48.25 |
| 2 | BMO Capital Markets | $97,462 | $46.86 |
| 3 | OCC | $97,100 | $46.68 |
| 4 | Asana | $95,890 | $46.10 |
| 5 | Tradeweb | $93,649 | $45.02 |
| 6 | Upserve | $92,710 | $44.57 |
| 7 | Schaeffer Oil | $92,471 | $44.46 |
| 8 | Neuberger Berman | $90,111 | $43.32 |
| 9 | NTT Data International L.L.C. | $86,544 | $41.61 |
| 10 | Northern Trust | $86,520 | $41.60 |
| 11 | Elanco | $85,490 | $41.10 |
| 12 | BlackRock | $83,632 | $40.21 |
| 13 | Wpp Us Holdings Inc | $83,023 | $39.91 |
| 14 | Guidehouse | $82,463 | $39.65 |
| 15 | Goldman Sachs | $81,949 | $39.40 |
| 16 | Amgen | $79,959 | $38.44 |
| 17 | Grant Thornton | $79,027 | $37.99 |
| 18 | NIC | $78,284 | $37.64 |
| 19 | Boston Scientific | $78,224 | $37.61 |
| 20 | Apache | $77,144 | $37.09 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Accounting Associate salary by industry
The average accounting associate salary varies across industries:
- The average accounting associate salary in the finance industry is $52,406, the highest of any industry.
- The average accounting associate salary in the finance industry is $50,619.
- Accounting associates in the retail industry earn an average salary of $42,573, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for accounting associates
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $52,406 | $25.20 |
| 2 | Professional | $50,619 | $24.34 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $48,991 | $23.55 |
| 4 | Transportation | $47,883 | $23.02 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $44,125 | $21.21 |
| 6 | Retail | $42,573 | $20.47 |
High paying accounting associate jobs
Accounting associate salary trends
The average accounting associate salary has risen by $9,140 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average accounting associate earned $41,397 annually, but today, they earn $50,537 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for accounting associates over the last decade.
Compare accounting associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average accounting associate salary over time
Compare accounting associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Accounting associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50,500 | $24.30 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $49,100 | $23.62 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $48,000 | $23.05 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $46,800 | $22.48 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $45,700 | $21.99 | +3.0% |
Recently added accounting associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrow Electronics | Accounting Associate Supervisor | Denver, CO | 06/30/2025 | $67,000 |
| Capital One | Associate, Accounting | McLean, VA | 06/30/2025 | $80,100 |
| The Keller Group | Accounting Associate | Scottsdale, AZ | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Open | Accounting Associate | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $82,000 |
| Napleton Automotive Group | Automotive Accounting Associate | Oak Lawn, IL | 06/29/2025 | $50,000 |
| Atlas SP | Fund Accounting, Associate | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $110,000 |
| Global Channel Management, Inc. | Remote Payment Services Accounting Associate | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $60,523 |
| Nickson | FP&A and Accounting Associate | Dallas, TX | 06/28/2025 | $70,000 |
| Brown & Brown | Accounting Associate | Columbia, KY | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| William Blair | Investment Accounting Associate | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $65,000 |
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