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Best states for an accounting director
Quoted expert
Natalie Burgos
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for accounting directors? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for accounting director jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research found that Massachusetts is the best state for accounting directors, while Massachusetts and New Jersey are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Massachusetts has a median salary of $156,850 and Massachusetts has the highest median salary among all 50 states for accounting directors.
In order to get you the best states for accounting directors, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the Midwest is best for accounting directors, and the Northeast is the worst. Cambridge, MA is the best city in the country for accounting director jobs, where as Massachusetts is the best state in the country.
10 best states for accounting directors in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total accounting director jobs: 977 Average annual salary: $156,850 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $225,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
2. South Dakota
Total accounting director jobs: 203 Average annual salary: $132,781 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 2.15
3. New Jersey
Total accounting director jobs: 644 Average annual salary: $153,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
4. New York
Total accounting director jobs: 1,485 Average annual salary: $142,221 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
5. California
Total accounting director jobs: 3,359 Average annual salary: $149,053 Lowest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $215,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
6. Michigan
Total accounting director jobs: 499 Average annual salary: $139,543 Lowest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
7. Nevada
Total accounting director jobs: 160 Average annual salary: $133,517 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
8. Connecticut
Total accounting director jobs: 348 Average annual salary: $134,596 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
9. Vermont
Total accounting director jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $139,952 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
10. Pennsylvania
Total accounting director jobs: 778 Average annual salary: $133,284 Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $198,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
Accounting director jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an accounting director
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an accounting director
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $156,850 | $109,000 | 6,859,819 | 977 |
| 2 | South Dakota | $132,781 | $91,000 | 869,666 | 203 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $153,309 | $104,000 | 9,005,644 | 644 |
| 4 | New York | $142,221 | $96,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,485 |
| 5 | California | $149,053 | $103,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,359 |
| 6 | Michigan | $139,543 | $94,000 | 9,962,311 | 499 |
| 7 | Nevada | $133,517 | $91,000 | 2,998,039 | 160 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $134,596 | $90,000 | 3,588,184 | 348 |
| 9 | Vermont | $139,952 | $96,000 | 623,657 | 45 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $133,284 | $89,000 | 12,805,537 | 778 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $131,038 | $86,000 | 10,273,419 | 667 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $134,041 | $90,000 | 1,059,639 | 76 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $132,677 | $90,000 | 1,342,795 | 113 |
| 14 | Delaware | $127,523 | $85,000 | 961,939 | 150 |
| 15 | Illinois | $126,872 | $85,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,204 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $119,615 | $79,000 | 3,930,864 | 510 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $119,403 | $77,000 | 4,684,333 | 584 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $115,971 | $76,000 | 1,815,857 | 295 |
| 19 | Maryland | $130,033 | $86,000 | 6,052,177 | 522 |
| 20 | Alaska | $129,857 | $94,000 | 739,795 | 56 |
| 21 | Indiana | $123,694 | $82,000 | 6,666,818 | 362 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $122,626 | $81,000 | 693,972 | 301 |
| 23 | Maine | $123,956 | $84,000 | 1,335,907 | 80 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $116,407 | $75,000 | 5,024,369 | 867 |
| 25 | Oregon | $123,239 | $83,000 | 4,142,776 | 343 |
| 26 | Virginia | $125,336 | $83,000 | 8,470,020 | 686 |
| 27 | Colorado | $121,417 | $81,000 | 5,607,154 | 601 |
| 28 | Idaho | $124,229 | $84,000 | 1,716,943 | 76 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $119,126 | $78,000 | 6,715,984 | 343 |
| 30 | Georgia | $119,437 | $77,000 | 10,429,379 | 814 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $119,150 | $78,000 | 4,454,189 | 211 |
| 32 | Arizona | $119,216 | $80,000 | 7,016,270 | 470 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $120,830 | $80,000 | 2,088,070 | 93 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $119,059 | $90,000 | 1,427,538 | 78 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $114,169 | $75,000 | 3,004,279 | 176 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $116,611 | $78,000 | 5,795,483 | 366 |
| 37 | Texas | $114,424 | $74,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,645 |
| 38 | Washington | $115,072 | $78,000 | 7,405,743 | 686 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $117,493 | $81,000 | 755,393 | 34 |
| 40 | Montana | $111,708 | $76,000 | 1,050,493 | 106 |
| 41 | Kansas | $116,557 | $77,000 | 2,913,123 | 158 |
| 42 | Alabama | $103,129 | $66,000 | 4,874,747 | 658 |
| 43 | Ohio | $113,057 | $74,000 | 11,658,609 | 553 |
| 44 | Missouri | $110,890 | $73,000 | 6,113,532 | 411 |
| 45 | Utah | $107,170 | $72,000 | 3,101,833 | 261 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $110,503 | $74,000 | 1,920,076 | 139 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $106,471 | $72,000 | 5,576,606 | 563 |
| 48 | Iowa | $108,942 | $73,000 | 3,145,711 | 232 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $111,788 | $72,000 | 2,984,100 | 64 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $107,869 | $72,000 | 579,315 | 33 |
| 51 | Florida | $89,231 | $54,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,131 |
Highest paying states for accounting directors
| Rank | State | Avg. Accounting Director Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $156,850 |
| 2 | South Dakota | $132,781 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $153,309 |
| 4 | New York | $142,221 |
| 5 | California | $149,053 |
| 6 | Michigan | $139,543 |
| 7 | Nevada | $133,517 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $134,596 |
| 9 | Vermont | $139,952 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $133,284 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $131,038 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $134,041 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $132,677 |
| 14 | Delaware | $127,523 |
| 15 | Illinois | $126,872 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $119,615 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $119,403 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $115,971 |
| 19 | Maryland | $130,033 |
| 20 | Alaska | $129,857 |
| 21 | Indiana | $123,694 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $122,626 |
| 23 | Maine | $123,956 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $116,407 |
| 25 | Oregon | $123,239 |
| 26 | Virginia | $125,336 |
| 27 | Colorado | $121,417 |
| 28 | Idaho | $124,229 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $119,126 |
| 30 | Georgia | $119,437 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $119,150 |
| 32 | Arizona | $119,216 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $120,830 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $119,059 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $114,169 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $116,611 |
| 37 | Texas | $114,424 |
| 38 | Washington | $115,072 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $117,493 |
| 40 | Montana | $111,708 |
| 41 | Kansas | $116,557 |
| 42 | Alabama | $103,129 |
| 43 | Ohio | $113,057 |
| 44 | Missouri | $110,890 |
| 45 | Utah | $107,170 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $110,503 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $106,471 |
| 48 | Iowa | $108,942 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $111,788 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $107,869 |
| 51 | Florida | $89,231 |
Expert opinions on the best states for accounting directors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for accounting directors to find work opportunities?
Natalie Burgos
Associate Faculty, Edmonds Community College
I recommend searching for work opportunities on Indeed. From what I've noticed, there are new job opportunities that change every one to three days compared to other employment websites. Also, it's very convenient in many ways:
-Has an app that you can download on your iPhone, Android, or any smartphone.
-Saves documentation (resume, references, recommendation letters, and other supportive documents).
-Saves your profile (similar to LinkedIn profile) - important to change it if you're looking for a new job though!
I also recommend applying on the company's website as well after applying on Indeed. Some companies might advertise it on Indeed purposely. But some job advertisements might say, "Please apply on company website," even though there's an "apply now" button; that's probably because they don't know how to disable the "apply application button on Indeed.
Accounting director best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025