Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has conducted comprehensive research to present an updated analysis of accountant salaries by state in the United States for 2026:
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New York boasts the highest average accountant salary at $68,366.
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Hawaii has the lowest average accountant salary at $38,954.
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The national average salary for accountants stands at $54,890.
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The national hourly wage for accountants is $26.39.
For further details, explore our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a critical factor for job seekers, consistently ranking as the top priority across various demographics. Many professionals ask, “How much can accountants expect to earn in my area?”
While individual salaries may vary based on location and experience, robust data is available on average accountant salaries by state, segmented by seniority level. Although your local salary might differ from state averages, these figures provide a valuable benchmark.
In 2026, the state offering the highest salaries for accountants is still New York.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for accountant salaries:
Let’s examine the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Accountants By State
| Rank | State | Average Accountant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $68,366 | $51,000 | $90,000 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $67,833 | $50,000 | $90,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $62,743 | $47,000 | $82,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $62,386 | $47,000 | $82,000 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $60,990 | $46,000 | $80,000 |
| 6 | Virginia | $60,099 | $44,000 | $80,000 |
| 7 | Delaware | $59,242 | $44,000 | $78,000 |
| 8 | Maryland | $58,489 | $43,000 | $78,000 |
| 9 | Washington | $56,929 | $42,000 | $76,000 |
| 10 | Alaska | $55,612 | $45,000 | $67,000 |
| 11 | California | $55,339 | $40,000 | $76,000 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $54,960 | $41,000 | $72,000 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $54,607 | $40,000 | $72,000 |
| 14 | Oregon | $52,823 | $38,000 | $72,000 |
| 15 | Colorado | $52,649 | $39,000 | $70,000 |
| 16 | Vermont | $52,073 | $39,000 | $68,000 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $51,783 | $38,000 | $69,000 |
| 18 | Michigan | $51,209 | $38,000 | $68,000 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $50,767 | $38,000 | $67,000 |
| 20 | Maine | $50,399 | $38,000 | $66,000 |
| 21 | Illinois | $50,229 | $37,000 | $66,000 |
| 22 | Georgia | $49,935 | $37,000 | $67,000 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $49,883 | $37,000 | $66,000 |
| 24 | Texas | $49,856 | $36,000 | $67,000 |
| 25 | Ohio | $49,196 | $36,000 | $65,000 |
| 26 | Arizona | $47,972 | $35,000 | $64,000 |
| 27 | Indiana | $47,841 | $35,000 | $63,000 |
| 28 | Nevada | $46,895 | $34,000 | $64,000 |
| 29 | Iowa | $46,149 | $34,000 | $61,000 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $46,027 | $34,000 | $60,000 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $45,426 | $34,000 | $60,000 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $45,280 | $33,000 | $60,000 |
| 33 | Idaho | $45,231 | $33,000 | $60,000 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $45,154 | $33,000 | $61,000 |
| 35 | Utah | $45,148 | $33,000 | $60,000 |
| 36 | Florida | $45,139 | $32,000 | $61,000 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $45,123 | $33,000 | $60,000 |
| 38 | Missouri | $44,893 | $33,000 | $59,000 |
| 39 | Kansas | $44,835 | $33,000 | $59,000 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $44,642 | $33,000 | $59,000 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $44,616 | $33,000 | $59,000 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,027 | $32,000 | $59,000 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $43,817 | $32,000 | $58,000 |
| 44 | Montana | $43,390 | $32,000 | $57,000 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $42,844 | $31,000 | $57,000 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $42,765 | $31,000 | $58,000 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $42,614 | $32,000 | $56,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $40,889 | $30,000 | $55,000 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $39,626 | $29,000 | $52,000 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $38,954 | $32,000 | $46,000 |
Methodology: Accountant Salary By State
To accurately gauge accountant salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reliable sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is further supplemented with actual salary listings from job postings. The Zippia data science team then calculates a weighted average from these inputs to derive the average salary for accountants by state.
We ranked each state based on average annual salary data for accountants, identifying the state with the highest average salary.
Accountant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for accountants?
The highest-paid state for accountants remains New York, with an average annual salary of $68,366.
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What city pays accountants the most?
Washington, DC, leads with the highest average salary for accountants at $71,991 annually.
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What is the worst state for accountants?
The lowest-paying state for accountants is Hawaii, with an average salary of $38,954 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
