Highest-Paying Accountant Jobs [2023]

Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of accountants that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.

Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of accountants:

• Senior Tax Accountant is the highest-paid type of accountant with an average salary of $77,537 and an average hourly rate of $37.28.

• The second highest-paying type of accountant is certified public accountant, with an average salary of $76,693.

• The average accountant salary is $54,890 per year, and the average hourly pay is $26.39.

Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs

Background

Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as an accountant, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of accountants are so that you can plan your career progression.

Here are the top salaries for different types of accountants:

1. Senior Tax Accountant

   Average Salary: $77,537

   Senior Tax Accountants recommend tax strategies, as well as assist the preparation of federal, state, and local taxes. They contact clients to resolve minor tax issues and work with the senior tax manager to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax legislation.

2. Certified Public Accountant

   Average Salary: $76,693

   A certified public accountant (CPA) acts as an advisor to small businesses and chief financial officers to Fortune 500 companies. They typically work for both small and large public accounting firms. They offer advice on many issues, such as accounting and taxation. They aid businesses and individuals to plan and achieve their financial goals. There are several requirements to become a CPA, including having a degree in accounting, passing the CPA examination, and obtaining a CPA license to practice.

3. Senior Accountant Analyst

   Average Salary: $75,282

   As a senior accountant analyst, your main role is to provide professional guidance to a company. You need to have excellent preparation skills to create financial reports that clearly state the expenses and forecast the company’s financial future. You should always aim for accuracy and compliance. Moreover, as a senior accountant analyst, you are supposed to give general operational assistance to the company’s management.

4. Senior Accountant

   Average Salary: $71,967

   A senior accountant is responsible for organizing financial reports, analyzing cost estimates, reviewing budget goals regularly, and making adjustments with the company’s account statements as necessary. Senior accountants’ duties also include managing account reconciliations, preparing tax documents, maintaining audit records and balance sheets, generating invoices, and providing recommendations to minimize possible financial loss. A senior accountant must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills and extensive knowledge of accounting and financial principles.

5. Senior Cost Accountant

   Average Salary: $65,824

   A senior cost accountant is a professional who maintains detailed costs in a company’s system and provides cost analysis that supports operations and sales. Senior cost accountants are required to review inventory and deal with manufacturing personnel to control and analyze standard costs. They must record cost information to be used in controlling expenditures as well as recommend cost efficiencies in new product layouts. Senior cost accountants must also provide reports that specify and compare factors affecting prices and profitability of products or services to the management.

Below is a full table of the average pay for various accountant that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Accountants

Methodology

Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.

Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for accountants.

Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Accountant Jobs FAQs

1. What is the highest-paid accountant job?

   The highest-paid accountant job is a senior tax accountant. Senior Tax Accountants earn an average salary of $77,537, which is $ 37.28 hourly.

   Senior Tax Accountants recommend tax strategies, as well as assist the preparation of federal, state, and local taxes. They contact clients to resolve minor tax issues and work with the senior tax manager to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax legislation.

2. What is a good salary for an accountant?

   A good salary for an accountant is $54,890 or more. The average accountant salary is $54,890, so those making at least $54,890 are earning above-average paychecks.

   Keep in mind, however, that the average accountant salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.

   In addition, if you’re just starting your career as an accountant, the average entry level salary is $36,271, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $54,890 average, as this includes all accountants of all skill and experience levels.

3. Do Accountant jobs pay well?

   Yes, accountant jobs pay well. As in any industry, some accountant jobs pay better than others, but the average accountant salary of $54,890 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.

   In addition to this, many accountant jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of accountants earning $88,377 a year on average.

   Accountants’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as an accountant. Do your research on the going rate for an accountant in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.

4. Where do accountants get paid the most?

   Accountants get paid the most in District of Columbia. In District of Columbia, accountants earn an average annual salary of $71,993 and an average hourly wage of $34.61.

   Following DC, the states with the highest-paid accountants are New York, Connecticut, and Delaware, with average annual salaries of $68,366, $62,386, and $59,242 respectively.

   The cities with the highest-paid accountant salaries are:

   1. Washington, DC – $71,991

   2. New York, NY – $68,492

   3. Fort Lee, NJ – $67,932

Author

Chris Kolmar

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.