Highest-Paying Staff 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 staff 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 staff accountants:

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

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

• The average staff accountant salary is $54,216 per year, and the average hourly pay is $26.07.

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 a staff accountant, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of staff accountants are so that you can plan your career progression.

Here are the top salaries for different types of staff 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 Staff Accountant

   Average Salary: $65,019

   A senior staff accountant is responsible for managing the accounting operations of the company’s accounting department, reconciling accounts, and finalizing financial reports to discuss with the management. Senior staff accountants resolve account discrepancies, analyze the company’s financial status, and verify financial transactions. They must have excellent analytical skills and extensive knowledge of the accounting principles to perform accounting duties that would minimize the financial risk of the company. A senior staff accountant provides strategic recommendations to prevent overspending and increase efficiency across all departments to drive more revenues and profits.

4. Corporate Accountant

   Average Salary: $64,300

   A corporate accountant is a professional who prepares financial statements and maintains financial records of an organization to ensure that they comply with laws, regulations, and the organization’s policies. Corporate accountants are required to analyze financial statements to help executives make financial decisions for the organization. They must collect ledgers and financial reports from divisional offices and prepare corporate financial statements for executives. Corporate accountants must also prepare budgets to allocate funds for spending for each department.

5. Accountant/Consultant

   Average Salary: $64,298

   Accountants/consultants perform accounting tasks for organizations or companies. The accountants improve accounting practices and prepare financial statements at the end of every year. They analyze financial data and offer advice on regulatory compliance issues to the finance department. It is their job to make sure that the online system is secure. Most of the day, they organize invoices, prepare statements, and supervising systems. They should be equipped with analytical skills, industry knowledge, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication.

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

Highest-Paying Types Of Staff 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 staff 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 Staff Accountant Jobs FAQs

1. What is the highest-paid staff accountant job?

   The highest-paid staff 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 a staff accountant?

   A good salary for a staff accountant is $54,216 or more. The average staff accountant salary is $54,216, so those making at least $54,216 are earning above-average paychecks.

   Keep in mind, however, that the average staff 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 a staff accountant, the average entry level salary is $35,826, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $54,216 average, as this includes all staff accountants of all skill and experience levels.

3. Do Staff Accountant jobs pay well?

   Yes, staff accountant jobs pay well. As in any industry, some staff accountant jobs pay better than others, but the average staff accountant salary of $54,216 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.

   In addition to this, many staff accountant jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of staff accountants earning $87,292 a year on average.

   Staff 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 a staff accountant. Do your research on the going rate for a staff accountant in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.

4. Where do staff accountants get paid the most?

   Staff Accountants get paid the most in District of Columbia. In District of Columbia, staff accountants earn an average annual salary of $70,470 and an average hourly wage of $33.88.

   Following DC, the states with the highest-paid staff accountants are New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, with average annual salaries of $67,093, $60,523, and $65,717 respectively.

   The cities with the highest-paid staff accountant salaries are:

   1. Washington, DC – $70,499

   2. New York, NY – $67,231

   3. Englewood, NJ – $65,769

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.