Research Summary. Extensive analysis by the Zippia data science team reveals key insights into tax preparer salaries across the United States by state for 2026:
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Rhode Island boasts the highest average tax preparer salary at $76,825
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Montana has the lowest average tax preparer salary at $31,044
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The national average salary for tax preparers stands at $51,020
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The national hourly wage for tax preparers is $24.53
For methodology specifics, you can read more here.
Background
Salary remains a crucial factor for job seekers across demographics. The primary question for many is, “What do tax preparers earn in my area?”
While various factors influence individual earnings, reliable data on average tax preparer salaries by state offers a helpful reference point. These averages provide insight into what professionals in this field might expect to earn, even as local variations may exist.
The state with the highest salary for tax preparers is Rhode Island, continuing its trend of competitive compensation.
Below is a snapshot of the top ten states for tax preparer salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the full ranking of all states and understand how we arrived at these figures.
Highest-Paid Tax Preparers By State
| Rank | State | Average Tax Preparer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $76,825 | $42,000 | $139,000 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $74,965 | $41,000 | $134,000 |
| 3 | Delaware | $72,606 | $39,000 | $132,000 |
| 4 | Nevada | $72,479 | $41,000 | $125,000 |
| 5 | New York | $68,756 | $37,000 | $125,000 |
| 6 | Utah | $67,559 | $40,000 | $112,000 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $67,537 | $37,000 | $121,000 |
| 8 | Oregon | $67,196 | $39,000 | $115,000 |
| 9 | California | $66,448 | $37,000 | $116,000 |
| 10 | Maine | $66,330 | $36,000 | $119,000 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $62,724 | $34,000 | $114,000 |
| 12 | Washington | $62,474 | $37,000 | $105,000 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $61,817 | $34,000 | $112,000 |
| 14 | Texas | $61,532 | $34,000 | $108,000 |
| 15 | Idaho | $60,057 | $35,000 | $100,000 |
| 16 | Colorado | $58,149 | $35,000 | $95,000 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $58,095 | $33,000 | $100,000 |
| 18 | Vermont | $57,550 | $31,000 | $103,000 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $55,209 | $30,000 | $98,000 |
| 20 | Alaska | $52,776 | $32,000 | $86,000 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $52,699 | $28,000 | $95,000 |
| 22 | Maryland | $52,548 | $28,000 | $95,000 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $50,701 | $29,000 | $86,000 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $50,291 | $30,000 | $83,000 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $49,438 | $28,000 | $85,000 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $49,147 | $28,000 | $86,000 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $48,845 | $30,000 | $79,000 |
| 28 | Georgia | $48,069 | $27,000 | $83,000 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $47,594 | $28,000 | $78,000 |
| 30 | Arizona | $46,906 | $27,000 | $80,000 |
| 31 | Michigan | $46,231 | $25,000 | $82,000 |
| 32 | Florida | $45,492 | $25,000 | $81,000 |
| 33 | Illinois | $44,373 | $25,000 | $76,000 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $44,033 | $25,000 | $74,000 |
| 35 | Iowa | $43,228 | $25,000 | $72,000 |
| 36 | Ohio | $42,974 | $24,000 | $76,000 |
| 37 | Virginia | $42,251 | $23,000 | $76,000 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $42,094 | $26,000 | $66,000 |
| 39 | Missouri | $42,046 | $24,000 | $70,000 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $40,931 | $23,000 | $70,000 |
| 41 | Alabama | $39,012 | $22,000 | $67,000 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $38,647 | $21,000 | $68,000 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $37,043 | $20,000 | $65,000 |
| 44 | Indiana | $36,651 | $21,000 | $63,000 |
| 45 | Kansas | $36,590 | $21,000 | $61,000 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $35,900 | $20,000 | $62,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $34,736 | $19,000 | $60,000 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $34,466 | $21,000 | $55,000 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $31,620 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 50 | Montana | $31,044 | $19,000 | $49,000 |
Methodology: Tax Preparer Salary By State
To provide an accurate picture of tax preparer salaries by state, Zippia aggregates data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is further supplemented with actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average, resulting in a comprehensive overview of average salaries for tax preparers by state.
This ranking reflects the average annual salary for tax preparers, with the state offering the highest average salary ranked at the top.
Tax Preparer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for tax preparers?
The highest-paid state for tax preparers is Rhode Island, with an average salary of $76,825 per year.
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What city pays tax preparers the most?
San Francisco, CA offers the highest salaries for tax preparers, averaging $77,904 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for tax preparers?
The lowest-paying state for tax preparers is Montana, with an average salary of $31,044 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.
