Best cities for a certified public accountant
The best cities for certified public accountants are Fort Wayne, IN, Virginia Beach, VA, and Newark, NJ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for certified public accountants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for certified public accountants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a certified public accountant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for certified public accountants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for certified public accountants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a certified public accountant. While the absolute best city for certified public accountants is Fort Wayne, IN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for certified public accountants in 2024.
If you're looking for a certified public accountant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for certified public accountants in 2025
1. Fort Wayne, IN
Total certified public accountant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $82,836 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 3.01 2. Virginia Beach, VA
Total certified public accountant jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $91,030 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 4.19 3. Newark, NJ
Total certified public accountant jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $105,998 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 1.81 4. Chesapeake, VA
Total certified public accountant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $90,611 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 3.94 5. Detroit, MI
Total certified public accountant jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $81,536 Lowest 10 percent warn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 1.49 6. Charlotte, NC
Total certified public accountant jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $84,456 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 1.83 7. Columbus, OH
Total certified public accountant jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $84,352 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 1.26 8. Philadelphia, PA
Total certified public accountant jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $91,088 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 1.23 9. Raleigh, NC
Total certified public accountant jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $88,938 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location quotient: 1.48 10. Norfolk, VA
Total certified public accountant jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $90,891 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 1.94
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Best cities for certified public accountants
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Newark, NJ
- Chesapeake, VA
- Detroit, MI
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Raleigh, NC
- Norfolk, VA
- (5 certified public accountant jobs)
- (8 certified public accountant jobs)
- (6 certified public accountant jobs)
- (3 certified public accountant jobs)
- (9 certified public accountant jobs)
- (31 certified public accountant jobs)
- (16 certified public accountant jobs)
- (17 certified public accountant jobs)
- (11 certified public accountant jobs)
- (4 certified public accountant jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a certified public accountant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne, IN | $82,836 | $50,000 | 264,488 | 5 |
| 2 | Virginia Beach, VA | $91,030 | $54,000 | 452,602 | 8 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $105,998 | $63,000 | 281,764 | 6 |
| 4 | Chesapeake, VA | $90,611 | $53,000 | 237,940 | 3 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $81,536 | $48,000 | 672,795 | 9 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $84,456 | $51,000 | 842,051 | 31 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $84,352 | $50,000 | 860,090 | 16 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,088 | $54,000 | 1,567,872 | 17 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $88,938 | $53,000 | 458,880 | 11 |
| 10 | Norfolk, VA | $90,891 | $54,000 | 245,115 | 4 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $87,810 | $52,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 12 | Nashville, TN | $73,382 | $46,000 | 660,388 | 13 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $76,127 | $48,000 | 1,317,929 | 31 |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $126,263 | $75,000 | 681,170 | 17 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | $93,995 | $55,000 | 673,184 | 25 |
| 16 | Buffalo, NY | $88,650 | $52,000 | 256,902 | 5 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $75,669 | $49,000 | 639,863 | 23 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $72,044 | $46,000 | 453,579 | 24 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $76,814 | $48,000 | 472,522 | 36 |
| 20 | Arlington, TX | $76,306 | $49,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 21 | Tucson, AZ | $69,146 | $45,000 | 530,706 | 11 |
| 22 | Indianapolis, IN | $78,442 | $48,000 | 855,164 | 10 |
| 23 | Scottsdale, AZ | $69,337 | $45,000 | 246,645 | 7 |
| 24 | Chandler, AZ | $69,335 | $45,000 | 247,477 | 6 |
| 25 | Winston-Salem, NC | $86,955 | $52,000 | 242,203 | 1 |
| 26 | Houston, TX | $78,703 | $50,000 | 2,303,482 | 33 |
| 27 | Jersey City, NJ | $106,082 | $63,000 | 264,152 | 3 |
| 28 | Cincinnati, OH | $79,542 | $48,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 29 | Henderson, NV | $65,695 | $42,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 30 | Fresno, CA | $78,836 | $50,000 | 522,053 | 5 |
| 31 | Toledo, OH | $84,943 | $51,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 32 | Anchorage, AK | $67,386 | $50,000 | 298,192 | 5 |
| 33 | Glendale, AZ | $69,440 | $45,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 34 | Gilbert, AZ | $69,307 | $45,000 | 237,133 | 1 |
| 35 | Greensboro, NC | $87,716 | $52,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 36 | Pittsburgh, PA | $86,554 | $51,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 37 | Phoenix, AZ | $69,410 | $45,000 | 1,615,017 | 22 |
| 38 | Durham, NC | $88,952 | $53,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 39 | San Antonio, TX | $78,778 | $50,000 | 1,492,510 | 7 |
| 40 | Los Angeles, CA | $74,168 | $48,000 | 3,976,322 | 59 |
| 41 | Orlando, FL | $72,325 | $46,000 | 277,173 | 7 |
| 42 | Plano, TX | $75,581 | $48,000 | 286,057 | 8 |
| 43 | Reno, NV | $70,524 | $45,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 44 | New York, NY | $93,024 | $55,000 | 8,537,673 | 41 |
| 45 | Memphis, TN | $71,215 | $45,000 | 652,717 | 3 |
| 46 | Fort Worth, TX | $76,305 | $49,000 | 854,113 | 4 |
| 47 | Irvine, CA | $73,668 | $48,000 | 266,122 | 14 |
| 48 | Baltimore, MD | $90,545 | $54,000 | 614,664 | 8 |
| 49 | Corpus Christi, TX | $79,077 | $50,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 50 | Seattle, WA | $76,511 | $50,000 | 704,352 | 22 |
Highest paying cities for certified public accountants
| Rank | City | Avg. certified public accountant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $126,263 |
| 2 | Springfield, MA | $94,082 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $93,024 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,088 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $90,545 |
| 6 | Greenville, NC | $90,361 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $84,352 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $81,956 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $81,536 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $78,778 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $78,442 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $76,814 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $76,511 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $75,669 |
| 15 | Greenville, SC | $73,532 |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | $72,895 |
| 17 | Portland, ME | $72,814 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $70,026 |
| 19 | Peoria, AZ | $69,472 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $62,328 |
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Updated January 8, 2025