Best cities for a principal accountant
The best cities for principal accountants are New York, NY, Sacramento, CA, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for principal accountants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for principal accountants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a principal accountant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for principal accountants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for principal accountants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a principal accountant. While the absolute best city for principal accountants is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for principal accountants in 2024.
If you're looking for a principal accountant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for principal accountants in 2025
1. New York, NY
Total principal accountant jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $115,313 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 0.68 2. Sacramento, CA
Total principal accountant jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $111,185 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 4.67 3. Boston, MA
Total principal accountant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $106,306 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 0.97 4. San Francisco, CA
Total principal accountant jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $112,619 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location quotient: 1.11 5. Raleigh, NC
Total principal accountant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $93,743 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location quotient: 0.53 6. Jersey City, NJ
Total principal accountant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,640 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Newark, NJ
Total principal accountant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,576 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Hempstead, NY
Total principal accountant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $115,435 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Islip, NY
Total principal accountant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $115,381 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Oyster Bay, NY
Total principal accountant jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $115,195 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for principal accountants
- New York, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Boston, MA
- San Francisco, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Jersey City, NJ
- Newark, NJ
- Hempstead, NY
- Islip, NY
- Oyster Bay, NY
- (16 principal accountant jobs)
- (7 principal accountant jobs)
- (5 principal accountant jobs)
- (8 principal accountant jobs)
- (1 principal accountant jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a principal accountant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $115,313 | $79,000 | 8,537,673 | 16 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $111,185 | $72,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $106,306 | $74,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $112,619 | $74,000 | 870,887 | 8 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $93,743 | $65,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $117,640 | $81,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $117,576 | $81,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 8 | Hempstead, NY | $115,435 | $80,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 9 | Islip, NY | $115,381 | $80,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 10 | Oyster Bay, NY | $115,195 | $79,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 11 | Brookhaven, NY | $115,140 | $79,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $94,322 | $65,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $93,605 | $65,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $87,378 | $59,000 | 2,303,482 | 14 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $89,516 | $62,000 | 842,051 | 3 |
| 16 | Greensboro, NC | $92,360 | $64,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 17 | Buffalo, NY | $108,467 | $72,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 18 | Pittsburgh, PA | $89,958 | $61,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $84,313 | $57,000 | 472,522 | 13 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $85,767 | $57,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 21 | Winston-Salem, NC | $91,619 | $63,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 22 | Detroit, MI | $87,482 | $57,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 23 | Austin, TX | $87,250 | $59,000 | 947,890 | 5 |
| 24 | Irving, TX | $81,791 | $54,000 | 238,289 | 8 |
| 25 | Oakland, CA | $112,412 | $73,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $112,151 | $73,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 27 | San Jose, CA | $111,998 | $73,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 28 | Anaheim, CA | $99,896 | $66,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 29 | Washington, DC | $114,949 | $79,000 | 681,170 | 1 |
| 30 | Stockton, CA | $111,392 | $72,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 31 | Columbus, OH | $83,334 | $56,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $99,357 | $66,000 | 324,722 | 6 |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | $82,132 | $54,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 34 | Las Vegas, NV | $81,819 | $53,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 35 | Cincinnati, OH | $79,006 | $52,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 36 | Fresno, CA | $109,022 | $71,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 37 | Corpus Christi, TX | $87,704 | $60,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 38 | San Antonio, TX | $87,532 | $59,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 39 | Reno, NV | $87,088 | $56,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $87,435 | $60,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 41 | New Orleans, LA | $82,294 | $55,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 42 | San Diego, CA | $97,550 | $65,000 | 1,406,630 | 11 |
| 43 | Lubbock, TX | $82,724 | $54,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 44 | Fort Worth, TX | $82,497 | $55,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 45 | Lexington, KY | $74,280 | $49,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 46 | El Paso, TX | $86,438 | $58,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 47 | Arlington, TX | $82,489 | $55,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 48 | Bakersfield, CA | $105,453 | $69,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 49 | Dallas, TX | $81,992 | $54,000 | 1,317,929 | 1 |
| 50 | Baltimore, MD | $98,437 | $68,000 | 614,664 | - |
Highest paying cities for principal accountants
| Rank | City | Avg. principal accountant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | $117,913 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $115,313 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $114,949 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $112,619 |
| 5 | Providence, RI | $106,557 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $106,306 |
| 7 | Annapolis, MD | $98,414 |
| 8 | Dover, DE | $98,352 |
| 9 | Concord, NH | $95,893 |
| 10 | Harrisburg, PA | $93,189 |
| 11 | Arlington, VA | $92,207 |
| 12 | Carson City, NV | $88,165 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $87,378 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $84,313 |
| 15 | Lansing, MI | $83,917 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $83,334 |
| 17 | Schaumburg, IL | $82,935 |
| 18 | Baton Rouge, LA | $82,020 |
| 19 | Clearwater, FL | $80,009 |
| 20 | Olympia, WA | $73,753 |
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Updated January 8, 2025