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Project accountant salary
Average project accountant salary
$60,467
Average Project Accountant Salary
The average salary for a Project Accountant in the United States is approximately $60,467 annually, which equates to about $29 per hour. However, this figure can fluctuate based on various factors including experience, education, and geographic location. For new entrants, salaries typically start lower, while seasoned professionals can see significantly increased earnings.
How Experience Affects Salary
Entry-level Project Accountants may earn around $45,000 annually, while those with over ten years of experience can command salaries exceeding $75,000. This progression highlights the value of gaining experience and specialized skills.
Regional Salary Variances
Project Accountant salaries vary by state. States like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living. In contrast, states with a lower cost of living may provide more modest compensation.
Opportunities for Advancement
For those looking to maximize their earning potential, pursuing certifications such as CPA or CMA can enhance job prospects and lead to higher salaries. Understanding the specific demands of the industry can also provide a competitive edge.
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Where can a Project Accountant earn more?
Project accountant salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level project accountant | $40,000 | $19.21 |
| Mid-level project accountant | $57,600 | $27.67 |
| Senior-level project accountant | $97,400 | $46.81 |
Project accountant salary estimates from across the web
Average project accountant salary by state
The highest-paying states for project accountants are New Jersey, New York, and California. The lowest average project accountant salary states are Maine, Iowa, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for project accountants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $73,907 | $35.53 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $61,521 | $29.58 |
| 3 | New York | $67,321 | $32.37 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $70,398 | $33.85 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $56,251 | $27.04 |
| 6 | Michigan | $55,844 | $26.85 |
| 7 | Nevada | $56,688 | $27.25 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $65,166 | $31.33 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $60,151 | $28.92 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $62,102 | $29.86 |
| 11 | California | $66,930 | $32.18 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $56,926 | $27.37 |
| 13 | Georgia | $60,786 | $29.22 |
| 14 | Virginia | $63,989 | $30.76 |
| 15 | Ohio | $53,630 | $25.78 |
| 16 | Illinois | $59,537 | $28.62 |
| 17 | Texas | $58,850 | $28.29 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $59,575 | $28.64 |
| 19 | Oregon | $61,147 | $29.40 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $60,389 | $29.03 |
| 21 | Missouri | $54,117 | $26.02 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $55,477 | $26.67 |
| 23 | Delaware | $59,436 | $28.57 |
| 24 | Colorado | $59,120 | $28.42 |
| 25 | Alabama | $53,272 | $25.61 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $53,772 | $25.85 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $52,804 | $25.39 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $52,484 | $25.23 |
| 29 | Alaska | $60,379 | $29.03 |
| 30 | Utah | $55,688 | $26.77 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $52,137 | $25.07 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $51,518 | $24.77 |
| 33 | Washington | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| 34 | Arizona | $55,339 | $26.61 |
| 35 | Florida | $56,293 | $27.06 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $49,012 | $23.56 |
| 37 | New Hampshire | $51,281 | $24.65 |
| 38 | Vermont | $50,892 | $24.47 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $49,716 | $23.90 |
| 40 | Indiana | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $49,269 | $23.69 |
| 42 | Kansas | $49,081 | $23.60 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $52,423 | $25.20 |
| 44 | Iowa | $47,387 | $22.78 |
| 45 | Maryland | $52,552 | $25.27 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $48,485 | $23.31 |
| 47 | Maine | $47,629 | $22.90 |
| 48 | Idaho | $46,105 | $22.17 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $47,073 | $22.63 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $44,704 | $21.49 |
| 51 | Montana | $45,524 | $21.89 |
Highest paying cities for project accountants
The highest-paying cities for project accountants are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $73,941 | $35.55 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $69,773 | $33.54 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $67,573 | $32.49 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $65,820 | $31.64 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $64,516 | $31.02 |
| 6 | New Orleans, LA | $61,658 | $29.64 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $60,779 | $29.22 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $60,685 | $29.18 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $60,556 | $29.11 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $60,307 | $28.99 |
| 11 | Vancouver, WA | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $59,708 | $28.71 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $59,564 | $28.64 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $59,322 | $28.52 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $56,565 | $27.19 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $56,463 | $27.15 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $56,420 | $27.13 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $56,050 | $26.95 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $55,398 | $26.63 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $54,461 | $26.18 |
Project accountant salary details
A project accountant's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $79,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a project accountant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $60,467 | $5,039 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
Highest paying project accountant jobs
The highest paying types of project accountants are senior tax accountant, certified public accountant, and senior accountant analyst.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Analyst | $58,399 | $4,867 | $28.08 | 81,097 |
| Accountant/Consultant | $64,298 | $5,358 | $30.91 | 38,916 |
| Accountant Internship | $33,484 | $2,790 | $16.10 | 82,924 |
| Finance Analyst/Accountant | $62,975 | $5,248 | $30.28 | 118,043 |
| Certified Public Accountant | $76,693 | $6,391 | $36.87 | 78,792 |
| General Ledger Accountant | $60,034 | $5,003 | $28.86 | 81,408 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for project accountants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Alyson Ma Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, University of San Diego
Coupled with work experience, students trained in Economics also outpace their peers to advance in their careers. According to Monster.com, a major in Economics ranks third on the fast track to $100K. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal shows that Economics has the highest Mid-Career 90th Percentile Salary for those with a bachelor's degree at $210,000.
A cautionary note is that Economics is not for everyone. Students who gravitate toward Economics tend to be fascinated by the world around them. They are the analytical type and appreciate the logical beauty of math. If you asked many 'why' questions when you were little, then Economics might be for you.
Top companies hiring project accountants now:
Which companies pay project accountants the most?
Project accountant salaries at Perficient and CDM Smith are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average project accountant salary at companies like TechnipFMC and Donohue & Associates are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perficient | $70,010 | $33.66 |
| 2 | CDM Smith | $68,963 | $33.16 |
| 3 | TechnipFMC | $68,957 | $33.15 |
| 4 | Donohue & Associates | $68,878 | $33.11 |
| 5 | Cp&y, Inc. | $68,609 | $32.99 |
| 6 | Sherpa | $68,087 | $32.73 |
| 7 | TranSystems | $67,971 | $32.68 |
| 8 | West Yost Associates | $67,758 | $32.58 |
| 9 | Merrick & Co | $67,611 | $32.51 |
| 10 | Clear Channel Airport | $67,079 | $32.25 |
| 11 | Powers & Sons Construction Company, Inc. | $66,973 | $32.20 |
| 12 | POWER Engineers | $66,951 | $32.19 |
| 13 | Trc Engineering | $66,862 | $32.15 |
| 14 | Farnsworth Group | $66,575 | $32.01 |
| 15 | Moss & Associates | $66,479 | $31.96 |
| 16 | Fugro | $66,362 | $31.90 |
| 17 | Huitt-Zollars | $66,070 | $31.76 |
| 18 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $66,019 | $31.74 |
| 19 | Wsp USA Buildings Inc. | $65,832 | $31.65 |
| 20 | HDR | $65,688 | $31.58 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Project Accountant salary by industry
The average project accountant salary varies across industries:
- The average project accountant salary in the professional industry is $64,110, the highest of any industry.
- The average project accountant salary in the finance industry is $63,167.
- Project accountants in the government industry earn an average salary of $59,227, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for project accountants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $64,110 | $30.82 |
| 2 | Energy | $63,167 | $30.37 |
| 3 | Technology | $62,964 | $30.27 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $62,307 | $29.96 |
| 5 | Construction | $61,864 | $29.74 |
| 6 | Government | $59,227 | $28.47 |
High paying project accountant jobs
Project accountant salary trends
The average project accountant salary has risen by $8,804 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average project accountant earned $51,663 annually, but today, they earn $60,467 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for project accountants over the last decade.
Compare project accountant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average project accountant salary over time
Compare project accountant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Project accountant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $60,500 | $29.07 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $58,800 | $28.28 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $58,000 | $27.86 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $57,000 | $27.41 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $56,000 | $26.93 | +1.4% |
Recently added project accountant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gensler | Project Accountant | Denver, CO | 06/30/2025 | $75,000 |
| Gensler | Project Accountant | Phoenix, AZ | 06/30/2025 | $75,000 |
| Skookum Contract Services | Project Accountant | Bremerton, WA | 06/30/2025 | $80,200 |
| Billings Public Schools | Title I and Special Projects Accountant III)/Secretary III) | Billings, MT | 06/29/2025 | $42,804 |
| State of Oklahoma | Project Closing Accountant | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/29/2025 | $54,100 |
| O2EPCM, Inc. | Project Accountant III | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $61,000 |
| Dasstateoh | Project Accountant 1 | Enon, OH | 06/29/2025 | $59,772 |
| Staffmark Group | Project Accountant | Lafayette, LA | 06/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| Maxar Technologies Ltd. | Project Accountant | Herndon, VA | 06/27/2025 | $65,000 |
| State of Ohio | Project Accountant 1 | Enon, OH | 06/27/2025 | $59,772 |
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