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Job outlook for senior tax associates in the United States
Senior tax associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior tax associate job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 81,800 new jobs for senior tax associates are projected over the next decade.
Senior tax associate salaries have increased 8% for senior tax associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 19,129 senior tax associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 28,339 active senior tax associate job openings in the US.
The average senior tax associate salary is $91,872.
Are senior tax associate jobs in demand?
Senior tax associate job and salary trends over time
Senior tax associate jobs over time
Senior tax associate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,129 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 18,446 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 18,522 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 17,910 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 17,385 | 0.01% |
Average senior tax associate salary over time
Senior tax associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $91,872 | $44.17 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $89,362 | $42.96 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $88,050 | $42.33 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $86,614 | $41.64 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $85,115 | $40.92 | +1.4% |
Senior tax associate jobs by state
Most common states for senior tax associates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 201 | 29% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 725 | 11% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 115 | 11% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 552 | 10% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 97 | 10% |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,182 | 9% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 517 | 9% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 340 | 9% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 291 | 9% |
| 10 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 272 | 9% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 95 | 9% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 657 | 8% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 488 | 8% |
| 14 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 472 | 8% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 313 | 8% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 103 | 8% |
| 17 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,882 | 7% |
| 18 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 696 | 7% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 460 | 7% |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 378 | 7% |
Most common cities for senior tax associates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford | 15 | 12% | $96,432 |
| 2 | Stamford | 15 | 12% | $96,542 |
| 3 | Irvine | 27 | 10% | $94,648 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids | 17 | 9% | $80,979 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 34 | 7% | $86,748 |
| 6 | Boston | 38 | 6% | $97,267 |
| 7 | Miami | 21 | 5% | $78,080 |
| 8 | San Francisco | 31 | 4% | $103,834 |
| 9 | Detroit | 29 | 4% | $82,732 |
| 10 | Sacramento | 21 | 4% | $103,328 |
| 11 | Minneapolis | 15 | 4% | $79,702 |
| 12 | New Orleans | 15 | 4% | $81,542 |
| 13 | Baltimore | 17 | 3% | $90,143 |
| 14 | Chicago | 41 | 2% | $85,535 |
| 15 | San Diego | 25 | 2% | $93,574 |
| 16 | San Jose | 22 | 2% | $102,909 |
| 17 | Denver | 15 | 2% | $80,218 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 37 | 1% | $95,303 |
| 19 | Phoenix | 19 | 1% | $88,196 |
Senior Tax Associate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior tax associate experts
Gonzaga University
The University of Texas at Arlington
Indiana University Northwest
What Senior Tax Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Andrew Brajcich: Ask yourself, “What can I do to make the job of the person above me easier.” That should be your guiding light. If you approach every workday with that, you’ll soon find yourself on better clients, working with better teams, and moving up in the organization.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Tax Associate?
Dr. J. Klaus Ph.D., CPA (KY): Choosing a career in accounting today is particularly appealing due to the strong demand for skilled professionals in the field. Accounting stands out for its stability, offering a secure and reliable career path. The diversity within the profession, including areas like tax accounting and financial analysis, provides individuals with flexibility to align their work with their specific interests. With a global relevance, accountants are in high demand internationally. The current technological advancements have streamlined routine tasks, allowing professionals to focus on more strategic aspects of their roles. Pursuing well-regarded certifications, such as the CPA designation, ensures continuous learning and opens avenues for career advancement. Additionally, the flexibility for remote work and potential for entrepreneurial ventures make accounting a highly sought-after and promising choice in response to the prevalent demand for skilled professionals.
What will help Senior Tax Associates increase their earning potential?
Dr. J. Klaus Ph.D., CPA (KY): Tax accountants hold a pivotal role in managing financial records, ensuring tax compliance, and offering strategic financial guidance. Their daily activities encompass preparing tax returns, conducting financial analyses, and staying abreast of dynamic tax regulations. Recent graduates embark on a fulfilling journey, starting with foundational tasks and progressing through training, collaboration with experienced professionals, and client engagement. This profession offers continuous learning opportunities, with many aspiring to attain certifications like the CPA designation. Ultimately, becoming a tax accountant is not only rewarding but also crucial in contributing to financial transparency, efficiency, and compliance for individuals and businesses alike.
Jaclyn Barkow
Clinical Assistant Professor of AccountingIndiana University Northwest
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Senior Tax Associate resumes?
Jaclyn Barkow: I do not do company hiring, but from my interactions with employers, major items that stand out on resumes are having an internship or completing volunteer work preparing tax returns. Successfully completing an internship shows the student what to expect during tax season and the challenges that come with it. Employers know that students understand the profession and know what they are applying for. Those who volunteer to prepare tax returns through local organizations (United Way, or AARP, for example) demonstrate the ability to pass IRS certification requirements, prepare tax returns, and in the process help the community.
What soft skills should all Senior Tax Associates possess?
Jaclyn Barkow: The most valuable soft skill is communication. Being able to communicate effectively with colleagues, superiors, and clients. Communication comes in the form of written and oral. Effective communication also entails knowing when to listen, when to respond, and asking questions. Young accountants will also not know everything upon entering the workplace; asking questions is important for the learning process.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Tax Associates?
Jaclyn Barkow: Understanding tax return preparation is important. This is where the internship or volunteer work stands out on resumes. Tax law changes every year, so remembering what is in a textbook becomes obsolete year after year. Research skills are important for keeping up with the ever-changing tax law.
The profession is also changing so that tax accountants must have a working understanding of information security and maintaining client information confidentially. Data security is extremely important in the profession, and identity theft is very common in tax return preparation. Having some technical information systems and information security understanding is valuable to maintaining sensitive information.