Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for tax specialists in the United States
Tax specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected tax specialist job growth rate is -7% from 2018-2028.
About -3,700 new jobs for tax specialists are projected over the next decade.
Tax specialist salaries have increased 21% for tax specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 67,886 tax specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 46,937 active tax specialist job openings in the US.
The average tax specialist salary is $57,168.
Are tax specialist jobs in demand?
Tax specialist job and salary trends over time
Tax specialist jobs over time
Tax specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67,886 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 51,084 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 54,405 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 55,564 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 56,078 | 0.02% |
Average tax specialist salary over time
Tax specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $57,168 | $27.48 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $55,594 | $26.73 | +9.4% |
| 2024 | $50,832 | $24.44 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $49,980 | $24.03 | +6.0% |
| 2022 | $47,167 | $22.68 | +0.3% |
Tax specialist jobs by state
Most common states for tax specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 272 | 39% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 518 | 16% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 156 | 16% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 157 | 15% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 986 | 14% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 732 | 13% |
| 7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 393 | 13% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 257 | 13% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 176 | 13% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 81 | 13% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 73 | 13% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,477 | 12% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 723 | 12% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 670 | 12% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 500 | 12% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 422 | 12% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 121 | 12% |
| 18 | Alaska | 739,795 | 92 | 12% |
| 19 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 695 | 11% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 85 | 11% |
Most common cities for tax specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor | 2 | 6% | $63,384 |
| 2 | Lenexa | 2 | 4% | $42,553 |
| 3 | Atlanta | 8 | 2% | $62,703 |
| 4 | Tallahassee | 4 | 2% | $45,756 |
| 5 | Grand Rapids | 3 | 2% | $59,184 |
| 6 | Evansville | 2 | 2% | $48,279 |
| 7 | Tampa | 4 | 1% | $45,895 |
| 8 | Kansas City | 3 | 1% | $50,239 |
| 9 | Miami | 3 | 1% | $45,549 |
| 10 | Birmingham | 2 | 1% | $44,266 |
| 11 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $56,417 |
| 12 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $59,816 |
| 13 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $69,077 |
| 14 | Columbus | 2 | 0% | $47,534 |
| 15 | Dallas | 2 | 0% | $67,040 |
| 16 | Detroit | 2 | 0% | $61,097 |
| 17 | Houston | 2 | 0% | $66,756 |
| 18 | Jacksonville | 2 | 0% | $44,465 |
Tax Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of tax specialist experts
Gonzaga University
The University of Texas at Arlington
Stanton University
What general advice would you give to a Tax Specialist?
Andrew Brajcich: Tax technical skills will always be important. But now those are just table stakes. To be a value-adding advisor to your client or team, you need technological skills including some coding and database management skills. And it has to be more than Excel. I don’t care if it’s exposure to Python or SQL or Tableau or Alteryx or something else. You need to understand how technologies work because they will change but the fundamental concepts behind the tools remain.
What Tax Specialist 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 will help Tax Specialists increase their earning potential?
Andrew Brajcich: 1) Be open to anything. You might be surprised at what you discover. 2) Be nimble. Most career paths are a zig zag. Few are direct. 3) Learn how to leverage AI without being over reliant. In tax, it has a long ways to go so hop on for the ride but double check every aspect of the work product. You can learn with it. And of course get permission before using any tools.
What general advice would you give to a Tax Specialist?
Kenton Klaus: As noted above, the best way to maximize salary potential is to quickly narrow down the areas of tax where the graduate student can separate themselves from other candidates. If the graduate student did his or her homework before finishing their graduate studies, they will be able to demonstrate to employers that they have a deeper knowledge of the technical areas in which they have an interest, along with the applicable technology.
What Tax Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kenton Klaus: Taxation is a very broad discipline, so it's important for a new tax professional to understand all the opportunities available for them to use their graduate degree. In some cases, graduate students have already been in the workforce, and have specific plans to return to a certain area of practice. However, many students have not explored the available opportunities to see which line up best with their interests and skills. I encourage graduate students to explore the market before they graduate, reach out to alumni who work in different areas of the tax profession, and speak with the professors for the courses that most interested them.
What will help Tax Specialists increase their earning potential?
Kenton Klaus: Taxation is a very broad discipline, so it's important for a new tax professional to understand all the opportunities available for them to use their graduate degree. In some cases, graduate students have already been in the workforce, and have specific plans to return to a certain area of practice. However, many students have not explored the available opportunities to see which line up best with their interests and skills. I encourage graduate students to explore the market before they graduate, reach out to alumni who work in different areas of the tax profession, and speak with the professors for the courses that most interested them.
What general advice would you give to a Tax Specialist?
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 Tax Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. J. Klaus Ph.D., CPA (KY): Some individuals may find the work routine and meticulous, as attention to detail is paramount in accounting. Meeting deadlines, especially during tax season, can lead to periods of heightened stress. Additionally, the demanding nature of staying abreast of ever-changing tax laws and regulations can be seen as both a positive challenge for those who enjoy continuous learning and a potential source of stress for others. Overall, while accounting provides stability and numerous rewarding aspects, it also requires a commitment to precision and adaptability to navigate its challenges.
What will help Tax Specialists 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.
What's a good job out of college for Tax Specialists?
Dr. Louna Al Hallak: After the Covid-19 pandemic, what's the best job out of college you should be looking for?
There is an increasing demand for tax specialists in the United States, especially during the tax season (January - mid-April).
And one of the reasons why tax specialists demand tax is that taxes in the United States will be complicated after the Covid-19 pandemic. Businesses and companies will recruit more tax specialists to help complete all tax compliance processes, including paycheck protection program loans.
Besides companies and businesses, individuals will also need some help filing their returns because most withdrew from the retirement account without any penalties.
The number of job posting looking for tax specialists increased 22 times between December 2020 and January 2020
The demand for receptionists is also growing steadily. Yes, most businesses weren't in business in most parts of 2020, but they are now back. Most companies are looking for a post-pandemic recovery, and they are actively looking for receptionists.
However, you need to note that tax specialists demand might surge, especially after the tax season comes to an end. You can still dive into other career opportunities like receptionist roles and scale from there.