Updated March 14, 2024
Average accountant salary
$54,890
$26.39 hourly rate
Entry-level accountant salary
$41,000 yearly salary
How much does an accountant make?
The average accountant salary in the United States is $54,890. Accountant salaries typically range between $41,000 and $72,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for accountants is $26.39 per hour.
Accountant salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Accountants earn the highest average salary in New York.
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Average accountant salary by state
The highest-paying states for accountants are New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. The lowest average accountant salary states are Arkansas, Louisiana, and Wyoming.
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Average Salary:
Highest paying states for accountants
| Rank | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $71,993 | $34.61 | 317 |
| 2 | New York | $68,366 | $32.87 | 1,468 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $62,386 | $29.99 | 392 |
| 4 | Delaware | $59,242 | $28.48 | 158 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $62,743 | $30.16 | 941 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $60,990 | $29.32 | 114 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $67,833 | $32.61 | 686 |
| 8 | Virginia | $60,099 | $28.89 | 924 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $54,607 | $26.25 | 1,074 |
| 10 | Maryland | $58,489 | $28.12 | 700 |
| 11 | Washington | $56,929 | $27.37 | 657 |
| 12 | Colorado | $52,649 | $25.31 | 742 |
| 13 | Oregon | $52,823 | $25.40 | 458 |
| 14 | California | $55,339 | $26.61 | 3,532 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $54,960 | $26.42 | 138 |
| 16 | Michigan | $51,209 | $24.62 | 675 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $50,767 | $24.41 | 725 |
| 18 | Texas | $49,856 | $23.97 | 2,234 |
| 19 | Illinois | $50,229 | $24.15 | 1,472 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $51,783 | $24.90 | 758 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $49,883 | $23.98 | 494 |
| 22 | Ohio | $49,196 | $23.65 | 927 |
| 23 | Vermont | $52,073 | $25.04 | 61 |
| 24 | Alaska | $55,612 | $26.74 | |
| 25 | Georgia | $49,935 | $24.01 | 919 |
| 26 | Iowa | $46,149 | $22.19 | 419 |
| 27 | Nevada | $46,895 | $22.55 | 232 |
| 28 | Maine | $50,399 | $24.23 | 90 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $44,616 | $21.45 | 624 |
| 30 | Indiana | $47,841 | $23.00 | 476 |
| 31 | Utah | $45,148 | $21.71 | 345 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $46,027 | $22.13 | 73 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $44,642 | $21.46 | 215 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $45,426 | $21.84 | 284 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $45,280 | $21.77 | 255 |
| 36 | Missouri | $44,893 | $21.58 | 630 |
| 37 | Arizona | $47,972 | $23.06 | |
| 38 | New Mexico | $45,154 | $21.71 | 162 |
| 39 | Florida | $45,139 | $21.70 | 1,640 |
| 40 | Montana | $43,390 | $20.86 | 182 |
| 41 | Idaho | $45,231 | $21.75 | 138 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,027 | $21.17 | 377 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $45,123 | $21.69 | 335 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $38,954 | $18.73 | 94 |
| 45 | Kansas | $44,835 | $21.56 | 204 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $43,817 | $21.07 | 81 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $42,614 | $20.49 | 49 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $42,844 | $20.60 | 202 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $42,765 | $20.56 | 253 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,889 | $19.66 | 170 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $39,626 | $19.05 | 52 |
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Highest paying cities for accountants
The highest-paying cities for accountants are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Fort Lee, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $71,991 | $34.61 | 33 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $68,492 | $32.93 | 62 |
| 3 | Fort Lee, NJ | $67,932 | $32.66 | 1 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $62,769 | $30.18 | 14 |
| 5 | Arlington, VA | $61,511 | $29.57 | 11 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $58,980 | $28.36 | 14 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $58,761 | $28.25 | 18 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,336 | $27.57 | 19 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,064 | $26.47 | 29 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $52,610 | $25.29 | 33 |
| 11 | Washington, MI | $52,023 | $25.01 | 33 |
| 12 | Duluth, MN | $51,899 | $24.95 | 2 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $50,764 | $24.41 | 25 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $50,446 | $24.25 | 48 |
| 15 | Duluth, GA | $50,014 | $24.05 | 2 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $49,884 | $23.98 | 65 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $48,446 | $23.29 | 25 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,134 | $23.14 | 38 |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,721 | $22.94 | 32 |
| 20 | Las Vegas, NV | $46,453 | $22.33 | 23 |
Accountants are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Accountant salary by years of experience
An accountant with 0-2 years of experience earns an average entry-level salary of $36,271. A mid-career accountant with 3-6 years of experience makes $54,890 a year on average. A senior level accountant with 7-12 years of experience enjoys an average annual salary of $88,377.
Accountant salary by experience level
| Experience Level | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level accountant | $36,300 | $17.44 |
| Mid-level accountant | $52,200 | $25.12 |
| Senior-level accountant | $88,400 | $42.49 |
Accountant salary details
An accountant's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an accountant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $54,890 | $4,574 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying accountant jobs
The highest paying types of accountants are senior tax accountant, certified public accountant, and senior accountant analyst.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant And Office Manager | $51,217 | $4,268 | $24.62 | 107,701 |
| Certified Public Accountant | $76,693 | $6,391 | $36.87 | 78,792 |
| Finance Analyst/Accountant | $62,975 | $5,248 | $30.28 | 118,043 |
| General Ledger Accountant | $60,034 | $5,003 | $28.86 | 81,408 |
| Fixed Asset Accountant | $59,691 | $4,974 | $28.70 | 42,860 |
| Accountant/Consultant | $64,298 | $5,358 | $30.91 | 38,916 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for Accountants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Alyson Ma Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, University of San Diego
Economics is a combination of critical thinking, problem-solving, and quantitatively analyzing relationships using data. Students studying Economics are trained to interpret the big picture and present complex information about how an economy functions. Given the analytical and quantitative skills, it is not surprising that Economics majors earn higher than average starting salaries. The preliminary 2020 data shows an average salary of $63k for Economics and Business Economics Majors at USD.
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 accountants now:
Which companies pay accountants the most?
Accountant salaries at Meta and PayPal are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average accountant salary at companies like The Carlyle Group and Apple are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $100,015 | $48.08 |
| 2 | PayPal | $99,145 | $47.67 |
| 3 | The Carlyle Group | $96,880 | $46.58 |
| 4 | Apple | $96,163 | $46.23 |
| 5 | $91,469 | $43.98 | |
| 6 | Jordan Company | $91,459 | $43.97 |
| 7 | Microsoft | $90,104 | $43.32 |
| 8 | Cisco | $89,933 | $43.24 |
| 9 | Oracle | $84,756 | $40.75 |
| 10 | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC | $83,766 | $40.27 |
| 11 | Adobe | $83,384 | $40.09 |
| 12 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $82,880 | $39.85 |
| 13 | Ernst & Young | $82,205 | $39.52 |
| 14 | PBF Energy | $82,166 | $39.50 |
| 15 | Atlassian | $81,373 | $39.12 |
| 16 | Novartis | $79,911 | $38.42 |
| 17 | American Century Investments | $79,738 | $38.34 |
| 18 | Nabors Holding Company | $79,544 | $38.24 |
| 19 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $78,973 | $37.97 |
| 20 | FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies | $78,550 | $37.76 |
Accountant salary by industry
The average accountant salary varies across industries:
- The average accountant salary in the technology industry is $60,365, the highest of any industry.
- The average accountant salary in the finance industry is $59,666.
- Accountants in the government industry earn an average salary of $55,133, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for accountants
| Rank | Industry | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $60,365 | $29.02 |
| 2 | Finance | $59,666 | $28.69 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $58,822 | $28.28 |
| 4 | Professional | $58,017 | $27.89 |
| 5 | Health Care | $56,686 | $27.25 |
| 6 | Hospitality | $56,335 | $27.08 |
| 7 | Government | $55,133 | $26.51 |
High Paying Accountant Jobs
Accountant salary trends
The average accountant salary has risen by $7,992 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average accountant earned $46,898 annually, but today, they earn $54,890 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for accountants over the last decade.
Compare accountant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average accountant salary over time
Compare accountant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Accountant salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $54,900 | $26.39 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $53,400 | $25.67 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $52,600 | $25.29 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $51,700 | $24.88 | +1.7% |
| 2020 | $50,900 | $24.45 | +1.4% |
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Recently added accountant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faith Corporation | Accountant | 12/01/2023 | $34,882 | |
| Accu Reference Medical Laboratory LLC | Accountant | Linden, NJ | 11/03/2023 | $70,000 |
| Spring Glory International Inc. | Accountant | New York, NY | 10/03/2023 | $66,310 |
| Kaiser Biotech, Inc. | Accountant | Urbana, IL | 10/03/2023 | $60,000 |
| Google LLC | Accountant | Sunnyvale, CA | 10/02/2023 | $122,000 |
| JTX Market 2 LLC | Accountant | San Antonio, TX | 10/02/2023 | $53,000 |
| Kamjoo & Associates APC | Accountant | Los Angeles, CA | 10/02/2023 | $70,958 |
| Google LLC | Accountant | Chicago, IL | 10/01/2023 | $161,000 |
| Modu Management Group Inc. | Accountant | Vernon, CA | 09/03/2023 | $54,888 |
| Jingu North America Corporation | Accoutant | Atlanta, GA | 09/03/2023 | $67,000 |
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Accountant salary FAQs
What state pays Accountants the most?
How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as an Accountant?
Have more questions?
See all answers to common business and financial questions.Search for accountant jobs
Accountant Related Salaries
- Accountant And Office Manager Salary
- Accountant Internship Salary
- Accountant/Consultant Salary
- Certified Public Accountant Salary
- Corporate Accountant Salary
- Cost Accountant Salary
- Finance Analyst/Accountant Salary
- Fixed Asset Accountant Salary
- Fund Accountant Salary
- General Accountant Salary
- General Ledger Accountant Salary
- Junior Accountant Salary
- Project Accountant Salary
- Senior Accountant Salary
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Accountant Related Careers
- Accountant And Office Manager
- Accountant Internship
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- Certified Public Accountant
- Corporate Accountant
- Cost Accountant
- Finance Analyst/Accountant
- Fixed Asset Accountant
- Fund Accountant
- General Accountant
- General Ledger Accountant
- Junior Accountant
- Project Accountant
- Senior Accountant
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- What Does a General Ledger Accountant Do
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- What Does a Project Accountant Do
- What Does a Senior Accountant Do
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Updated March 14, 2024
