Accountant salary in the United States
National median pay
$83,680/year
about $40.23 an hour full-time
Middle half earns $67,020 – $109,810
National pay range
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $56,020 | $26.93 |
| 25th | $67,020 | $32.22 |
| Median (50th) | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| 75th | $109,810 | $52.79 |
| 90th (top earners) | $144,090 | $69.27 |
*Yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the full-time basis BLS uses.
Pay by city
Highest median pay: San Jose ($121,700). Lowest of the cities we track: Pittsburgh ($76,940).
| Metro area | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $121,700 | $96,430 – $156,700 |
| San Francisco, CA | $110,730 | $88,820 – $143,590 |
| New York, NY | $105,650 | $82,830 – $137,490 |
| Washington, DC | $102,140 | $79,990 – $133,430 |
| Boston, MA | $100,150 | $79,990 – $129,490 |
| Denver, CO | $100,020 | $78,130 – $130,870 |
| Seattle, WA | $99,370 | $80,880 – $126,800 |
| San Diego, CA | $96,340 | $76,690 – $125,190 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $94,360 | $74,060 – $122,290 |
| Charlotte, NC | $92,910 | $72,420 – $129,000 |
| Portland, OR | $92,200 | $76,900 – $109,870 |
| Sacramento, CA | $92,110 | $74,550 – $108,950 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $86,500 | $73,900 – $110,290 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $85,990 | $73,370 – $110,420 |
| Atlanta, GA | $85,820 | $68,510 – $116,090 |
| Baltimore, MD | $85,160 | $71,100 – $108,640 |
| Houston, TX | $85,090 | $72,470 – $109,670 |
| Austin, TX | $83,120 | $68,250 – $103,820 |
| Dallas, TX | $82,620 | $71,100 – $104,150 |
| Chicago, IL | $82,360 | $72,280 – $103,120 |
| Miami, FL | $80,920 | $63,700 – $105,500 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $80,820 | $66,340 – $105,640 |
| Detroit, MI | $80,650 | $65,490 – $104,170 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $80,530 | $66,940 – $102,960 |
| Tampa, FL | $78,990 | $62,570 – $102,490 |
| St. Louis, MO | $78,880 | $62,470 – $101,410 |
| San Antonio, TX | $78,650 | $65,470 – $99,780 |
| Orlando, FL | $78,630 | $62,940 – $101,210 |
| Nashville, TN | $78,080 | $65,300 – $97,420 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $76,940 | $60,550 – $97,760 |
Pay depends a lot on location, so compare an on-site job with its local figures. For fully remote jobs, national pay is usually the fairest comparison.
🏆 Best paying cities for accountants, after cost of living →
Is your offer fair?
$
- Below market under $67,020 ($32.22/hr). Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $67,020 to $109,810 ($32.22 to $52.79/hr). The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $109,810 ($52.79/hr). Higher than three quarters of workers here.
Before you accept
- A CPA license usually raises pay noticeably, and some employers support the exam with time off or fees.
- Busy season can mean long hours from January to April. Ask how overtime is handled for salaried roles.
- Public accounting and corporate (industry) roles often pay differently for similar titles.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025. Occupation: Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.