Best paying cities for accountants, after cost of living
After cost of living, accountant pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $110,236) and least far in Miami (worth $70,858).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $121,700 | 110.4 | $110,236 | +32% |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $110,730 | 115.6 | $95,787 | +14% |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $92,910 | 97.3 | $95,488 | +14% |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $100,020 | 105.8 | $94,537 | +13% |
| 5 | New York, NY | $105,650 | 112.6 | $93,828 | +12% |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $102,140 | 108.9 | $93,792 | +12% |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $100,150 | 108.3 | $92,475 | +11% |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $99,370 | 111.1 | $89,442 | +7% |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $92,200 | 105.4 | $87,476 | +5% |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $92,110 | 106.7 | $86,326 | +3% |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $85,090 | 98.6 | $86,298 | +3% |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $96,340 | 111.9 | $86,095 | +3% |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $85,820 | 100.1 | $85,734 | +2% |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $83,120 | 98.1 | $84,730 | +1% |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $85,990 | 102.6 | $83,811 | 0% |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $94,360 | 113.6 | $83,063 | −1% |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $78,650 | 94.7 | $83,052 | −1% |
| 18 | St. Louis, MO | $78,880 | 95.1 | $82,944 | −1% |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | $86,500 | 104.8 | $82,538 | −1% |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $85,160 | 104.5 | $81,493 | −3% |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $76,940 | 94.7 | $81,246 | −3% |
| 22 | Nashville, TN | $78,080 | 96.3 | $81,080 | −3% |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $80,650 | 100.3 | $80,409 | −4% |
| 24 | Las Vegas, NV | $80,530 | 100.2 | $80,369 | −4% |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $82,620 | 103.1 | $80,136 | −4% |
| 26 | Chicago, IL | $82,360 | 103.6 | $79,498 | −5% |
| 27 | Tampa, FL | $78,990 | 100.9 | $78,285 | −6% |
| 28 | Phoenix, AZ | $80,820 | 103.3 | $78,238 | −7% |
| 29 | Orlando, FL | $78,630 | 101.4 | $77,544 | −7% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $80,920 | 114.2 | $70,858 | −15% |
U.S. median for accountants: $83,680. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Accountants and Auditors, SOC 13-2011); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.