SOC 13-2011 · BLS occupation: Accountant & Auditor · May 2025
Accountant Salary
Accountant & Auditors in the US earn a median of $83,680 a year ($45.56 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Accountant & Auditor pay climbed from $79,520 in 2019 to $94,750 in 2025, a +19.2% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$83,680
Half of all Accountant & Auditors in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+19.2% since 2019 · +1.3% YoY
Hourly
$45.56
Job growth 2025-35
+5%
US workers
1,449,500
BLS series
Annual median wage for Accountants and Auditors in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Accountant & Auditors is $56,020 – $144,090.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$56,020
25th
$67,020
Median
$83,680
75th
$109,810
90th
$144,090
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Accountant & Auditors. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $56,020 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $67,020 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $83,680 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $109,810 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $144,090 |
Geography
Accountant & Auditor pay by state
Accountant & Auditors earn the most in D.C. ($111,530, +33% against the national median) and the least in Arkansas ($66,330). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$83,680
Highest-paying states for accountant & auditors
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $111,530 | +33% | 9,810 |
| New York | $102,640 | +23% | 109,830 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 | +20% | 42,250 |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 | +19% | 46,230 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 | +17% | 16,770 |
| California | $97,050 | +16% | 175,360 |
| Colorado | $97,030 | +16% | 35,410 |
| Washington | $96,550 | +15% | 34,740 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 | +15% | 6,570 |
| Delaware | $95,020 | +14% | 6,570 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $111,530 | 9,810 |
| New York | $102,640 | 109,830 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 | 42,250 |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 | 46,230 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 | 16,770 |
| California | $97,050 | 175,360 |
| Colorado | $97,030 | 35,410 |
| Washington | $96,550 | 34,740 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 | 6,570 |
| Delaware | $95,020 | 6,570 |
| Virginia | $93,290 | 47,100 |
| Maryland | $89,370 | 26,170 |
| Oregon | $85,800 | 14,920 |
| New Hampshire | $83,470 | 7,000 |
| Alaska | $83,460 | 2,190 |
| North Carolina | $82,050 | 49,270 |
| Georgia | $81,900 | 44,020 |
| Minnesota | $81,600 | 30,530 |
| Nevada | $81,600 | 6,930 |
| Texas | $80,920 | 116,470 |
| Illinois | $80,230 | 54,930 |
| Utah | $79,990 | 15,490 |
| Arizona | $79,970 | 27,410 |
| Wisconsin | $79,400 | 25,100 |
| Oklahoma | $79,370 | 16,720 |
| Ohio | $79,320 | 50,440 |
| Florida | $79,250 | 91,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,000 | 54,290 |
| Kansas | $79,000 | 13,610 |
| Vermont | $78,890 | 2,630 |
| South Dakota | $78,880 | 5,820 |
| Michigan | $78,820 | 41,460 |
| New Mexico | $78,580 | 6,300 |
| Indiana | $77,720 | 25,660 |
| Wyoming | $77,620 | 2,670 |
| Maine | $77,480 | 3,860 |
| Iowa | $77,440 | 13,210 |
| Tennessee | $76,840 | 27,340 |
| Missouri | $76,590 | 28,000 |
| South Carolina | $76,560 | 15,270 |
| Montana | $75,810 | 4,730 |
| North Dakota | $75,730 | 4,430 |
| Kentucky | $75,270 | 11,930 |
| Alabama | $74,880 | 24,300 |
| Idaho | $74,730 | 5,570 |
| Hawaii | $74,500 | 4,670 |
| Louisiana | $73,810 | 14,050 |
| West Virginia | $73,320 | 4,900 |
| Nebraska | $72,080 | 10,340 |
| Mississippi | $68,100 | 7,350 |
| Arkansas | $66,330 | 7,870 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Accountant & Auditors
Accountants and auditors prepare financial records, examine financial operations, and ensure compliance with tax and regulatory requirements. Most hold a bachelor's degree in accounting; CPA licensure unlocks higher-paid positions.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $56,020 – $144,090. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are D.C., New York and New Jersey. Pay in D.C. runs 1.7 times the level in Arkansas, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 115,300 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Accountant & Auditor salary in the US?
How much does a Accountant & Auditor make an hour?
How much do Accountant & Auditors make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Accountant & Auditors the most?
Is the average Accountant & Auditor salary higher than the median?
Is Accountant & Auditor a growing career?
Open positions
Open Accountant & Auditor roles hiring now
Browse current Accountant & Auditor listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 13-2011. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.