Accountant Salary: Average, Range, and Influencing Factors

Key takeaways

Accountant salaries are influenced by many factors, including geographic location, specific certifications, experience, skills, and the type of company an individual works for.

• An accountant salary in the United States has a median of $79,880 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, though average annual ranges across different websites vary from $64,660 to $106,450 [1,2].

• Skills in consulting management can increase an average salary by 41 percent, while tax consulting and budgeting can lead to increases of 25 percent and 16 percent, respectively [3].

• You can take the next step in preparing for a career as an accountant by getting started with an online course to potentially increase your salary.

Explore the breakdown of salary averages and factors affecting earnings in the sections below. Encourage your professional growth and build your expertise by enrolling in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Accounting Data Analytics Specialization to learn about data analytics skills you can use when evaluating finances.

Accountants manage the financial records for companies, government organizations, and individuals. They work across almost all industries, specializing in different areas, such as health care, finance, government, etc. Due to such widespread need, the industry is growing steadily relative to the rest of the economy. However, its growth can vary based on the response to broader economic changes.

Many factors influence an accountant’s salary, including geographic location and specific certifications. Explore a breakdown of salary averages, including the average tax accountant salary and certified public accountant (CPA) salary based on certifications, experience, skills, location, specialization, and type of company.

How much does an accountant make?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants earned a median salary of $81,680 in the United States in 2024 [1]. U.S. News & World Report shared that in 2024, the highest-paid 25% of accountants earned $106,450, while the lowest-paid 25% earned $64,660 [2]. Your anticipated income as an accountant can vary on many factors, including where you’re looking for work, what level of education you’ve completed, and what industry you’re interested in.

What is an accountant?

Accountants handle their clients’ financial matters, from maintaining and preparing financial records to calculating and paying taxes. Other typical duties often include:

• Assessing financial activities

• Preparing financial reports

• Providing cost reduction suggestions and strategies

• Identifying financial inefficiencies

• Making recommendations for increasing profit

Accountants can work individually or in large teams, at home or in offices, or for a firm handling multiple clients or a single organization. 

Factors that may affect salary

Your salary may vary based on the company you work for, your location, and the type of accounting you do. Additionally, your certification, skills, and experience can impact your earnings. Explore these factors in closer detail below.

Company

The company you work for can be one of the most significant factors affecting your salary. All industries need accountants, but some pay more than others on average.

Location

The salary you earn as an accountant can vary based on location. According to Zippia, the states with the highest and lowest average accountant salaries are as follows [5]:

Highest accountant salaries:

• New York: $68,366

• New Jersey: $67,833

• Massachusetts: $62,743

• Connecticut: $62,386

• Rhode Island: $60,990 

Lowest accountant salaries:

• Hawaii: $38,954

• North Dakota: $39,626

• Mississippi: $40,889

• Wyoming: $42,614

• Louisiana: $42,765

Experience

Gaining experience in the field is another way to help boost your earning potential. As is true in many fields, gaining more years of experience should help you earn a higher salary.

Education

Accountants typically earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting or business to break into the field. However, you may be able to earn more with a higher degree, like a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Science in Accounting. 

Here’s the breakdown of average base salaries according to degree types, per Zippia [5]. 

• Bachelor’s: $56,183

• Master’s: $60,892

Additionally, gaining a Certified Public Accountant certification is likely to increase your salary, and may mean that you receive a yearly bonus, too. In 2024, the average CPA in the United states earned $122,229 [9].

Skills

Payscale has valuable data regarding skills that impact the average accountant and CPA salary. Some of the key skills that Payscale has determined may increase your salary include [6]:

• Consulting management: average salary 41 percent higher

• Tax consulting: average salary 25 percent higher

• Budgeting: average salary 16 percent higher 

• Financial modeling: average salary 8 percent higher

• NetSuite software: average salary 13 percent higher 

• Tax preparation

• Financial modeling

• Financial planning & analysis

Job outlook and opportunities

Accounting is a broad field that is necessary for most industries to keep track of records and financial activities. Because of this variety, it might be easier to find a job in an area that interests you. 

The BLS anticipates that accountant jobs will grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034 [1]. That growth translates into 124,200 new jobs for accountants each year in that period [7]. Globalization, an increase in the use of technology, and the health of the economy in general can all impact the need for accountants in the foreseeable future.

Keep learning with free resources

If you’re ready to take the next step in preparing for a career as an accountant, check out these free resources:

• Read our cheat sheet for accountants: Excel Glossary & Terms

• Watch our video on YouTube: The Accounting Courses Every Founder Needs

• Subscribe to our newsletter: Career Chat

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