📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Accountants and Auditors Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Very High Demand
Average
$94,750
per year
Median
$83,680
per year
Hourly
$45.55
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$60,424
25th Percentile — Junior$78,038
50th Percentile — Median$83,680
75th Percentile — Senior$117,669
90th Percentile — Top Earners$132,563
💡 The top 10% of Accountants and Auditorss earn $132,563 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $60,424, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$79.8k
2021
$82.6k
2022
$85.5k
2023
$88.5k
2024
$91.5k
2025
$94.8k
2026
📈 Accountants and Auditors salaries have grown 3.5% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $14,973.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $146,862 | +55.0% | Very High |
| District of Columbia | $144,020 | +52.0% | Very High |
| California | $134,545 | +42.0% | Very High |
| New York | $130,755 | +38.0% | Very High |
| Alaska | $125,070 | +32.0% | Very High |
| Massachusetts | $123,175 | +30.0% | Very High |
| New Jersey | $121,280 | +28.0% | Very High |
| Washington | $118,438 | +25.0% | Very High |
| Connecticut | $115,595 | +22.0% | Very High |
| Maryland | $108,962 | +15.0% | Very High |
| Rhode Island | $108,962 | +15.0% | Very High |
| New Hampshire | $108,015 | +14.0% | Very High |
| Oregon | $106,120 | +12.0% | Very High |
| Colorado | $104,225 | +10.0% | Very High |
| Virginia | $104,225 | +10.0% | Very High |
| Vermont | $102,330 | +8.0% | Very High |
| Delaware | $99,488 | +5.0% | Very High |
| Illinois | $99,488 | +5.0% | Very High |
| Maine | $96,645 | +2.0% | Very High |
| Nevada | $96,645 | +2.0% | Very High |
| Minnesota | $94,750 | +0.0% | Very High |
| Utah | $94,750 | +0.0% | Very High |
| Arizona | $93,802 | -1.0% | Very High |
| Pennsylvania | $93,802 | -1.0% | Very High |
| Florida | $92,855 | -2.0% | Very High |
| Montana | $90,012 | -5.0% | Very High |
| Texas | $90,012 | -5.0% | Very High |
| Georgia | $88,118 | -7.0% | Very High |
| Idaho | $88,118 | -7.0% | Very High |
| Wyoming | $88,118 | -7.0% | Very High |
| North Dakota | $87,170 | -8.0% | Very High |
| Wisconsin | $87,170 | -8.0% | Very High |
| North Carolina | $86,222 | -9.0% | Very High |
| Michigan | $85,275 | -10.0% | Very High |
| Louisiana | $83,380 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Nebraska | $83,380 | -12.0% | Very High |
| New Mexico | $83,380 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Ohio | $83,380 | -12.0% | Very High |
| South Carolina | $83,380 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Tennessee | $83,380 | -12.0% | Very High |
| Alabama | $82,432 | -13.0% | Very High |
| Missouri | $82,432 | -13.0% | Very High |
| South Dakota | $82,432 | -13.0% | Very High |
| Iowa | $81,485 | -14.0% | Very High |
| Indiana | $80,538 | -15.0% | Very High |
| Kansas | $80,538 | -15.0% | Very High |
| Oklahoma | $79,590 | -16.0% | Very High |
| Arkansas | $78,642 | -17.0% | Very High |
| Kentucky | $78,642 | -17.0% | Very High |
| Mississippi | $75,800 | -20.0% | Very High |
| West Virginia | $73,905 | -22.0% | Very High |
What Factors Affect Accountants and Auditors Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Accountants and Auditors's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Accountants and Auditorss typically earn $60,424–$78,038 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $117,669–$132,563 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Accountants and Auditors role currently has very high demand in the job market with a 3.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Business sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Accountants and Auditors?The average salary for a Accountants and Auditors in the United States is $94,750 per year, with a median of $83,680.
-
What is the starting salary for a Accountants and Auditors?Entry-level Accountants and Auditorss typically earn between $60,424 and $78,038 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Accountants and Auditorss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Accountants and Auditorss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Accountants and Auditors make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $94,750, a Accountants and Auditors earns approximately $45.55 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Accountants and Auditors a good career in 2026?Yes — the Accountants and Auditors role has very high demand with 3.5% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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