Median Salary
$83,680
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$40.23
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$144,090
entry level starts ~$56,020
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 1,450,000 employed
How much do Accountants and Auditors make?
The median pay for Accountants and Auditors in the United States is $83,680 per year — about $40.23 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $56,020, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $144,090.
That is $22,290 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Accountants and Auditors salary range by percentile
Half of all Accountants and Auditors earn between $67,020 and $109,810 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,020 | $26.93 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $67,020 | $32.22 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $83,680 | $40.23 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $109,810 | $52.79 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $144,090 | $69.27 |
|
Highest-paying states for Accountants and Auditors
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Accountants and Auditors pay at $111,530 a year, followed by New York ($102,640) and New Jersey ($100,830). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $66,330 — a gap of $45,200 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Accountants and Auditors salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
District of Columbia $111,530New York $102,640New Jersey $100,830Massachusetts $99,460Connecticut $97,550California $97,050Colorado $97,030Washington $96,550Rhode Island $95,820Delaware $95,020Virginia $93,290Maryland $89,370Oregon $85,800New Hampshire $83,470Alaska $83,460North Carolina $82,050Georgia $81,900Minnesota $81,600Nevada $81,600Texas $80,920Illinois $80,230Utah $79,990Arizona $79,970Wisconsin $79,400Oklahoma $79,370Ohio $79,320Florida $79,250Kansas $79,000Pennsylvania $79,000Vermont $78,890South Dakota $78,880Michigan $78,820New Mexico $78,580Indiana $77,720Wyoming $77,620Maine $77,480Iowa $77,440Tennessee $76,840Missouri $76,590South Carolina $76,560Montana $75,810North Dakota $75,730Kentucky $75,270Alabama $74,880Idaho $74,730Hawaii $74,500Louisiana $73,810West Virginia $73,320Nebraska $72,080Mississippi $68,100Arkansas $66,330
Workforce and education
About 1,450,000 people work as Accountants and Auditors in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $94,750 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Accountants and Auditors make in the United States?
The median Accountants and Auditors salary in the United States is $83,680 per year, or about $40.23 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $56,020, while the top 10% of earners make $144,090 or more.
How does Accountants and Auditors pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Accountants and Auditors median of $83,680 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Accountants and Auditors the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Accountants and Auditors, with a median salary of $111,530 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Accountants and Auditors need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Accountants and Auditors work in the United States?
About 1,450,000 people were employed as Accountants and Auditors in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.