Accountants Salary 2025: $84,578 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$84,578 per year is the national median annual wage for accountants (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $41/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $78,440 to $196,890. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 13-2011.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $84,578
- Median hourly wage
- $41/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $99,257
- Total US employment
- 970,460
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($121,700)
- BLS SOC code
- 13-2011
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Accountant (SOC 13-2011) is a mid-paying occupation, with a national median wage of $84,578. BLS OEWS reports 970,460 workers in this role nationally.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $65,810 to $121,700 median across 70 cities, about 85% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Accountant sits in the Finance category — a sector with substantial variable compensation (bonuses, commissions, deferred comp) that BLS OEWS does not fully capture. The base wage figures here understate total compensation, particularly in high-cost financial-center cities.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Accountants salaries range from $65,810 to $121,700 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Accountants Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $78,440 | $95,744 | $121,700 | $159,295 | $196,890 | $62,155 | 13,180 |
| San Francisco, CA | $73,420 | $88,344 | $110,730 | $145,395 | $180,060 | $61,654 | 25,170 |
| New York, NY | $71,850 | $85,370 | $105,650 | $140,200 | $174,750 | $56,437 | 111,930 |
| Washington, DC | $67,530 | $81,374 | $102,140 | $136,560 | $170,980 | $66,846 | 41,470 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $69,290 | $82,382 | $102,020 | $134,815 | $167,610 | $74,196 | 5,000 |
| Boston, MA | $72,450 | $83,530 | $100,150 | $130,800 | $161,450 | $65,845 | 37,150 |
| Denver, CO | $63,550 | $78,138 | $100,020 | $132,515 | $165,010 | $88,670 | 22,720 |
| Seattle, WA | $73,250 | $83,698 | $99,370 | $130,005 | $160,640 | $66,513 | 22,100 |
| San Diego, CA | $62,520 | $76,048 | $96,340 | $127,030 | $157,720 | $60,137 | 13,450 |
| Hartford, CT | $63,830 | $76,674 | $95,940 | $115,455 | $134,970 | $85,204 | 6,780 |
| Providence, RI | $60,620 | $74,380 | $95,020 | $122,280 | $149,540 | $79,581 | 8,250 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $60,310 | $73,930 | $94,360 | $124,495 | $154,630 | $56,843 | 70,640 |
| Charlotte, NC | $59,200 | $72,684 | $92,910 | $130,120 | $167,330 | $96,081 | 16,820 |
| Portland, OR | $64,680 | $75,688 | $92,200 | $114,465 | $136,730 | $70,869 | 10,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $61,350 | $73,654 | $92,110 | $111,975 | $131,840 | $73,865 | 13,170 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $61,940 | $71,764 | $86,500 | $116,105 | $145,710 | $81,450 | 21,820 |
| Spokane, WA | $61,760 | $71,596 | $86,350 | $110,500 | $134,650 | $88,655 | 2,340 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $59,560 | $70,132 | $85,990 | $112,705 | $139,420 | $72,627 | 29,370 |
| Atlanta, GA | $56,490 | $68,222 | $85,820 | $119,415 | $153,010 | $86,512 | 30,150 |
| Baltimore, MD | $59,170 | $69,566 | $85,160 | $115,905 | $146,650 | $74,571 | 13,550 |
| Houston, TX | $58,780 | $69,304 | $85,090 | $114,640 | $144,190 | $88,176 | 28,400 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $55,530 | $67,318 | $85,000 | $114,350 | $143,700 | $81,340 | 2,580 |
| Albany, NY | $59,530 | $69,582 | $84,660 | $109,165 | $133,670 | $84,071 | 4,680 |
| Richmond, VA | $59,290 | $69,262 | $84,220 | $109,255 | $134,290 | $82,488 | 7,920 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $57,260 | $67,924 | $83,920 | $109,530 | $135,140 | $68,562 | 9,240 |
| Austin, TX | $57,660 | $67,844 | $83,120 | $106,625 | $130,130 | $80,699 | 12,480 |
| Dallas, TX | $57,940 | $67,812 | $82,620 | $108,080 | $133,540 | $79,366 | 37,450 |
| Reno, NV | $59,670 | $68,750 | $82,370 | $105,790 | $129,210 | $77,343 | 1,480 |
| Chicago, IL | $59,530 | $68,662 | $82,360 | $108,230 | $134,100 | $76,757 | 41,360 |
| Anchorage, AK | $59,550 | $68,590 | $82,150 | $102,800 | $123,450 | $64,685 | 1,160 |
| Buffalo, NY | $56,550 | $66,778 | $82,120 | $108,745 | $135,370 | $88,778 | 4,870 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $51,470 | $63,722 | $82,100 | $106,915 | $131,730 | $80,966 | 8,660 |
| Raleigh, NC | $57,120 | $67,052 | $81,950 | $108,085 | $134,220 | $82,114 | 9,190 |
| Columbus, OH | $56,610 | $66,646 | $81,700 | $107,015 | $132,330 | $87,755 | 11,410 |
| Tulsa, OK | $50,710 | $62,954 | $81,320 | $107,155 | $132,990 | $93,687 | 5,110 |
| Madison, WI | $60,770 | $68,914 | $81,130 | $102,030 | $122,930 | $78,160 | 4,440 |
| Miami, FL | $50,280 | $62,536 | $80,920 | $106,730 | $132,540 | $65,735 | 30,950 |
| Rochester, NY | $58,030 | $67,174 | $80,890 | $105,790 | $130,690 | $87,072 | 4,370 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $58,000 | $67,128 | $80,820 | $104,995 | $129,170 | $80,258 | 21,360 |
| Detroit, MI | $58,080 | $67,108 | $80,650 | $107,260 | $133,870 | $84,805 | 19,390 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $57,740 | $66,900 | $80,640 | $106,660 | $132,680 | $88,421 | 10,050 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $57,740 | $66,856 | $80,530 | $104,320 | $128,110 | $73,881 | 4,680 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $60,340 | $68,320 | $80,290 | $106,220 | $132,150 | $82,433 | 7,960 |
| Greensboro, NC | $52,710 | $63,694 | $80,170 | $108,240 | $136,310 | $87,809 | 3,300 |
| Kansas City, MO | $54,680 | $64,824 | $80,040 | $105,180 | $130,320 | $83,899 | 11,260 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $51,800 | $63,064 | $79,960 | $105,290 | $130,620 | $84,080 | 6,890 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $55,990 | $65,546 | $79,880 | $103,070 | $126,260 | $84,979 | 3,260 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $55,090 | $64,902 | $79,620 | $106,715 | $133,810 | $79,145 | 1,870 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $52,820 | $63,408 | $79,290 | $104,235 | $129,180 | $88,002 | 11,210 |
| Des Moines, IA | $56,390 | $65,550 | $79,290 | $103,710 | $128,130 | $84,984 | 4,850 |
| Wichita, KS | $52,810 | $63,394 | $79,270 | $106,365 | $133,460 | $94,369 | 3,120 |
| Tampa, FL | $50,300 | $61,776 | $78,990 | $105,710 | $132,430 | $79,307 | 14,770 |
| St. Louis, MO | $51,040 | $62,176 | $78,880 | $104,610 | $130,340 | $87,644 | 13,610 |
| Fresno, CA | $56,700 | $65,496 | $78,690 | $103,645 | $128,600 | $74,588 | 2,810 |
| Birmingham, AL | $52,140 | $62,748 | $78,660 | $103,595 | $128,530 | $87,013 | 7,790 |
| San Antonio, TX | $56,080 | $65,108 | $78,650 | $103,145 | $127,640 | $85,956 | 8,360 |
| Orlando, FL | $50,510 | $61,758 | $78,630 | $104,700 | $130,770 | $76,266 | 10,410 |
| Nashville, TN | $53,650 | $63,422 | $78,080 | $101,910 | $125,740 | $77,846 | 11,290 |
| New Orleans, LA | $52,630 | $62,754 | $77,940 | $99,555 | $121,170 | $81,272 | 3,740 |
| Lexington, KY | $53,900 | $63,452 | $77,780 | $101,830 | $125,880 | $85,192 | 1,830 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $48,330 | $59,910 | $77,280 | $104,220 | $131,160 | $89,341 | 6,700 |
| Omaha, NE | $53,120 | $62,684 | $77,030 | $98,425 | $119,820 | $83,911 | 5,170 |
| Memphis, TN | $49,580 | $60,532 | $76,960 | $99,895 | $122,830 | $91,619 | 4,390 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $51,040 | $61,400 | $76,940 | $100,910 | $124,880 | $83,359 | 10,430 |
| Greenville, SC | $52,090 | $62,002 | $76,870 | $103,645 | $130,420 | $85,316 | 2,890 |
| Boise, ID | $52,460 | $62,156 | $76,700 | $100,260 | $123,820 | $75,122 | 3,140 |
| Louisville, KY | $53,070 | $62,370 | $76,320 | $98,975 | $121,630 | $84,612 | 4,590 |
| Tucson, AZ | $52,580 | $62,076 | $76,320 | $98,960 | $121,600 | $80,000 | 2,570 |
| Knoxville, TN | $50,470 | $60,434 | $75,380 | $100,530 | $125,680 | $83,477 | 3,240 |
| Little Rock, AR | $46,460 | $54,200 | $65,810 | $89,340 | $112,870 | $74,615 | 2,620 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Accountant is $84,578 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $99,257. Salaries range from $65,810 to $121,700 depending on city and cost of living.
Accountant salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $84,578, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 970,460 Accountant positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Accountant positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.