How Much Does an Accountant Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$83,680
Accountants in the U.S. earn a median of $83,680 a year, or $40.23 an hour. Half of accountants earn more than $83,680 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $144,090.
Pay percentiles for accountants
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26.93 | $56,020 |
| 25th | $32.22 | $67,020 |
| 50th (median) | $40.23 | $83,680 |
| 75th | $52.80 | $109,810 |
| 90th | $69.27 | $144,090 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for accountants
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,530 | $53.62 | +33% |
| New York | $102,640 | $49.35 | +23% |
| New Jersey | $100,830 | $48.48 | +20% |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 | $47.82 | +19% |
| Connecticut | $97,550 | $46.90 | +17% |
| California | $97,050 | $46.66 | +16% |
| Colorado | $97,030 | $46.65 | +16% |
| Washington | $96,550 | $46.42 | +15% |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 | $46.07 | +15% |
| Delaware | $95,020 | $45.69 | +14% |
| United States | $83,680 | $40.23 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many accountants are there?
BLS counts about 1,449,500 accountants employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Accountants and Auditors”. The most jobs are in California (175,360), Texas (116,470) and New York (109,830).
The mean (average) annual wage is $94,750, higher than the median of $83,680.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,973
- Biweekly
- $3,218
- Weekly
- $1,609
- Daily (8 hours)
- $322
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do accountants make an hour?
The median hourly wage for accountants is $40.23. The middle 50% earn between $32.22 and $52.80 an hour.
Which state pays accountants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for accountants at $111,530, +33% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for accountants?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of accountants earn less than $56,020 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.