New York, Massachusetts, and California pay the most for Accountants, with average annual salaries of $114,070, $107,170, and $103,760 respectively. If you are competing for talent in those markets, expect to set offers well above the national median of $56,020 to attract qualified candidates.
Accountant salary in the US (2026)
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Accountant salary in the US (2026)
The average Accountant salary in the US is $94,750. The median salary of $56,020 is the more reliable anchor for most hiring decisions, because it reflects what the typical Accountant earns rather than being pulled upward by high earners at the top of the field. Accountant compensation spans a wide range nationally, so where you set your offer will depend heavily on the seniority level and specialization you are hiring for.
Accountant salary in the US (2026)
Metric | Value |
Average Annual Salary | $94,750 |
Median Annual Salary | $56,020 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 1,449,500 employed Accountants across the US.
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Accountant salary percentiles
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $32,000 |
25th Percentile | $40,000 |
75th Percentile | — |
90th Percentile | $69,000 |
For most Accountant hires, an offer between $40,000 and $69,000 will cover the broad middle of the market. The average of $94,750 sits well above the 90th percentile of $69,000, which means a small number of very high earners are pulling the mean upward — anchor your offers to the median and percentile range rather than the average to avoid overpaying for mid-level roles.
How Accountant salaries compare across states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
New York | $114,070 | $63,700 |
Massachusetts | $107,170 | $70,460 |
California | $103,760 | $61,770 |
Colorado | $103,150 | $60,760 |
Washington | $102,700 | $66,330 |
Virginia | $100,660 | $60,000 |
Georgia | $93,640 | $51,830 |
Texas | $90,370 | $53,380 |
Illinois | $88,910 | $54,510 |
Florida | $88,210 | $50,280 |
If you are hiring Accountants in the Northeast or on the West Coast, budget meaningfully above the national median of $56,020 to stay competitive. New York leads with a median of $63,700 and Massachusetts follows at $70,460, while states like Florida and Georgia sit closer to $50,280 and $51,830, giving employers in those markets more room to offer at or near the national median.
Frequently asked questions about Accountant salary in the US
Which states pay the most for Accountants?
What do the top-earning Accountants make nationally?
The 90th percentile for Accountants nationally is $69,000 per year. The national average of $94,750 exceeds that figure, which tells you that a relatively small group of very high earners is pulling the mean up — when budgeting for senior Accountant talent, use the 90th percentile as your ceiling for most roles rather than the average.
What is the salary range for a Accountant in the US?
The salary range for Accountants in the US runs from $32,000 at the 10th percentile to $69,000 at the 90th percentile. Most mid-level hires will fall between the 25th percentile of $40,000 and the 90th percentile of $69,000, so use that band to frame your offer depending on the candidate's experience level.
What is the average Accountant salary in the US?
The average Accountant salary in the US is $94,750 per year. Because the average sits above the 90th percentile of $69,000, the median of $56,020 is a more practical benchmark for setting competitive offers for most Accountant roles.
More salary data
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, for Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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