The average Accountant salary in the US is $94,750. The median of $83,680 is the more useful figure for setting offers, since it better reflects what most Accountants actually earn and is less influenced by high earners at the top of the distribution. For most hiring situations, anchoring near the median and adjusting for experience and location will produce a defensible, market-aligned offer.
Accountant salary in the US (2026)
The average Accountant salary in the US is $94,750. The median salary of $83,680 is the better anchor for most hiring decisions, because it reflects what the typical Accountant earns without being pulled upward by high earners at the top of the range. With 1,449,500 Accountants employed nationally, the market is large and competitive, so your offer needs to be benchmarked carefully against local and industry-specific data to attract qualified candidates.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Average annual salary | $94,750 |
Median annual salary | $83,680 |
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 | $56,020 |
25th percentile | $67,020 |
75th percentile | $109,810 |
90th percentile | $144,090 |
If you want to attract experienced Accountants without overpaying for entry-level talent, anchoring your offer between $83,680 and $109,810 covers the median through the 75th percentile and positions you competitively for mid-career candidates. Senior Accountants at the top of the market earn up to $144,090, so budget accordingly if you need deep technical or leadership experience.
How Accountant salaries compare across states
State | Average annual salary | Median annual salary |
New York | $114,070 | $102,640 |
Massachusetts | $107,170 | $99,460 |
California | $103,760 | $97,050 |
Colorado | $103,150 | $97,030 |
Washington | $102,700 | $96,550 |
Virginia | $100,660 | $93,290 |
Georgia | $93,640 | $81,900 |
Texas | $90,370 | $80,920 |
Illinois | $88,910 | $80,230 |
Florida | $88,210 | $79,250 |
Where you hire will materially affect your Accountant budget, so use state-level data to set location-specific pay bands rather than relying on the national average alone. Hiring in New York or Massachusetts means budgeting for average salaries of $114,070 and $107,170 respectively, while hiring in Florida or Illinois allows you to offer closer to $88,210 and $88,910 and still remain market-competitive. States like Georgia, Texas, and Virginia fall near the national average of $94,750, giving you more flexibility in those markets.
Frequently asked questions about Accountant salary in the US
What is the average Accountant salary in the US?
What is the salary range for an Accountant in the US?
The national salary range for Accountants runs from $56,020 at the 10th percentile to $144,090 at the 90th percentile. Most Accountants fall between $67,020 at the 25th percentile and $109,810 at the 75th percentile, which is the range most relevant for competitive hiring. Use this middle band to set your initial offer range and adjust based on candidate experience and your location's market rates.
What are the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentile salaries for Accountants nationally?
Nationally, Accountant salaries sit at $56,020 at the 10th percentile, $67,020 at the 25th percentile, $109,810 at the 75th percentile, and $144,090 at the 90th percentile. These benchmarks help you calibrate offers by experience level: entry-level hires typically fall in the lower range, while senior or specialized Accountants command salaries toward the 75th or 90th percentile. Knowing where your role sits in this range helps you avoid both underpaying and overpaying for the experience level you actually need.
How many people are employed as Accountants nationally?
There are 1,449,500 Accountants employed across the US, making it one of the larger professional occupations in the country. The size of this workforce means there is a broad talent pool to draw from, but it also means candidates have many options and can compare offers easily. Staying at or above the median of $83,680 gives your offer a reasonable chance of standing out in a competitive market.
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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