How much does an accountant make? Accountant salary and hourly pay
An accountant in the US earns a median of $83,680 a year, about $40.23 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $56,020 and the top 10% earn over $144,090. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, District of Columbia, has a median of $111,530.
Accountant pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure Ă· 2,080 hours (40 hours Ă 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does an accountant make an hour?
The median accountant earns $40.23 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $26.93 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69.27 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $56,020 | $26.93 |
| Lower 25% | $67,020 | $32.22 |
| Median (typical) | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| Upper 25% | $109,810 | $52.80 |
| Top 10% | $144,090 | $69.27 |
Accountant salary by state
Median annual pay for accountants in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | â Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $74,880 | $36.00 |
| Alaska | $83,460 | $40.12 |
| Arizona | $79,970 | $38.45 |
| Arkansas | $66,330 | $31.89 |
| California | $97,050 | $46.66 |
| Colorado | $97,030 | $46.65 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Delaware | $95,020 | $45.68 |
| District of Columbia | $111,530 | $53.62 |
| Florida | $79,250 | $38.10 |
| Georgia | $81,900 | $39.38 |
| Hawaii | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Idaho | $74,730 | $35.93 |
| Illinois | $80,230 | $38.57 |
| Indiana | $77,720 | $37.37 |
| Iowa | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Kansas | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Kentucky | $75,270 | $36.19 |
| Louisiana | $73,810 | $35.49 |
| Maine | $77,480 | $37.25 |
| Maryland | $89,370 | $42.97 |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 | $47.82 |
| Michigan | $78,820 | $37.89 |
| Minnesota | $81,600 | $39.23 |
| Mississippi | $68,100 | $32.74 |
| Missouri | $76,590 | $36.82 |
| Montana | $75,810 | $36.45 |
| Nebraska | $72,080 | $34.65 |
| Nevada | $81,600 | $39.23 |
| New Hampshire | $83,470 | $40.13 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 | $48.48 |
| New Mexico | $78,580 | $37.78 |
| New York | $102,640 | $49.35 |
| North Carolina | $82,050 | $39.45 |
| North Dakota | $75,730 | $36.41 |
| Ohio | $79,320 | $38.13 |
| Oklahoma | $79,370 | $38.16 |
| Oregon | $85,800 | $41.25 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 | $46.07 |
| South Carolina | $76,560 | $36.81 |
| South Dakota | $78,880 | $37.92 |
| Tennessee | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| Texas | $80,920 | $38.90 |
| Utah | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| Vermont | $78,890 | $37.93 |
| Virginia | $93,290 | $44.85 |
| Washington | $96,550 | $46.42 |
| West Virginia | $73,320 | $35.25 |
| Wisconsin | $79,400 | $38.17 |
| Wyoming | $77,620 | $37.32 |
Highest-paying states for accountants
- District of Columbia: $111,530 median
- New York: $102,640 median
- New Jersey: $100,830 median
- Massachusetts: $99,460 median
- Connecticut: $97,550 median
The lowest medians are in Arkansas ($66,330), Mississippi ($68,100), Nebraska ($72,080), West Virginia ($73,320), Louisiana ($73,810). The most accountant jobs are in California (175,360 jobs), Texas (116,470 jobs), New York (109,830 jobs), Florida (91,000 jobs), Illinois (54,930 jobs).
How much does an accountant make a month?
At the median salary of $83,680, an accountant earns about $6,973 a month, $3,218 every two weeks or $1,609 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced accountant pay
New accountants typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $56,020 a year and the lowest 25% under $67,020. The top 25% earn over $109,810 and the top 10% over $144,090. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Accountant salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Software engineer | $135,980 |
| Cyber security analyst | $129,180 |
| Financial advisor | $105,070 |
| Lawyer | $159,670 |
| Construction manager | $114,990 |
Common questions
How much does an accountant make?
The US median is $83,680 a year ($40.23 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does an accountant make an hour?
The median is about $40.23 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $26.93 and the top 10% about $69.27 an hour.
Which state pays accountants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median at $111,530, followed by New York ($102,640) and New Jersey ($100,830).
How much does an accountant make a month?
At the US median of $83,680 a year, about $6,973 a month or $3,218 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level accountant make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $56,020 a year and the lowest 25% under $67,020, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of accountants make?
The top 10% earn over $144,090 a year; the top 25% earn over $109,810.
How much does an accountant make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $97,050 in California, $80,920 in Texas, $79,250 in Florida, $102,640 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 13-2011, âAccountants and Auditorsâ), the most recent official release; âmedianâ means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.