Accounting Pay in the US: Accountants, Auditors and Related Roles
US wage percentiles for accountants, auditors, tax preparers, bookkeeping clerks and budget analysts, and why practice owners are missing from the data.
Published by SalaryBases. Drafted with AI assistance and revised to remove or reword figures we could not trace to a source. Not reviewed by a licensed professional. Pay figures come only from the official datasets named beside each table and apply only to the country, year and definition stated there. Methodology
This guide covers the United States. The page previously carried worldwide figures, which we removed because they could not be traced to a primary source.
What US government data shows
| Occupation (SOC) | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors (13-2011) | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
| Tax Preparers (13-2082) | $33,760 | $54,920 | $99,270 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (43-3031) | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
| Budget Analysts (13-2031) | $62,250 | $91,640 | $136,660 |
| Financial Managers (11-3031) | $94,310 | $166,570 | $323,270 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Scope: United States, national estimates, all industries, annual wages in US dollars (retrieved 9 October 2026). The median is the middle wage: half of the workers in the occupation earn more and half earn less; 10th/90th percentile mean 10% earn less/more. The survey covers wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments and excludes the self-employed, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, equity and employer benefit costs. BLS methodology.
Accountants and auditors have a 10th percentile of $56,020, a median of $83,680 and a 90th percentile of $144,090. Budget analysts have a median of $91,640, tax preparers $54,920 and bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks $50,670. Financial managers, shown for reference, have a median of $166,570.
The 10th to 90th percentile spread for accountants and auditors is roughly two and a half times, which is typical of a qualification-based profession: entry-level compliance work and senior technical or management roles are counted in the same occupation.
What the figures leave out
- Partners and practice owners: the survey covers employees, so partners in accounting firms are not described by these numbers. Their income comes from firm profits.
- Bonuses: nonproduction bonuses are excluded.
- The self-employed: sole practitioners are not covered.
- Overtime in busy season: excluded, although paid overtime is common in some firms.
Certification
The certified public accountant (CPA) licence is issued by state boards of accountancy, and the requirements (education, exam, experience) differ by state. Other credentials, such as the CMA for management accounting, are offered by professional bodies. We do not quote a pay premium for any credential, because we have no verified figure for one; ask employers what they require for the specific role.
Where the work differs
Public accounting, corporate finance and government accounting are different working environments with different pay structures and hours. Public accounting is often seasonal and client-facing; industry roles are usually more predictable. The official figures combine them, so use the sector you are targeting when you position yourself in the range.
Comparing an offer
Weigh base, bonus, study support (many firms fund exams and study leave) and location with the Job Offer Comparator. The Tax Estimator and Gross to Net calculator help you work out what an offer is worth after tax.
Key takeaways
- Accountants and auditors in the US: 10th percentile $56,020, median $83,680, 90th percentile $144,090.
- Tax preparers ($54,920) and bookkeeping clerks ($50,670) have lower medians; budget analysts $91,640.
- Firm partners and self-employed practitioners are not covered by the survey.
- We removed the international figures from this page because they could not be sourced.
Sources used in this guide
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025: methodology and tables — Every wage figure in the tables above (each row links to its own BLS occupation profile).