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Accountant: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$83,680median pay per year, or $40.23 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $56,020lowest 10% earn less
  2. $67,02025th percentile
  3. $83,680median
  4. $109,81075th percentile
  5. $144,090top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[6]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Accountants earn well above the typical US worker, with a median of $83,680 a year[1][2]. The usual way in is a bachelor's degree[3], and jobs are projected to grow 5% over the decade, faster than average[4][5].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5%[4]
Openings per year
115,300[7]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[3]

How much do accountants make?

The median pay for accountants was $83,680 a year, or $40.23 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of the workers in the BLS category Accountants and Auditors earned more than that and half earned less[1][8]. For comparison, the median for all US occupations was $50,980[2]. The mean (average) was higher than the median, at $94,750 a year or $45.56 an hour[9].

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th[6][10] $56,020 $26.93
25th[6][10] $67,020 $32.22
50th (median)[1] $83,680 $40.23
75th[6][10] $109,810 $52.80
90th[6][10] $144,090 $69.27

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $56,020 a year, and the top 10% earned more than $144,090[6]. A percentile is a cutoff line, not a starting salary. BLS does not publish starting pay[8].

These figures count only people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or what employers spend on benefits like health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median for this job, $111,530[12]. Among states, New York ($102,640), New Jersey ($100,830), Massachusetts ($99,460) and Connecticut ($97,550) followed[12]. Arkansas had the lowest median, $66,330, with Mississippi just above it at $68,100[12].

The largest numbers of jobs were in California (175,360), Texas (116,470), New York (109,830), Florida (91,000) and Illinois (54,930)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 of these jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA paid the highest median, $121,700[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($110,730) and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($105,650) came next[14]. The New York metro area also had the most jobs, 111,930, ahead of Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA with 70,640 and the Washington, DC area with 41,470[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$111,5309,810
New York$102,640109,830
New Jersey$100,83042,250
Massachusetts$99,46046,230
Connecticut$97,55016,770
California$97,050175,360
Colorado$97,03035,410
Washington$96,55034,740
Rhode Island$95,8206,570
Delaware$95,0206,570
Virginia$93,29047,100
Maryland$89,37026,170
Oregon$85,80014,920
New Hampshire$83,4707,000
Alaska$83,4602,190
North Carolina$82,05049,270
Georgia$81,90044,020
Minnesota$81,60030,530
Nevada$81,6006,930
Texas$80,920116,470
Illinois$80,23054,930
Utah$79,99015,490
Arizona$79,97027,410
Wisconsin$79,40025,100
Oklahoma$79,37016,720
Ohio$79,32050,440
Florida$79,25091,000
Kansas$79,00013,610
Pennsylvania$79,00054,290
Vermont$78,8902,630
South Dakota$78,8805,820
Michigan$78,82041,460
New Mexico$78,5806,300
Indiana$77,72025,660
Wyoming$77,6202,670
Maine$77,4803,860
Iowa$77,44013,210
Tennessee$76,84027,340
Missouri$76,59028,000
South Carolina$76,56015,270
Montana$75,8104,730
North Dakota$75,7304,430
Kentucky$75,27011,930
Alabama$74,88024,300
Idaho$74,7305,570
Hawaii$74,5004,670
Louisiana$73,81014,050
West Virginia$73,3204,900
Nebraska$72,08010,340
Mississippi$68,1007,350
Arkansas$66,3307,870

How to become an accountant

The usual entry requirement is a bachelor's degree[3]. BLS lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical for getting in[3].

1) Earn a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related subject such as business[16]. Some colleges have specialized programs in areas like forensic accounting, internal auditing or tax accounting[17]. 2) Get hands-on experience through an internship at a public accounting or business firm[18]. 3) Think about a master's degree, which some employers prefer, in accounting or in business administration with an accounting focus[16]. 4) Decide whether to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a license you must hold if you file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)[19]. Other accountants get one to improve job prospects or win clients[19]. 5) Build experience and take on more responsibility to move into senior roles[20].

The CPA license. Each state's Board of Accountancy licenses CPAs[21]. You need to pass a national exam and meet other state rules[21]. All states ask for 150 semester hours of college coursework, which is 30 hours beyond a usual 4-year bachelor's degree[21]. A master's degree is not required for this, though some schools combine a bachelor's and master's into a 5-year program that reaches 150 hours[21]. In a few states, years of public accounting work can take the place of a college degree[22]. Employers may pay CPA exam costs[19]. Other certifications from professional societies can also give you an edge, since they show skill in a specialized area[23].

Other ways in. In some cases, people with an associate's degree, and bookkeepers or accounting and auditing clerks who meet an employer's education and experience standards, can start in junior accounting jobs and move up by proving their skills[17].

How long it takes. O*NET places the job in Job Zone Four, which means considerable preparation[24]. Its example is four years of college plus several years of accounting work before an accountant is seen as qualified[24].

Moving up. Public accountants can rise to senior positions, and strong performers may become supervisors, managers or partners, or open their own firm[20]. Management accountants may advance to roles such as accounting manager, budget director, controller or chief financial officer[25]. Public accountants often shift into management accounting or internal auditing, but moves in the other direction are less common[26].

What accountants do

Accountants and auditors examine and interpret financial records. They prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit statements that someone else prepared[27]. Common tasks include[28]:

Job titles that workers report include accountant, auditor, cost accountant, financial auditor and CPA[29].

Where they work

Accountants and auditors mostly work in offices, and some work from home[30]. Teamwork is usual, though some people work alone, and the job can involve trips to clients' businesses[30]. Most work full time. Hours get longer at busy points in the year, such as tax season or quarterly audits[31].

The largest employer group is accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services, with 21% of these jobs in 2025[32]. About 5.5% of accountants and auditors were self-employed that year[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects that accountant and auditor jobs will rise 5% between 2025 and 2035, from about 1,595,200 to 1,674,600, a gain of 79,400[4]. That is faster than the 3.5% growth projected for all occupations[5].

About 115,300 openings are expected each year on average[7]. That count includes jobs left behind by people who retire or switch to other work, not only new positions[7]. Each year, about 2.7% of workers are expected to leave the labor force and 3.9% to move into a different occupation[34].

The projection counts include self-employed workers[4]. The May 2025 pay survey counted about 1,449,500 wage and salary jobs, which leaves out the self-employed[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job that pays well above the typical US job, with a median of $83,680 against $50,980 for all occupations[1][2]. Demand looks steady, with 5% projected growth and about 115,300 openings a year[4][7]. A bachelor's degree is the usual way in[3], and the CPA license takes more, with 150 semester hours and a national exam[21]. The work may suit someone who likes detailed financial records and can handle busy stretches at tax time and audit season[28][31]. Where you live matters too, since state medians run from $66,330 in Arkansas to $111,530 in the District of Columbia[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an accountant make an hour?
The median was $40.23 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $26.93 an hour, and the top 10% earned more than $69.27[10].
What degree do you need to be an accountant?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement[3], usually in accounting or a related subject like business[16]. Some employers prefer a master's degree[16].
How many college credits do you need to become a CPA?
All states require 150 semester hours of college coursework, which is 30 more than a usual 4-year bachelor's degree[21]. You also need to pass a national exam and meet other state requirements[21].
Are accountants in demand?
BLS projects 5% job growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% for all occupations[4][5]. About 115,300 openings are expected each year[7].
What is the highest paying state for accountants?
The District of Columbia had the highest median, $111,530[12]. Among the 50 states, New York was highest at $102,640, followed by New Jersey at $100,830[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Accountants and Auditors in the US was $83,680 per year and $40.23 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Accountants and Auditors: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Accountants and Auditors is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,595,200 to 1,674,600 jobs (a change of +79,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Accountants and Auditors: 10th percentile $56,020, 25th percentile $67,020, 75th percentile $109,810, 90th percentile $144,090. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 115,300 openings for Accountants and Auditors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Accountants and Auditors was $94,750 per year and $45.56 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Accountants and Auditors: 10th percentile $26.93, 25th percentile $32.22, 75th percentile $52.80, 90th percentile $69.27. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Accountants and Auditors jobs: California 175,360; Texas 116,470; New York 109,830; Florida 91,000; Illinois 54,930. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Accountants and Auditors (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $121,700; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $110,730; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $105,650; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $102,140; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $102,020; Midland, TX $100,890; Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $100,420; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $100,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Accountants and Auditors jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 111,930 (median $105,650); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 70,640 (median $94,360); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 41,470 (median $102,140); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 41,360 (median $82,360); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 37,450 (median $82,620); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 37,150 (median $100,150). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 13-2011.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Accountants and Auditors. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Accountants and Auditors. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 13-2011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Accountant, Accounting Officer, Audit Partner, Auditor, Cost Accountant, CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Financial Auditor, Financial Reporting Accountant. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of accountants and auditors in 2025: Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services 21%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: 5.5% of Accountants and Auditors were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Accountants and Auditors: 2.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,449,500 people were employed as Accountants and Auditors in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.