SalaryScoutHome › accountant salary by state
Accountant Salary by State (2026): Complete Table + FAQs
Accountants keep the books, and pay varies by state, firm size and CPA status. This state-by-state table from the latest official U.S. BLS OEWS release shows hourly, monthly and yearly wages.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS (latest release) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
Accountant pay by state at a glance
| State | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $58.98 | $10,223 | $122,680 |
| New York | $54.84 | $9,506 | $114,070 |
| New Jersey | $53.17 | $9,216 | $110,590 |
| Massachusetts | $51.53 | $8,931 | $107,170 |
| California | $49.89 | $8,647 | $103,760 |
| Colorado | $49.59 | $8,596 | $103,150 |
| Washington | $49.38 | $8,558 | $102,700 |
| Connecticut | $48.95 | $8,484 | $101,810 |
| Virginia | $48.40 | $8,388 | $100,660 |
| Rhode Island | $48.02 | $8,323 | $99,880 |
| Maryland | $47.22 | $8,184 | $98,210 |
| Delaware | $47.08 | $8,161 | $97,930 |
| Minnesota | $45.22 | $7,838 | $94,060 |
| Oregon | $45.13 | $7,823 | $93,870 |
| North Carolina | $45.10 | $7,818 | $93,810 |
| Georgia | $45.02 | $7,803 | $93,640 |
| New Hampshire | $44.50 | $7,714 | $92,570 |
| Oklahoma | $43.92 | $7,613 | $91,350 |
| Texas | $43.45 | $7,531 | $90,370 |
| Alaska | $43.44 | $7,529 | $90,350 |
| Nevada | $42.94 | $7,443 | $89,310 |
| Illinois | $42.74 | $7,409 | $88,910 |
| Arizona | $42.50 | $7,367 | $88,400 |
| Ohio | $42.44 | $7,357 | $88,280 |
| Florida | $42.41 | $7,351 | $88,210 |
| Wisconsin | $42.25 | $7,323 | $87,870 |
| Utah | $42.16 | $7,308 | $87,700 |
| Michigan | $41.82 | $7,249 | $86,990 |
| Kansas | $41.41 | $7,178 | $86,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $41.38 | $7,173 | $86,070 |
| South Carolina | $41.05 | $7,116 | $85,390 |
| Vermont | $41.00 | $7,107 | $85,280 |
| South Dakota | $40.88 | $7,086 | $85,030 |
| Maine | $40.81 | $7,073 | $84,880 |
| New Mexico | $40.54 | $7,027 | $84,320 |
| Indiana | $40.39 | $7,000 | $84,000 |
| Wyoming | $40.30 | $6,985 | $83,820 |
| Iowa | $40.21 | $6,970 | $83,640 |
| Missouri | $39.99 | $6,932 | $83,180 |
| Montana | $39.78 | $6,896 | $82,750 |
| Tennessee | $39.55 | $6,855 | $82,260 |
| Alabama | $38.98 | $6,757 | $81,080 |
| Kentucky | $38.84 | $6,733 | $80,790 |
| North Dakota | $38.50 | $6,674 | $80,090 |
| Idaho | $38.43 | $6,662 | $79,940 |
| Hawaii | $38.12 | $6,608 | $79,300 |
| Louisiana | $38.04 | $6,594 | $79,130 |
| West Virginia | $37.51 | $6,502 | $78,020 |
| Mississippi | $37.35 | $6,473 | $77,680 |
| Nebraska | $37.34 | $6,472 | $77,660 |
| Arkansas | $37.01 | $6,415 | $76,980 |
The states that pay the most
Based on the data above, the top-paying states for this occupation are District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California. Always compare pay against cost of living — a lower dollar wage in a cheaper state can win.
- District of Columbia — $122,680 a year
- New York — $114,070 a year
- New Jersey — $110,590 a year
- Massachusetts — $107,170 a year
- California — $103,760 a year
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays accountants the most?
The table above ranks every published state and District of Columbia currently leads. Big-market metro areas usually pay more than the state average.
What is the average accountant salary?
The U.S. mean accountant wage is about $94,750 a year (about $45.56 per hour) in the latest BLS OEWS release, with a median near $83,680.
How much more do CPAs make?
A CPA credential typically moves accountants up the band in the same state — check your license credit against the upper rows of this table.
Related salary guides
Financial Manager salary by state · Office Clerk salary by state