Accountant Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Accountants prepare financial records, ensure tax compliance, and advise businesses and individuals on financial decisions. CPAs command premium salaries and work in public accounting, corporate finance, and government.
US Average
$94,750
BLS, May 2025
Best State (Net)
$82,872
New York
Take-Home TX
$72,405
on $90,370 · No state tax
Job Growth
4%
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011)
Key Facts — Accountant 2026
National median: ~$78,000/year; CPAs earn 10–15% above non-CPAs
CPA shortage driving salaries up — Big 4 starting salaries rose 20% since 2022
Forensic accountants and controllers earn 25–35% above median
Most accountants work year-round, not just during tax season
Remote work is now common — geography matters less for salary than it once did
US Pay Range
Pay percentiles for Accountants across the US (BLS, May 2025), with the estimated take-home in Texas.
Bottom 10%
$56,020
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$47,192
25th percentile
$67,020
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$55,979
Median
$83,680
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$67,699
75th percentile
$109,810
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$86,081
Top 10%
$144,090
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$109,752
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Big 4 / Public Accounting | $93,600 | +20% |
| Tax / CPA | $89,700 | +15% |
| Forensic Accounting | $97,500 | +25% |
| Financial Controller | $105,300 | +35% |
| Government / Nonprofit | $66,300 | -15% |
| Bookkeeping | $50,700 | -35% |
Best States for Accountants — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Accountant Salary by State — All 50 States
BLS average pay in each state (BLS, May 2025) and the estimated take-home for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Average Pay (BLS) | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $114,070 | $82,872 | |
| $110,590 | $81,311 | |
| $102,700 | $81,079 | |
| $107,170 | $79,086 | |
| $103,150 | $77,566 | |
| $101,810 | $75,345 | |
| $103,760 | $75,072 | |
| $99,880 | $74,854 | |
| $100,660 | $74,670 | |
| $92,570 | $73,953 | |
11Delaware | $97,930 | $72,601 |
| $90,370 | $72,405 | |
| $90,350 | $72,391 | |
| $89,310 | $71,660 | |
| $93,810 | $71,591 | |
16Maryland | $98,210 | $71,557 |
| $88,210 | $70,886 | |
18Georgia | $93,640 | $70,782 |
| $94,060 | $70,129 | |
20Oklahoma | $91,350 | $69,529 |
21Arizona | $88,400 | $69,212 |
22Ohio | $88,280 | $68,943 |
| $85,030 | $68,649 | |
24Oregon | $93,870 | $68,252 |
| $83,820 | $67,797 | |
26Illinois | $88,910 | $67,122 |
| $87,870 | $66,939 | |
| $86,070 | $66,738 | |
| $82,260 | $66,700 | |
30Utah | $87,700 | $66,687 |
31Michigan | $86,990 | $66,581 |
32Vermont | $85,280 | $65,720 |
| $85,390 | $65,556 | |
34Indiana | $84,000 | $65,476 |
35Kansas | $86,130 | $65,416 |
| $84,320 | $65,348 | |
37Iowa | $83,640 | $65,144 |
| $80,090 | $64,892 | |
39Maine | $84,880 | $64,491 |
40Missouri | $83,180 | $64,442 |
41Montana | $82,750 | $63,730 |
42Kentucky | $80,790 | $62,956 |
43Alabama | $81,080 | $62,506 |
| $79,130 | $62,499 | |
45Idaho | $79,940 | $61,939 |
| $77,680 | $61,103 | |
| $78,020 | $61,033 | |
48Nebraska | $77,660 | $60,810 |
49Arkansas | $76,980 | $60,625 |
50Hawaii | $79,300 | $60,004 |
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Accountant
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Accountant Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$62,506
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$72,391
net
Arizona
$69,212
net
Arkansas
$60,625
net
California
$75,072
net
Colorado
$77,566
net
Connecticut
$75,345
net
Delaware
$72,601
net
FloridaNo state tax
$70,886
net
Georgia
$70,782
net
Hawaii
$60,004
net
Idaho
$61,939
net
Illinois
$67,122
net
Indiana
$65,476
net
Iowa
$65,144
net
Kansas
$65,416
net
Kentucky
$62,956
net
Louisiana
$62,499
net
Maine
$64,491
net
Maryland
$71,557
net
Massachusetts
$79,086
net
Michigan
$66,581
net
Minnesota
$70,129
net
Mississippi
$61,103
net
Missouri
$64,442
net
Montana
$63,730
net
Nebraska
$60,810
net
NevadaNo state tax
$71,660
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$73,953
net
New Jersey
$81,311
net
New Mexico
$65,348
net
New York
$82,872
net
North Carolina
$71,591
net
North Dakota
$64,892
net
Ohio
$68,943
net
Oklahoma
$69,529
net
Oregon
$68,252
net
Pennsylvania
$66,738
net
Rhode Island
$74,854
net
South Carolina
$65,556
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$68,649
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$66,700
net
TexasNo state tax
$72,405
net
Utah
$66,687
net
Vermont
$65,720
net
Virginia
$74,670
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$81,079
net
West Virginia
$61,033
net
Wisconsin
$66,939
net
WyomingNo state tax
$67,797
net