📊 Accountant / CPA Salary 2026
Accountants and CPAs earn a national median salary of $79,880/year ($38.40/hour) in 2026. The CPA credential adds an average 10–15% premium over non-CPA accountants. Pay varies significantly by sector (Big 4 public accounting vs. industry vs. government), specialty (tax vs. audit vs. forensic), and years of experience — from $52,000 for staff accountants to $140,000+ for experienced CPAs and finance managers.
Accountant / CPA Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Pay varies significantly by years of experience. Here is the full range from entry-level to senior positions:
| Entry-level (0–2 years) | $52,000/year · $25.00/hour |
| Mid-level (3–5 years) | $68,000/year · $32.69/hour |
| Experienced (6–10 years) | $95,000/year · $45.67/hour |
| Senior / specialized (10+ years) | $140,000/year · $67.31/hour |
| Median (all levels) | $79,880/year · $38.40/hour |
Accountant / CPA Salary After Tax
At the median salary of $79,880/year, a single filer in a no-state-tax state takes home approximately $64,582/year ($5,382/month) after federal income tax and FICA.
| Entry-level ($52,000/yr) | $43,820/year · $3,652/month |
| Mid-level ($68,000/yr) | $56,224/year · $4,685/month |
| Senior ($95,000/yr) | $75,218/year · $6,268/month |
| Median ($79,880/yr) | $64,582/year · $5,382/month |
Accountant / CPA Salary by State (2026)
Location is one of the biggest factors in accountant / cpa pay. Here are median salaries in key states:
| New York | $102,000/year · $49.04/hour |
| California | $98,000/year · $47.12/hour |
| Massachusetts | $94,000/year · $45.19/hour |
| Connecticut | $91,000/year · $43.75/hour |
| New Jersey | $89,000/year · $42.79/hour |
| Washington DC | $95,000/year · $45.67/hour |
| Texas | $78,000/year · $37.50/hour |
| Florida | $72,000/year · $34.62/hour |
| Georgia | $70,000/year · $33.65/hour |
| Ohio | $66,000/year · $31.73/hour |
| Indiana | $62,000/year · $29.81/hour |
| Mississippi | $55,000/year · $26.44/hour |
Job Outlook & Growth
The BLS projects accounting and auditing jobs to grow 4% from 2022–2032. Demand is steady but the profession is being transformed by automation — routine bookkeeping and data entry are increasingly automated, shifting demand toward advisory, analysis, and strategic finance roles. CPAs with strong Excel, SQL, and data analytics skills command the highest premiums.
Education & Qualifications
A bachelor's degree in accounting is the standard entry point. The CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license requires 150 credit hours (typically a Master's or 5-year program), passing four CPA exams, and 1–2 years of experience. The CPA credential is widely considered the most valuable accounting certification, adding $8,000–$15,000/year to base salary.
Big 4 vs Industry vs Government — Salary Comparison
| Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) — Manager | $110,000–$140,000/year |
| Mid-size public accounting firm | $80,000–$110,000/year |
| Corporate / industry (Fortune 500) | $90,000–$125,000/year |
| Small business / local CPA firm | $65,000–$90,000/year |
| Federal government (GS scale) | $72,000–$105,000/year |
| Non-profit / education | $58,000–$80,000/year |