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How Much Does an Accountant Make?
Discover the average hourly and yearly pay for accountants and auditors across the U.S., and what you can do to earn more in the field of accounting.
Discover earning potential in the field of accounting
Accounting represents a deep, diverse range of potential job opportunities demanding a variety of skills. How much you can make depends on many factors, including industry of employment, specific job duties, your experience, and college education earned.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for accountants and auditors is $93,520 per year ($44.96 per hour).* Starting pay rates can vary based on location, education, and experience. This average is not entry level – recent graduates will need to earn experience and work their way up to earn a higher salary.
Accountants and auditors salary by state, May 2022*
| Average salary | Median Salary | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Per Hour | Per Year | Per Hour | Per Year |
| Alabama | $35.83 | $74,520 | $30.35 | $63,120 |
| Alaska | $39.34 | $81,820 | $37.28 | $77,540 |
| Arizona | $39.49 | $82,130 | $36.87 | $76,690 |
| Arkansas | $33.97 | $70,660 | $29.93 | $62,260 |
| California | $46.25 | $96,210 | $40.21 | $83,640 |
| Colorado | $42.00 | $87,360 | $38.12 | $79,290 |
| Connecticut | $42.13 | $87,620 | $38.66 | $80,410 |
| Delaware | $40.69 | $84,620 | $37.24 | $77,460 |
| District of Columbia | $53.24 | $110,750 | $49.07 | $102,060 |
| Florida | $38.56 | $80,200 | $35.26 | $73,350 |
| Georgia | $41.45 | $86,220 | $36.73 | $76,400 |
| Hawaii | $35.00 | $72,790 | $31.32 | $65,150 |
| Idaho | $34.20 | $71,130 | $30.64 | $63,730 |
| Illinois | $40.39 | $84,010 | $36.44 | $75,800 |
| Indiana | $36.94 | $76,840 | $34.17 | $71,080 |
| Iowa | $34.68 | $72,130 | $30.74 | $63,940 |
| Kansas | $36.09 | $75,070 | $33.74 | $70,170 |
| Kentucky | $35.27 | $73,360 | $31.18 | $64,860 |
| Louisiana | $34.03 | $70,780 | $30.70 | $63,860 |
| Maine | $37.34 | $77,660 | $34.76 | $72,310 |
| Maryland | $42.52 | $88,440 | $38.70 | $80,500 |
| Massachusetts | $46.07 | $95,830 | $39.92 | $83,030 |
| Michigan | $38.38 | $79,830 | $35.17 | $73,160 |
| Minnesota | $40.12 | $83,450 | $36.63 | $76,200 |
| Mississippi | $32.71 | $68,040 | $28.57 | $59,420 |
| Missouri | $37.06 | $77,070 | $30.93 | $64,340 |
| Montana | $35.49 | $73,810 | $32.91 | $68,460 |
| Nebraska | $35.73 | $74,320 | $31.30 | $65,100 |
| Nevada | $33.16 | $68,980 | $30.37 | $63,160 |
| New Hampshire | $39.09 | $81,310 | $36.80 | $76,540 |
| New Jersey | $49.06 | $102,040 | $46.04 | $95,770 |
| New Mexico | $34.59 | $71,940 | $30.60 | $63,640 |
| New York | $53.04 | $110,320 | $47.64 | $99,090 |
| North Carolina | $41.21 | $85,710 | $37.04 | $77,030 |
| North Dakota | $33.47 | $69,620 | $30.62 | $63,690 |
| Ohio | $37.38 | $77,760 | $34.97 | $72,740 |
| Oklahoma | $37.32 | $77,620 | $35.19 | $73,190 |
| Oregon | $38.62 | $80,330 | $36.21 | $75,310 |
| Pennsylvania | $37.87 | $78,780 | $34.97 | $72,730 |
| Rhode Island | $45.45 | $94,530 | $39.75 | $82,690 |
| South Carolina | $35.01 | $72,820 | $31.00 | $64,480 |
| South Dakota | $35.09 | $72,990 | $32.38 | $67,350 |
| Tennessee | $35.27 | $73,360 | $30.87 | $64,220 |
| Texas | $41.97 | $87,300 | $37.51 | $78,020 |
| Utah | $37.14 | $77,260 | $33.22 | $69,100 |
| Vermont | $39.32 | $81,790 | $32.95 | $68,530 |
| Virginia | $42.88 | $89,180 | $38.41 | $79,880 |
| Washington | $43.53 | $90,530 | $39.03 | $81,180 |
| West Virginia | $34.37 | $71,490 | $31.36 | $65,240 |
| Wisconsin | $37.26 | $77,500 | $34.72 | $72,210 |
| Wyoming | $35.58 | $74,000 | $32.17 | $66,920 |
| Guam | $23.01 | $47,860 | $21.94 | $45,640 |
| Puerto Rico | $20.03 | $41,650 | $18.24 | $37,950 |
| Virgin Islands | $27.35 | $56,880 | $25.00 | $52,000 |
All salary data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | ||||
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Discover our bachelor's degree program in accounting
This Bachelor of Science in Accounting program at Herzing University does not fulfill all of the requirements for a graduate to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam or apply for licensure as a CPA in most states/jurisdictions. Most states/jurisdictions require a specific amount of study beyond a bachelor’s degree (typically, a total of 150 semester credit hours, but this varies by jurisdiction) as well as several years of professional experience working in accounting to be eligible to apply for licensure. Some states (including, but not necessarily limited to, Texas) require the program to have specific programmatic accreditation for graduates to apply for licensure as a CPA, which this program does not have at this time, and no representation has been made as to when or if such an accreditation will be obtained. Applicants interested in becoming a CPA should check with their state board of accountancy regarding CPA eligibility requirements prior to enrolling in any accounting program. Students planning to pursue certifications other than the CPA exam should also contact the respective certifying organization to confirm requirements for certification prior to enrolling in any accounting program.
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.