Accounting55% remote-eligible+2.5% YoY growth

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Salary
by City (2026)

Prepare financial statements, tax returns, and provide accounting advisory services. National median: $88K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$88K

Top 10% earn

$155K

Entry level

$65K

Salary growth

+2.5%/yr

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$98K	$132K	$177K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$94K	$128K	$171K	210	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$92K	$125K	$168K	162	10.75%
New York City, NY	$92K	$124K	$167K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$91K	$124K	$166K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$91K	$124K	$166K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$90K	$121K	$163K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$90K	$121K	$163K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$88K	$120K	$160K	175	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$88K	$119K	$159K	155	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$87K	$118K	$159K	172	9.3%
Boston, MA	$86K	$116K	$156K	162	5%
Yonkers, NY	$85K	$115K	$155K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$85K	$115K	$155K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$85K	$114K	$153K	163	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$84K	$114K	$153K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$85K	$114K	$153K	148	5.75%
Seattle, WA	$83K	$113K	$151K	150	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$83K	$113K	$151K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$82K	$111K	$150K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$81K	$110K	$148K	148	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$80K	$109K	$146K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$81K	$109K	$147K	150	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$80K	$109K	$146K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$79K	$107K	$144K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$79K	$107K	$144K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$79K	$107K	$144K	145	10.75%
Chicago, IL	$78K	$106K	$142K	107	4.95%
Chula Vista, CA	$77K	$105K	$140K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$78K	$105K	$141K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$77K	$105K	$140K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$77K	$105K	$140K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$77K	$104K	$139K	128	9.3%
Miami, FL	$77K	$104K	$139K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$75K	$101K	$136K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$75K	$101K	$136K	118	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$75K	$101K	$136K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$75K	$101K	$136K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$75K	$101K	$136K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$75K	$101K	$136K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$75K	$101K	$136K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$74K	$100K	$135K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$73K	$99K	$132K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$73K	$99K	$132K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$73K	$99K	$132K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$73K	$98K	$132K	122	6.99%
Austin, TX	$72K	$97K	$130K	110	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$72K	$97K	$130K	118	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$72K	$97K	$130K	128	None ✓
Vancouver, WA	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	5%
Charlotte, NC	$72K	$97K	$130K	100	4.75%
Gresham, OR	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$72K	$97K	$131K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$71K	$97K	$130K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$72K	$97K	$130K	128	None ✓
Irving, TX	$70K	$95K	$127K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$70K	$95K	$127K	108	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$70K	$95K	$128K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$70K	$95K	$128K	115	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$70K	$95K	$127K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$70K	$95K	$128K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$70K	$95K	$128K	115	4.25%
St. Paul, MN	$70K	$95K	$127K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$70K	$95K	$127K	105	4.85%
Frederick, MD	$70K	$95K	$128K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$70K	$95K	$128K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$70K	$95K	$128K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$70K	$95K	$128K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$70K	$94K	$126K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$70K	$94K	$126K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$70K	$94K	$126K	112	4.75%
Houston, TX	$69K	$93K	$125K	91	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$68K	$93K	$124K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$68K	$93K	$124K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$68K	$93K	$124K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$68K	$93K	$124K	108	4.55%
Eugene, OR	$69K	$93K	$125K	110	9.9%
Boise, ID	$68K	$93K	$124K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$68K	$93K	$124K	108	6.6%
Tampa, FL	$68K	$92K	$124K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$68K	$92K	$124K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$68K	$92K	$124K	105	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$68K	$92K	$124K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$68K	$92K	$124K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$68K	$92K	$124K	102	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$67K	$91K	$122K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$67K	$91K	$122K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$67K	$91K	$122K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$67K	$91K	$122K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$67K	$91K	$122K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$66K	$90K	$120K	93	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$67K	$90K	$121K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$66K	$90K	$120K	100	None ✓
Richmond, VA	$66K	$90K	$120K	98	5.75%
Provo, UT	$66K	$90K	$120K	100	4.85%
Missoula, MT	$67K	$90K	$121K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$66K	$89K	$120K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$66K	$89K	$120K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$65K	$89K	$119K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$65K	$89K	$119K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$66K	$89K	$120K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$66K	$89K	$120K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$65K	$89K	$119K	98	5.75%
Rochester, MN	$66K	$89K	$120K	100	6.8%
North Las Vegas, NV	$65K	$89K	$119K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$65K	$89K	$119K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$66K	$89K	$120K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$65K	$89K	$119K	98	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$66K	$89K	$120K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$65K	$89K	$119K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$65K	$89K	$119K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$65K	$89K	$119K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$66K	$89K	$120K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$65K	$88K	$118K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$65K	$88K	$118K	91	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$65K	$88K	$118K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$65K	$88K	$118K	98	2.5%
Columbus, OH	$65K	$88K	$118K	90	3.99%
Cincinnati, OH	$65K	$88K	$118K	88	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$65K	$88K	$118K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$65K	$88K	$118K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$65K	$88K	$118K	108	None ✓
Des Moines, IA	$65K	$88K	$118K	88	4.82%
Bakersfield, CA	$65K	$87K	$117K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$65K	$87K	$117K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$65K	$87K	$117K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$65K	$87K	$117K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$65K	$87K	$117K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$65K	$87K	$117K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$65K	$87K	$117K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$64K	$86K	$116K	92	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$64K	$86K	$116K	93	None ✓
Athens, GA	$64K	$86K	$116K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$64K	$86K	$116K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$64K	$86K	$116K	86	5.3%
Madison, WI	$64K	$86K	$116K	102	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$64K	$86K	$116K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$64K	$86K	$116K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$64K	$86K	$116K	92	6.5%
Omaha, NE	$64K	$86K	$116K	88	5.84%
Cheyenne, WY	$64K	$86K	$116K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$63K	$85K	$114K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	6.85%
Tallahassee, FL	$63K	$85K	$114K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$63K	$85K	$114K	90	4.95%
Greensboro, NC	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$63K	$85K	$114K	90	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$63K	$85K	$114K	90	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$63K	$85K	$114K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$62K	$85K	$113K	88	None ✓
San Antonio, TX	$62K	$84K	$112K	87	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$62K	$84K	$112K	102	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$62K	$84K	$112K	88	6.85%
Rochester, NY	$62K	$84K	$112K	90	6.85%
Colorado Springs, CO	$62K	$84K	$113K	102	4.55%
Detroit, MI	$62K	$84K	$113K	82	4.25%
Indianapolis, IN	$62K	$84K	$113K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$62K	$84K	$113K	90	5.3%
Louisville, KY	$62K	$84K	$112K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$62K	$84K	$112K	88	5%
Beaumont, TX	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$62K	$83K	$112K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$61K	$82K	$110K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$59K	$81K	$108K	78	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$60K	$81K	$109K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$59K	$81K	$108K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$59K	$81K	$108K	78	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	5%
Birmingham, AL	$60K	$81K	$109K	82	5%
Montgomery, AL	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$60K	$81K	$109K	92	6%
Shreveport, LA	$59K	$81K	$108K	78	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$59K	$81K	$108K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$60K	$81K	$109K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$59K	$81K	$108K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$59K	$79K	$106K	75	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$59K	$79K	$106K	95	None ✓
Memphis, TN	$59K	$79K	$106K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$59K	$79K	$106K	90	4.25%
Columbia, SC	$59K	$79K	$106K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$59K	$79K	$106K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$59K	$79K	$106K	88	6%
Fort Smith, AR	$59K	$79K	$106K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$59K	$79K	$106K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$57K	$77K	$104K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$57K	$77K	$104K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$57K	$77K	$104K	92	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$57K	$77K	$104K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$57K	$77K	$104K	80	4.75%
Albuquerque, NM	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	5.9%
Wichita, KS	$56K	$76K	$101K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$55K	$75K	$100K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$55K	$75K	$100K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$53K	$72K	$97K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$51K	$69K	$92K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $88K Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is $88,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $65,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $118,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s nationally earn $155,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Accounting; CPA license required. This role is 55% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) compensation is growing at 2.5% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salary FAQ

How much does a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) make?

The median Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salary in the US is $88,000 per year — about $42/hour. Most earn between $65,000 (25th percentile) and $118,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)?

Entry-level Certified Public Accountant (CPA) positions typically start around $65,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s earn?

The top 10% of Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s earn $155,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salary at $132K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salaries going up?

Yes — Certified Public Accountant (CPA) pay is growing about 2.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Salaryby City (2026)