Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Accountants

Find out which cities offer the best salaries for Accountants. Data based on 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates.

Highest Paying City

$108,908

San Jose, CA

National Average

$80,288

Across 50 metros

Top 10 Minimum

$84,767

To rank in top 10

RankCityMedian SalaryHourly Ratevs. AverageDetails
1
San Jose, CA
Cost of Living: 179.8
$108,908$52.36/hr+35.6%View Details
2
San Francisco, CA
Cost of Living: 169.3
$107,216$51.55/hr+33.5%View Details
3
Seattle, WA
Cost of Living: 149.6
$99,335$47.76/hr+23.7%View Details
4
Washington, DC
Cost of Living: 140.1
$93,261$44.84/hr+16.2%View Details
5
New York, NY
Cost of Living: 128.7
$93,064$44.74/hr+15.9%View Details
6
Boston, MA
Cost of Living: 148.4
$92,698$44.57/hr+15.5%View Details
7
Los Angeles, CA
Cost of Living: 146.3
$90,920$43.71/hr+13.2%View Details
8
San Diego, CA
Cost of Living: 142.8
$88,774$42.68/hr+10.6%View Details
9
Austin, TX
Cost of Living: 105.3
$86,238$41.46/hr+7.4%View Details
10
Portland, OR
Cost of Living: 118.8
$84,767$40.75/hr+5.6%View Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What city pays Accountants the most?

San Jose, CA pays Accountants the most, with a median salary of $108,908 per year.

What is the average Accountant salary across all cities?

The average Accountant salary across all 50 major US metro areas is $80,288 per year.

Should I consider cost of living when comparing salaries?

Yes! Cities like San Francisco and New York pay higher salaries, but also have higher costs of living. A $80,000 salary in a city with 90 cost of living index has more purchasing power than$100,000 in a city with 150 cost of living index.