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

$113,398

San Jose, CA

National Average

$80,378

Across 50 metros

Top 10 Minimum

$86,313

To rank in top 10

RankCityMedian SalaryHourly Ratevs. AverageDetails
1
San Jose, CA
Cost of Living: 179.8
$113,398$54.52/hr+41.1%View Details
2
San Francisco, CA
Cost of Living: 169.3
$105,827$50.88/hr+31.7%View Details
3
Boston, MA
Cost of Living: 148.4
$96,806$46.54/hr+20.4%View Details
4
Seattle, WA
Cost of Living: 149.6
$96,767$46.52/hr+20.4%View Details
5
New York, NY
Cost of Living: 128.7
$93,456$44.93/hr+16.3%View Details
6
Washington, DC
Cost of Living: 140.1
$91,953$44.21/hr+14.4%View Details
7
Los Angeles, CA
Cost of Living: 146.3
$89,451$43.01/hr+11.3%View Details
8
Denver, CO
Cost of Living: 118.4
$87,843$42.23/hr+9.3%View Details
9
San Diego, CA
Cost of Living: 142.8
$86,741$41.70/hr+7.9%View Details
10
Portland, OR
Cost of Living: 118.8
$86,313$41.50/hr+7.4%View Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What city pays Accountants the most?

San Jose, CA pays Accountants the most, with a median salary of $113,398 per year.

What is the average Accountant salary across all cities?

The average Accountant salary across all 50 major US metro areas is $80,378 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.