Accountant Salary, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 24,685 US job postings by 7,643 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for accountants: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 24,685 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for accountants in US job postings is $100,000 a year (5,268 postings from 2,126 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $76,000 to $138,000.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $73,000 a year (370 postings).
- The skills that most set accountant postings apart are Excel, analytical skills, gaap.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 3 years of experience.
Accountant job postings in the US, October 2026
- $100,000
- Median advertised pay (5,268 postings)
- $76,000–$138,000
- Middle 50% of postings
- $73,000
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 24,685
- US job postings from 7,643 employers
How much does an accountant make?
The median advertised pay is $100,000 a year, from 5,268 US job postings by 2,126 employers that state pay. One in ten postings offers $175,000 or more.
Advertised pay in 5,268 US accountant job postings: median $100,000 a year, middle half $76,000 to $138,000.
- Median: $100,000
- 25th percentile: $76,000
- 75th percentile: $138,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.0% |
| $20K–$30K | 0.1% |
| $30K–$40K | 1.3% |
| $40K–$50K | 3.0% |
| $50K–$60K | 4.9% |
| $60K–$70K | 7.4% |
| $70K–$80K | 11.5% |
| $80K–$90K | 9.9% |
| $90K–$100K | 9.7% |
| $100K–$110K | 8.7% |
| $110K–$120K | 7.7% |
| $120K–$130K | 6.2% |
| $130K–$140K | 5.6% |
| $140K–$150K | 4.6% |
| $150K–$160K | 4.8% |
| $160K–$170K | 3.3% |
| $170K–$180K | 2.3% |
| $180K–$190K | 2.0% |
| $190K–$200K | 1.1% |
| $200K–$210K | 1.5% |
| $210K–$220K | 0.6% |
| $220K–$230K | 0.8% |
| $230K–$240K | 1.1% |
| $240K–$250K | 0.4% |
| $250K–$260K | 0.2% |
| $260K–$270K | 0.4% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $29.00 | $23.00–$36.50 | 583 | Staff Accountant, Accounting Intern, Accountant |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $107,000 | $84K–$140K | 3,560 | Senior Accountant, Staff Accountant, Accounting Manager |
| All pay postings, annualised | $100,000 | $76K–$138K | 5,268 | – |
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median annual wage of Accountants and Auditors (13-2011) at $84,000 (May 2025). Postings advertise pay; the BLS measures what people earn, across all employers and levels.
What is the starting salary for an accountant?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $73,000 a year (370 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $73,000 | 370 |
| 2-4 years | $96,000 | 2,114 |
| 5+ years | $138,000 | 1,914 |
Accountant levels and pay
Levels as they appear in job titles, ordered by the median experience asked. Senior accountants have a median advertised pay of $102,000 a year.
| Level in title | Share of postings | Median experience asked | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff | 7.4% | 2 years | $70,000 |
| Associate | 1.4% | 2 years | – |
| Level II | 0.9% | 2 years | – |
| Senior | 15.6% | 3 years | $102,000 |
| No level in title | 63.2% | 4 years | $114,000 |
Highest-paying accountant jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Manager | $150,000 | 964 | 219 |
| Controller | $138,000 | 393 | 289 |
| Accounting Manager | $117,000 | 335 | 272 |
| Tax Accountant | $91,000 | 621 | 148 |
| Accountant (general) | $82,000 | 1,315 | 898 |
Accountant pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $117,000 | $85,000–$155,000 | 689 | 10.8% |
| New York | $106,000 | $81,000–$152,000 | 435 | 6.3% |
| Massachusetts | $102,000 | $82,000–$139,000 | 135 | 2.6% |
| Colorado | $100,000 | $77,000–$141,000 | 148 | 1.9% |
| Illinois | $98,000 | $70,000–$140,000 | 361 | 4.4% |
| Texas | $95,000 | $73,000–$120,000 | 198 | 9.1% |
| New Jersey | $92,000 | $75,000–$117,000 | 174 | 2.7% |
| Minnesota | $80,000 | $58,000–$112,000 | 137 | 2.7% |
Skills employers ask for in accountant job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 49% |
| Excel | 45% |
| Analytical skills | 36% |
| Attention to detail | 32% |
| Organizational skills | 27% |
| Problem-solving | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 17% |
| Interpersonal skills | 14% |
| Work independently | 14% |
| Word | 12% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set accountants apart
- Excel4.4× as often as in all postings · 45%
- Analytical skills4.9× as often as in all postings · 36%
- Gaap58.4× as often as in all postings · 11%
- Financial reporting38.1× as often as in all postings · 9%
- Progressive accounting experience82.8× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Accounting24.1× as often as in all postings · 9%
- Accounting experience59.9× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Accounting principles38.6× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Internal controls38.7× as often as in all postings · 5%
- Pivot tables21× as often as in all postings · 6%
- SAP7.4× as often as in all postings · 8%
- Meet deadlines5.9× as often as in all postings · 8%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a accountant job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does an accountant do?
Employers post these jobs as Senior Accountant, Staff Accountant, Accounting Manager, Controller, Tax Manager and other titles. The largest specializations are Controller (7%), Accounting Manager (6%), Tax Manager (10%), Tax Accountant (31%), Cost Accountant (2%), Accounting Intern (2%).
The closest official occupation is Accountants and Auditors (13-2011.00). Its most important tasks:
- Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
- Process invoices for payment.
- Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
- Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
- Prepare adjusting journal entries.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be an accountant?
Among 9,005 postings that state a minimum, the median is 3 years. 1% say 0 years and 11% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 9,005 US accountant job postings: median 3 years, and 11% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 2% |
| 1 yr | 10% |
| 2 yrs | 19% |
| 3-4 yrs | 31% |
| 5-7 yrs | 30% |
| 8-9 yrs | 4% |
| 10+ yrs | 5% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 94%, Part-time 6% of the 1,689 postings that state working hours.
Other names for an accountant: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Senior Accountant | 1,259 (16.5%) |
| Staff Accountant | 1,182 (15.5%) |
| Accountant | 899 (11.8%) |
| Accounting Manager | 714 (9.3%) |
| Controller | 626 (8.2%) |
| Tax Manager | 382 (5.0%) |
| Assistant Controller | 290 (3.8%) |
| Accounting Intern | 197 (2.6%) |
| Project Accountant | 169 (2.2%) |
| Cost Accountant | 163 (2.1%) |
| Sr. Accountant | 144 (1.9%) |
| Accountant II | 132 (1.7%) |
| Senior Staff Accountant | 123 (1.6%) |
| Plant Controller | 120 (1.6%) |
| Tax Accountant | 114 (1.5%) |
| Senior Tax Accountant | 113 (1.5%) |
| Accounting Analyst | 107 (1.4%) |
| Accountant I | 103 (1.4%) |
| Financial Controller | 101 (1.3%) |
| Corporate Controller | 98 (1.3%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Accountant job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controller | 783 | 626 | – | 5 years | communication, Excel, analytical skills |
| Accounting Manager | 938 | 714 | – | 5 years | Excel, communication, analytical skills |
| Assistant Controller | 345 | 290 | – | – | communication, Excel, analytical skills |
Controller vs Accountant
| Controller | Accountant | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 783 | 1,357 |
| Employers | 626 | 899 |
| Median advertised pay | – | $81K |
| Median experience asked | 5 years | 3 years |
| Skills that stand out | internal controls, budgeting, forecasting | – |
Controller vs Accounting Manager
| Controller | Accounting Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 783 | 938 |
| Employers | 626 | 714 |
| Median advertised pay | – | – |
| Median experience asked | 5 years | 5 years |
| Skills that stand out | internal controls, budgeting, forecasting | progressive accounting experience |
Accountant compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | $100K | 3 years | 24,685 | – |
| Finance Manager | $153K | 5 years | 3,165 | 16 |
| Accounting Clerk | $24.00/hr | 2 years | 9,552 | 19 |
| Auditor | $105K | 3 years | 2,851 | 16 |
| Financial Analyst | $104K | 3 years | 6,643 | 14 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Finance Manager | 16 | $153K |
| Accounting Clerk | 19 | $24.00/hr |
| Auditor | 16 | $105K |
| Financial Analyst | 14 | $104K |
| Payroll Specialist | 17 | $70K |
| Office Manager | 17 | $23.31/hr |
Applying for accountant jobs?
- Accountant resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find accountant jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does an accountant make?
What is the starting salary for an accountant?
What are the accountant levels?
What are the highest-paying accountant jobs?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 19 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 19 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.