What is the average Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salary in the US?

The national median Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salary is $88,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $65,000, while senior professionals earn $155,000 or more.

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

New York City offers the highest median Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salary at $165K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Certified Public Accountant (CPA) salaries growing?

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

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
New York City, NY	$122K	$165K	$221K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$120K	$163K	$218K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$120K	$163K	$218K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$114K	$154K	$207K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$112K	$151K	$203K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$107K	$145K	$195K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$107K	$145K	$195K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$105K	$143K	$191K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$103K	$139K	$186K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$101K	$136K	$183K	155	11%
San Francisco, CA	$98K	$132K	$177K	224	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$98K	$132K	$177K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$96K	$130K	$175K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$96K	$130K	$175K	148	5.75%
San Jose, CA	$94K	$128K	$171K	210	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$94K	$128K	$171K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$94K	$128K	$171K	145	10.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$92K	$125K	$168K	162	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$91K	$123K	$165K	140	10.75%
Oakland, CA	$90K	$121K	$163K	185	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$90K	$121K	$163K	138	9.3%
Washington, DC	$90K	$121K	$163K	152	8.5%
Edison, NJ	$90K	$121K	$163K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$90K	$121K	$163K	138	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$88K	$119K	$159K	155	10.75%
Boston, MA	$86K	$116K	$156K	162	5%
Los Angeles, CA	$85K	$114K	$153K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$85K	$114K	$153K	148	5.75%
Seattle, WA	$83K	$113K	$151K	150	None ✓
San Diego, CA	$81K	$110K	$148K	148	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$79K	$107K	$144K	155	9.3%
New Haven, CT	$79K	$107K	$144K	122	6.99%
Chicago, IL	$78K	$106K	$142K	107	4.95%
Nashua, NH	$78K	$106K	$142K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$77K	$104K	$139K	128	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	9.3%
Miami, FL	$77K	$104K	$139K	123	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$77K	$104K	$139K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$75K	$101K	$136K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$75K	$101K	$136K	118	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$75K	$101K	$136K	120	5%
Ann Arbor, MI	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	4.25%
Philadelphia, PA	$75K	$101K	$136K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$75K	$101K	$136K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	5.75%
Frederick, MD	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$75K	$101K	$136K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$75K	$101K	$136K	115	5.99%
Honolulu, HI	$75K	$101K	$136K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$74K	$100K	$135K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$73K	$99K	$132K	105	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$73K	$99K	$132K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$73K	$99K	$132K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$73K	$99K	$132K	99	5.75%
Cary, NC	$73K	$99K	$132K	112	4.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$73K	$99K	$132K	106	6.8%
Austin, TX	$72K	$97K	$130K	110	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$72K	$97K	$130K	118	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$72K	$97K	$130K	128	None ✓
Charlotte, NC	$72K	$97K	$130K	100	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$72K	$97K	$130K	110	9.9%
Anchorage, AK	$72K	$97K	$130K	128	None ✓
Irving, TX	$70K	$95K	$127K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$70K	$95K	$127K	108	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$70K	$95K	$127K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$70K	$95K	$127K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$70K	$95K	$127K	108	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$70K	$95K	$127K	112	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$70K	$95K	$127K	108	4.55%
St. Paul, MN	$70K	$95K	$127K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$70K	$95K	$127K	105	4.85%
Boise, ID	$70K	$95K	$127K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$70K	$95K	$127K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$69K	$93K	$125K	91	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$68K	$92K	$124K	105	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$68K	$92K	$124K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$68K	$92K	$124K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$68K	$92K	$124K	105	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$68K	$92K	$124K	105	5%
Raleigh, NC	$68K	$92K	$124K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$68K	$92K	$124K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$68K	$92K	$124K	102	None ✓
Salem, OR	$68K	$92K	$124K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$68K	$92K	$124K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$68K	$92K	$124K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$66K	$90K	$120K	93	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$66K	$90K	$120K	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	$66K	$90K	$120K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$65K	$88K	$118K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$65K	$88K	$118K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$65K	$88K	$118K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$65K	$88K	$118K	100	9.3%
St. Petersburg, FL	$65K	$88K	$118K	105	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$65K	$88K	$118K	100	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$65K	$88K	$118K	98	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$65K	$88K	$118K	100	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%
Rochester, MN	$65K	$88K	$118K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$65K	$88K	$118K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$65K	$88K	$118K	108	None ✓
West Jordan, UT	$65K	$88K	$118K	100	4.85%
Des Moines, IA	$65K	$88K	$118K	88	4.82%
Overland Park, KS	$65K	$88K	$118K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$65K	$88K	$118K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$64K	$86K	$116K	93	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	None ✓
Virginia Beach, VA	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, 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%
North Las Vegas, NV	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$64K	$86K	$116K	105	6.5%
Omaha, NE	$64K	$86K	$116K	88	5.84%
Nampa, ID	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$64K	$86K	$116K	98	7.15%
San Antonio, TX	$62K	$84K	$112K	87	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$62K	$84K	$112K	102	9.3%
Bakersfield, CA	$62K	$84K	$112K	95	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$62K	$84K	$112K	88	6.85%
Rochester, NY	$62K	$84K	$112K	90	6.85%
Aurora, IL	$62K	$84K	$112K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$62K	$84K	$112K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$62K	$84K	$113K	102	4.55%
Norfolk, VA	$62K	$84K	$112K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$62K	$84K	$112K	95	5.75%
Detroit, MI	$62K	$84K	$113K	82	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$62K	$84K	$112K	95	3.07%
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%
North Charleston, SC	$62K	$84K	$112K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$60K	$81K	$109K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$60K	$81K	$109K	92	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$60K	$81K	$109K	82	3.99%
Duluth, MN	$60K	$81K	$109K	92	6.8%
Birmingham, AL	$60K	$81K	$109K	82	5%
Greenville, SC	$60K	$81K	$109K	92	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$60K	$81K	$109K	92	6%
Cheyenne, WY	$60K	$81K	$109K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$59K	$79K	$106K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$59K	$79K	$106K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$59K	$79K	$106K	90	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$59K	$79K	$106K	95	None ✓
Memphis, TN	$59K	$79K	$106K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$59K	$79K	$106K	90	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$59K	$79K	$106K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$59K	$79K	$106K	90	5.3%
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%
Fargo, ND	$59K	$79K	$106K	90	2.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$57K	$77K	$104K	84	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$57K	$77K	$104K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$57K	$77K	$104K	92	5.75%
Greensboro, NC	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	4.75%
Knoxville, TN	$57K	$77K	$104K	85	None ✓
Chattanooga, TN	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	5%
Tulsa, OK	$57K	$77K	$104K	80	4.75%
Albuquerque, NM	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$57K	$77K	$104K	88	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$56K	$76K	$101K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$55K	$75K	$100K	82	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	5.9%
Little Rock, AR	$55K	$75K	$100K	82	4.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$55K	$75K	$100K	85	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$53K	$72K	$97K	78	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$53K	$72K	$97K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$52K	$70K	$94K	80	5%
Laredo, TX	$51K	$69K	$92K	76	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$51K	$69K	$92K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$51K	$69K	$92K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$51K	$69K	$92K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$51K	$69K	$92K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$51K	$69K	$92K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$51K	$69K	$92K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$49K	$66K	$89K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$49K	$66K	$89K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$49K	$66K	$89K	75	6.5%

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) Salaryby City (2026)