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Top 15 cities for tax preparers by average salary
| San Francisco, CA | $84,300 |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $83,550 |
| Kansas City, MO | $82,540 |
| Anchorage, AK | $77,620 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $77,180 |
| Waco, TX | $76,430 |
| New York, NY | $75,620 |
| St. Louis, MO | $74,870 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $72,230 |
| Denver, CO | $72,150 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $71,350 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $70,630 |
| Billings, MT | $70,210 |
| San Diego, CA | $69,700 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $68,730 |
Map: Tax Preparers salary by metro area
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Tax Preparers salary by state
New York pays tax preparers the most statewide, $79,160 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $79,160 | $71,850 | 7,620 | 7 | $75,620 | $57,650 |
| Alaska | $77,490 | $62,360 | 70 | 1 | $77,620 | $77,620 |
| Missouri | $72,120 | $62,780 | 1,330 | 4 | $82,540 | $64,640 |
| California | $71,540 | $70,030 | 10,270 | 17 | $84,300 | $50,860 |
| Nevada | $69,450 | $60,000 | 1,410 | 2 | $70,630 | $64,560 |
| Montana | $68,980 | $63,080 | 360 | 2 | $70,210 | $67,400 |
| Utah | $67,520 | $66,720 | 1,190 | 5 | $72,230 | $49,450 |
| Colorado | $67,090 | $62,620 | 1,540 | 5 | $72,150 | $55,100 |
| Wyoming | $67,030 | $57,990 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $66,780 | $61,270 | 2,010 | 6 | $68,730 | $48,190 |
| Oregon | $65,980 | $61,370 | 1,590 | 7 | $67,300 | $50,260 |
| New Hampshire | $64,780 | $61,370 | 420 | 1 | $58,670 | $58,670 |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $63,470 | $63,470 |
| Idaho | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2 | $63,270 | $48,110 |
| Minnesota | $62,780 | $59,200 | 1,040 | 3 | $63,490 | $55,830 |
| Arizona | $62,650 | $44,770 | 2,240 | 5 | $65,360 | $44,840 |
| North Dakota | $62,070 | $57,060 | 220 | 1 | $66,570 | $66,570 |
| Virginia | $61,160 | $58,520 | 1,960 | 3 | $64,780 | $54,340 |
| Iowa | $59,590 | $53,660 | 780 | 5 | $66,960 | $56,490 |
| Massachusetts | $58,230 | $58,400 | 1,500 | 2 | $60,940 | $55,120 |
| North Carolina | $57,820 | $48,130 | 2,710 | 10 | $63,660 | $49,710 |
| Rhode Island | $57,010 | $57,680 | n/a | 1 | $55,530 | $55,530 |
| Texas | $56,670 | $47,460 | 6,010 | 15 | $76,430 | $42,140 |
| Mississippi | $56,640 | $50,670 | 580 | 1 | $51,360 | $51,360 |
| Kansas | $55,950 | $47,300 | 450 | 1 | $59,280 | $59,280 |
| South Dakota | $55,710 | $52,530 | 280 | 2 | $59,160 | $57,460 |
| Georgia | $55,400 | $49,330 | 1,670 | 3 | $57,910 | $47,180 |
| Florida | $54,670 | $49,020 | n/a | 15 | $65,170 | $49,190 |
| Illinois | $54,530 | $54,480 | 1,310 | 1 | $55,160 | $55,160 |
| Maryland | $54,350 | $47,020 | 1,240 | 1 | $56,150 | $56,150 |
| Michigan | $54,160 | $46,400 | 1,660 | 3 | $59,390 | $55,770 |
| Delaware | $54,020 | $51,960 | 240 | 1 | $48,880 | $48,880 |
| New Jersey | $52,870 | $43,420 | 3,220 | 2 | $45,550 | $41,930 |
| Connecticut | $52,350 | $41,130 | 700 | 3 | $60,880 | $45,240 |
| Ohio | $52,310 | $49,020 | 1,590 | 2 | $55,420 | $48,360 |
| Puerto Rico | $52,280 | $46,730 | 340 | 1 | $54,400 | $54,400 |
| Indiana | $51,820 | $45,710 | 1,820 | 5 | $57,300 | $44,220 |
| South Carolina | $51,220 | $39,220 | 1,360 | 7 | $65,800 | $33,530 |
| Maine | $49,600 | $47,150 | 250 | 1 | $52,400 | $52,400 |
| Washington | $49,380 | $45,370 | 1,360 | 4 | $51,860 | $45,850 |
| Wisconsin | $49,300 | $44,340 | 1,550 | 6 | $53,320 | $44,620 |
| Oklahoma | $48,910 | $42,700 | 1,300 | 2 | $56,760 | $47,430 |
| Nebraska | $46,910 | $43,010 | 420 | 2 | $54,330 | $45,770 |
| Kentucky | $45,970 | $36,620 | 1,080 | 3 | $58,460 | $40,280 |
| Tennessee | $45,740 | $36,600 | 1,260 | 6 | $54,500 | $39,760 |
| Louisiana | $44,340 | $38,740 | 650 | 2 | $45,270 | $41,390 |
| Arkansas | $43,350 | $35,040 | 550 | 3 | $51,390 | $41,200 |
| Hawaii | $40,820 | $34,720 | n/a | 1 | $41,380 | $41,380 |
| New Mexico | $40,770 | $38,060 | 340 | 1 | $41,630 | $41,630 |
| West Virginia | $40,320 | $35,880 | 330 | 2 | $55,360 | $38,490 |
| Alabama | $34,070 | $33,280 | 290 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
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Tax Preparers salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $84,300 | $84,240 | $40.53 | 1,410 |
| San Jose, CA | $83,550 | $81,180 | $40.17 | 760 |
| Kansas City, MO | $82,540 | $78,920 | $39.68 | 560 |
| Anchorage, AK | $77,620 | $56,740 | $37.32 | 60 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $77,180 | $75,990 | $37.10 | 30 |
| Waco, TX | $76,430 | $65,020 | $36.74 | 40 |
| New York, NY | $75,620 | $71,300 | $36.36 | 8,100 |
| St. Louis, MO | $74,870 | $69,210 | $36.00 | 380 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $72,230 | $66,920 | $34.73 | 670 |
| Denver, CO | $72,150 | $65,150 | $34.69 | 970 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $71,350 | $65,930 | $34.30 | 130 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $70,630 | $60,170 | $33.96 | 1,130 |
| Billings, MT | $70,210 | $65,930 | $33.76 | 80 |
| San Diego, CA | $69,700 | $70,170 | $33.51 | 690 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $68,730 | $62,010 | $33.04 | 1,150 |
| Salinas, CA | $68,190 | $63,060 | $32.79 | 90 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $68,140 | $65,120 | $32.76 | 3,250 |
| Provo, UT | $67,810 | $64,240 | $32.60 | 250 |
| Stockton, CA | $67,450 | $61,460 | $32.43 | 110 |
| Helena, MT | $67,400 | $59,170 | $32.41 | 30 |
| Portland, OR | $67,300 | $61,350 | $32.36 | 870 |
| Syracuse, NY | $67,190 | $61,290 | $32.30 | 100 |
| Modesto, CA | $66,970 | $64,630 | $32.20 | 170 |
| Des Moines, IA | $66,960 | $63,560 | $32.19 | 210 |
| Sacramento, CA | $66,850 | $60,430 | $32.14 | 740 |
| Amarillo, TX | $66,640 | $70,980 | $32.04 | 60 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $66,620 | $61,140 | $32.03 | 410 |
| Fargo, ND | $66,570 | $65,320 | $32.01 | 110 |
| Rochester, NY | $66,390 | $60,180 | $31.92 | 290 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $66,290 | $71,800 | $31.87 | 60 |
| Florence, SC | $65,800 | $63,600 | $31.63 | 60 |
| Boulder, CO | $65,600 | $65,410 | $31.54 | 110 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $65,360 | $44,770 | $31.42 | 1,580 |
| Buffalo, NY | $65,310 | $60,040 | $31.40 | 320 |
| Bend, OR | $65,260 | $62,950 | $31.37 | 80 |
| Sebastian, FL | $65,170 | $59,330 | $31.33 | 70 |
| Medford, OR | $64,840 | $57,640 | $31.18 | 90 |
| Richmond, VA | $64,780 | $62,160 | $31.14 | 310 |
| Springfield, MO | $64,640 | $56,820 | $31.08 | 160 |
| Reno, NV | $64,560 | $61,790 | $31.04 | 140 |
| Albany, NY | $64,260 | $62,290 | $30.89 | 310 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $64,260 | $60,210 | $30.89 | 180 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $64,110 | $59,490 | $30.82 | n/a |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $63,830 | $60,480 | $30.69 | n/a |
| Charlotte, NC | $63,660 | $50,350 | $30.61 | 850 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $63,490 | $60,650 | $30.52 | 650 |
| Washington, DC | $63,470 | $57,890 | $30.51 | 1,150 |
| Greenville, SC | $63,380 | $63,460 | $30.47 | 310 |
| Oxnard, CA | $63,350 | $62,050 | $30.46 | 260 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63,330 | $61,930 | $30.45 | 70 |
| Boise, ID | $63,270 | $46,000 | $30.42 | n/a |
| Davenport, IA | $62,700 | $60,280 | $30.15 | 80 |
| Dubuque, IA | $62,510 | $61,330 | $30.05 | 50 |
| Erie, PA | $62,440 | $58,460 | $30.02 | 50 |
| Eugene, OR | $62,030 | $61,300 | $29.82 | 140 |
| Redding, CA | $62,010 | $61,200 | $29.81 | 60 |
| Salem, OR | $61,810 | $58,330 | $29.72 | 140 |
| Albany, OR | $61,760 | $58,220 | $29.69 | 30 |
| Durham, NC | $61,570 | $57,090 | $29.60 | 150 |
| Lancaster, PA | $61,510 | $59,550 | $29.57 | 70 |
| Greeley, CO | $61,310 | $61,420 | $29.48 | 50 |
| Boston, MA | $60,940 | $59,630 | $29.30 | 1,110 |
| Naples, FL | $60,890 | $59,610 | $29.27 | 130 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $60,880 | $58,370 | $29.27 | 240 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $60,730 | $59,290 | $29.20 | 30 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $60,600 | $57,770 | $29.14 | 60 |
| Charleston, SC | $60,500 | $62,350 | $29.09 | 210 |
| Logan, UT | $59,740 | $48,500 | $28.72 | 50 |
| Sarasota, FL | $59,610 | $58,910 | $28.66 | n/a |
| Austin, TX | $59,540 | $48,150 | $28.63 | 490 |
| Tucson, AZ | $59,500 | $46,960 | $28.60 | 270 |
| Lansing, MI | $59,390 | $51,870 | $28.56 | 70 |
| Wichita, KS | $59,280 | $60,260 | $28.50 | 100 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $59,160 | $52,530 | $28.44 | 110 |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | $59,070 | $44,250 | $28.40 | n/a |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $58,890 | $50,300 | $28.31 | 60 |
| Manchester, NH | $58,670 | $52,570 | $28.21 | 90 |
| Louisville, KY | $58,460 | $57,220 | $28.11 | 280 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $58,340 | $54,570 | $28.05 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $58,150 | $58,970 | $27.96 | 250 |
| Houston, TX | $58,040 | $47,320 | $27.91 | 1,280 |
| Fort Myers, FL | $57,980 | $58,020 | $27.88 | 150 |
| Atlanta, GA | $57,910 | $50,070 | $27.84 | n/a |
| Dallas, TX | $57,780 | $47,020 | $27.78 | 1,780 |
| Binghamton, NY | $57,650 | $54,880 | $27.72 | 40 |
| El Paso, TX | $57,650 | $59,990 | $27.72 | n/a |
| Grand Junction, CO | $57,640 | $55,640 | $27.71 | 30 |
| Tampa, FL | $57,610 | $48,550 | $27.70 | 1,060 |
| Rapid City, SD | $57,460 | $61,100 | $27.63 | 50 |
| Sioux City, IA | $57,450 | $48,650 | $27.62 | 30 |
| Asheville, NC | $57,430 | $47,930 | $27.61 | 80 |
| Lafayette, IN | $57,300 | $46,300 | $27.55 | 50 |
| Ocala, FL | $56,950 | $54,880 | $27.38 | 110 |
| Midland, TX | $56,800 | $46,210 | $27.31 | 30 |
| Tulsa, OK | $56,760 | $38,000 | $27.29 | 300 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $56,730 | $49,500 | $27.27 | n/a |
| Ogden, UT | $56,550 | $48,210 | $27.19 | 110 |
| Roanoke, VA | $56,490 | $53,630 | $27.16 | 50 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $56,490 | $51,820 | $27.16 | 80 |
| Baltimore, MD | $56,150 | $56,160 | $27.00 | 660 |
| Wilmington, NC | $56,120 | $52,220 | $26.98 | 130 |
| College Station, TX | $56,100 | $37,630 | $26.97 | 30 |
| Duluth, MN | $55,830 | $50,170 | $26.84 | 60 |
| Detroit, MI | $55,770 | $46,450 | $26.81 | 830 |
| Providence, RI | $55,530 | $57,680 | $26.70 | 420 |
| Raleigh, NC | $55,450 | $47,290 | $26.66 | n/a |
| Dayton, OH | $55,420 | $48,030 | $26.64 | n/a |
| Charleston, WV | $55,360 | $45,650 | $26.62 | 50 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $55,320 | $45,620 | $26.60 | 90 |
| Chicago, IL | $55,160 | $48,670 | $26.52 | 1,020 |
| Barnstable, MA | $55,120 | $56,960 | $26.50 | 60 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $55,100 | $58,900 | $26.49 | 180 |
| Greensboro, NC | $55,080 | $45,250 | $26.48 | 150 |
| Lakeland, FL | $54,630 | $45,660 | $26.27 | 100 |
| Nashville, TN | $54,500 | $48,080 | $26.20 | 400 |
| San Juan, PR | $54,400 | $47,590 | $26.16 | 300 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $54,340 | $44,320 | $26.13 | 370 |
| Lincoln, NE | $54,330 | $47,590 | $26.12 | 60 |
| Deltona, FL | $54,160 | $57,920 | $26.04 | 100 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $53,670 | $45,930 | $25.80 | 140 |
| Tyler, TX | $53,490 | $47,210 | $25.72 | n/a |
| Orlando, FL | $53,420 | $50,220 | $25.69 | 430 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $53,420 | $49,650 | $25.68 | 80 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $53,320 | $50,430 | $25.63 | 440 |
| Hickory, NC | $53,200 | $47,940 | $25.58 | 80 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $53,040 | $47,860 | $25.50 | 150 |
| Portland, ME | $52,400 | $50,070 | $25.19 | n/a |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $52,300 | $46,100 | $25.15 | 140 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $51,910 | $45,780 | $24.96 | 700 |
| Seattle, WA | $51,860 | $47,860 | $24.93 | 780 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $51,660 | $42,990 | $24.84 | 90 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $51,460 | $45,820 | $24.74 | 130 |
| Lexington, KY | $51,390 | $38,510 | $24.71 | 240 |
| Little Rock, AR | $51,390 | $38,140 | $24.71 | 130 |
| Gulfport, MS | $51,360 | $49,680 | $24.69 | 70 |
| Chico, CA | $50,860 | $41,600 | $24.45 | 40 |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | $50,670 | $37,680 | $24.36 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $50,450 | $45,810 | $24.26 | 140 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $50,260 | $39,560 | $24.16 | 40 |
| Sherman, TX | $49,810 | $35,960 | $23.95 | 30 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $49,710 | $43,550 | $23.90 | 30 |
| St. George, UT | $49,450 | $46,380 | $23.77 | 40 |
| Miami, FL | $49,190 | $48,310 | $23.65 | n/a |
| Green Bay, WI | $49,080 | $44,840 | $23.60 | 50 |
| Kennewick, WA | $49,050 | $44,250 | $23.58 | 50 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $48,960 | $44,620 | $23.54 | 30 |
| Dover, DE | $48,880 | $47,720 | $23.50 | 40 |
| Fayetteville, AR | $48,450 | $35,650 | $23.29 | 100 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $48,360 | $48,730 | $23.25 | n/a |
| Knoxville, TN | $48,250 | $44,940 | $23.20 | 150 |
| Racine, WI | $48,250 | $49,830 | $23.20 | 40 |
| Scranton, PA | $48,190 | $39,400 | $23.17 | 90 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $48,110 | $46,680 | $23.13 | 40 |
| Lubbock, TX | $48,000 | $37,770 | $23.08 | 50 |
| Evansville, IN | $47,700 | $44,200 | $22.93 | 80 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $47,430 | $49,450 | $22.80 | 590 |
| Augusta, GA | $47,180 | $44,920 | $22.68 | 80 |
| Janesville, WI | $47,060 | $43,850 | $22.62 | 40 |
| McAllen, TX | $47,000 | $39,580 | $22.60 | 150 |
| Hartford, CT | $46,730 | $37,760 | $22.47 | 200 |
| Brownsville, TX | $46,690 | $49,630 | $22.45 | 90 |
| Spokane, WA | $46,190 | $40,160 | $22.21 | 120 |
| Bellingham, WA | $45,850 | $44,250 | $22.05 | 50 |
| Omaha, NE | $45,770 | $41,600 | $22.01 | 170 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $45,550 | $36,300 | $21.90 | 90 |
| Shreveport, LA | $45,270 | $49,500 | $21.76 | 60 |
| Waterbury, CT | $45,240 | $35,740 | $21.75 | 80 |
| Yuma, AZ | $44,840 | $37,260 | $21.56 | 30 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $44,620 | $37,420 | $21.45 | 40 |
| Kingsport, TN | $44,580 | $42,700 | $21.43 | 50 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $44,330 | $44,560 | $21.31 | 120 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $44,220 | $39,990 | $21.26 | 40 |
| Columbia, SC | $43,880 | $36,150 | $21.10 | 150 |
| Memphis, TN | $43,420 | $35,410 | $20.88 | 230 |
| Killeen, TX | $42,140 | $37,760 | $20.26 | 70 |
| Vineland, NJ | $41,930 | $34,780 | $20.16 | 40 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $41,630 | $38,490 | $20.01 | 190 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $41,390 | $36,480 | $19.90 | 50 |
| Honolulu, HI | $41,380 | $34,860 | $19.89 | n/a |
| Fort Smith, AR | $41,200 | $30,160 | $19.81 | 40 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $40,280 | $37,010 | $19.36 | 30 |
| Clarksville, TN | $39,760 | $34,600 | $19.12 | 40 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $38,800 | $38,390 | $18.65 | 60 |
| Huntington, WV | $38,490 | $35,100 | $18.51 | 60 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $37,760 | $30,930 | $18.15 | 110 |
| Sumter, SC | $33,530 | $30,410 | $16.12 | 70 |
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Tax Preparers salary: questions
Where do tax preparers make the most money?
In San Francisco, CA, with an average of $84,300 a year, among the 186 metro areas we cover.
What is the average tax preparers salary in the U.S.?
$60,930 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $54,920, so half of tax preparers earn more than that and half less.
What salary should tax preparers ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of tax preparers nationwide earn between $38,910 (25th percentile) and $76,300 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays tax preparers the most?
New York, with a statewide average of $79,160 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is tax preparers pay the lowest?
Sumter, SC, at $33,530 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2082.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.