Tax Preparers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,570 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Durham earn between $45,670 and $77,070.
- $36K10th
- $46K25th
- $57KMedian
- $77K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,570 | $5,131 | $29.60 |
| Median | $57,090 | $4,758 | $27.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,670 | $3,806 | $21.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,070 | $6,422 | $37.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Durham earn 6% more than the North Carolina average ($57,820) and about the same as the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $61,570 | $57,090 | $36,460 | $95,570 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $57,820 | $48,130 | $35,480 | $97,720 | 2,710 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $61,570, a single filer in Durham takes home about $49,704 a year, or $4,142 a month and $1,912 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for tax preparers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $61,570 buys what about $63,102 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 10 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($63,660).
- Charlotte$63,660
- Durham$61,570
- Asheville$57,430
- Wilmington$56,120
- Raleigh$55,450
- Fayetteville$55,320
- Greensboro$55,080
- Hickory$53,200
- Winston-Salem$53,040
- Jacksonville$49,710
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Tax Preparers salary in Durham: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Durham?
$29.60 an hour on average, and $27.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Durham?
About $49,704 a year ($4,142 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,570.
Do tax preparers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
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; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.