Accountant Salary

Salt Lake City vs Syracuse: Accountant Salary (2026)

Compare accountant salaries between Salt Lake City, UT and Syracuse, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Salt Lake City, UT
$84,243
$40.50/hr
Syracuse, UT
$75,481
$36.29/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalt Lake City, UTSyracuse, UT
Median Salary$84,243$75,481
Hourly Rate$40.50$36.29
Entry Level (P10)$52,813$49,489
25th Percentile$66,645$61,804
75th Percentile$110,603$96,616
Top Earner (P90)$135,168$116,996
Total Employed8,6606
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salt Lake City ($84,243) and Syracuse ($75,481) accountant salaries.Salt Lake CitySyracuseMedian Salary$84,243$75,481Entry Level (P10)$52,813$49,489Top Earner (P90)$135,168$116,996US Median $85,864

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for accountants, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Syracuse.

The salary gap between Salt Lake City and Syracuse is $8,762 (11.61%). Salt Lake City's median is -1.89% compared to the US national median of $85,864.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salt Lake City spans $82,355,Syracuse spans $67,507. Salt Lake City has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$52,813
P25$66,645
Median$84,243
P75$110,603
P90 (Top)$135,168
Syracuse
P10 (Entry)$49,489
P25$61,804
Median$75,481
P75$96,616
P90 (Top)$116,996

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Salt Lake City ($83,518 effective) pays 8.55% more than Syracuse ($76,943 effective).

Salt Lake City
Nominal: $84,243
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $83,518
Syracuse
Nominal: $75,481
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $76,943

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($84,243/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($135,168)
  • Larger job market (8,660 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $83,518)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Syracuse if…

  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, accountant salaries in Salt Lake City grew 27.2% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 4.3% growth in Syracuse over the same period.

Salt Lake City, UT

+27.2%

$64,520 (2019) → $82,100 (2025)

Syracuse, UT

+4.3%

$70,543 (2024) → $73,561 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays accountants more: Salt Lake City or Syracuse?

Salt Lake City has a higher median accountant salary at $84,243/year, compared to Syracuse at $75,481/year — a difference of $8,762 (11.61%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salt Lake City and Syracuse?

Salt Lake City accountants earn $40.50/hr while Syracuse hygienists earn $36.29/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salt Lake City to Syracuse as a accountant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salt Lake City and Syracuse. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salt Lake City = $83,518, Syracuse = $76,943), job availability (8,660 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level accountants earn in Salt Lake City vs Syracuse?

Entry-level (10th percentile) accountants earn $52,813 in Salt Lake City and $49,489 in Syracuse. The Salt Lake City area offers higher starting salaries.
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Written by Sofia Patel, CPA

Career Analyst

Sofia Patel has over 10 years of experience in financial analysis. She specializes in tax preparation for small businesses. She has worked in both corporate and public accounting environments.

Clinically reviewed by Liam Chen, CMAData verified by Amina Khan, MBA

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 2.61% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Sofia Patel, CPA, a licensed accountant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov