Accountant Hourly Pay (2026): How Much Do CPAs Make Per Hour?
The median accountant hourly pay is $41.28 per hour in 2026, equivalent to $85,864 annually (Big 4 partners and 1099 CPAs exceed substantially). Effective hourly rates reach $90–$300+ for Big 4 partners, fractional CFOs, and 1099 specialty tax / forensic CPAs, with tax-season overtime stacking pushing senior associate effective hourly to $80+/hour.
2019 BLS
$34.40/hr
2025 BLS
$40.23/hr
2026 Current Est.
$41.28/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+23.1%
National Accountant Hourly Rate Trend
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 2.61% projection.
| Year | Median Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $34.40/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $35.37/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $37.14/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $37.50/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $38.40/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $39.27/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $40.23/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $41.28/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $42.36/hr | Projected |
The national median hourly rate for accountants has grown steadily over the past 7 years of BLS data, reflecting strong demand for accounting services. At the current 2.61% CAGR, hourly rates are projected to continue rising through 2027.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 2.61% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Accountant Salary Per Hour by State
Hourly rates for accountants vary widely by state. Western and Northeastern states consistently top the rankings, while Southeastern states tend to fall below the national median of $41.28/hour.
| # | State | Avg Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $50.39 |
| 2 | New York | $50.27 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $48.79 |
| 4 | California | $47.94 |
| 5 | Colorado | $47.78 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $47.77 |
| 7 | Washington | $47.62 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $46.80 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $46.78 |
| 10 | Oregon | $44.11 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $42.22 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $42.18 |
| 13 | Maryland | $41.80 |
| 14 | Georgia | $41.36 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $41.32 |
| 16 | Vermont | $40.69 |
| 17 | Alaska | $40.56 |
| 18 | Illinois | $40.38 |
| 19 | Texas | $40.25 |
| 20 | Nevada | $40.16 |
| 21 | Virginia | $39.99 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $39.98 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $39.66 |
| 24 | Arizona | $39.46 |
| 25 | Utah | $39.38 |
| 26 | Ohio | $39.30 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $39.26 |
| 28 | Michigan | $39.08 |
| 29 | Florida | $38.96 |
| 30 | Maine | $38.79 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $38.79 |
| 32 | Iowa | $38.42 |
| 33 | Indiana | $38.39 |
| 34 | Missouri | $38.35 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $38.22 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $38.19 |
| 37 | Kansas | $38.10 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $37.81 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $37.67 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $37.57 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $37.49 |
| 42 | Alabama | $37.28 |
| 43 | Montana | $37.25 |
| 44 | Idaho | $37.01 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $36.98 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $36.84 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $36.18 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $36.14 |
| 49 | Delaware | $36.10 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $35.25 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $34.19 |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $21.41 |
How Much Do Accountants Make Per Hour? Top 20 Cities
These 20 metro areas offer the highest hourly rates for accountants in the United States. Rates reflect the median hourly wage reported by BLS, or estimated from annual salary data.
| # | City | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale, CA | $61.44 |
| 2 | Santa Clara, CA | $61.04 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $60.04 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $55.87 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $54.64 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $54.63 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $53.01 |
| 8 | Honolulu, HI | $52.40 |
| 9 | Newark, NJ | $52.20 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $52.13 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $50.39 |
| 12 | Bridgeport, CT | $50.33 |
| 13 | Princeton, NJ | $50.08 |
| 14 | Alexandria, VA | $49.96 |
| 15 | Centennial, CO | $49.80 |
| 16 | Midland, TX | $49.78 |
| 17 | Stamford, CT | $49.65 |
| 18 | Parkersburg, WV | $49.54 |
| 19 | Bellevue, WA | $49.50 |
| 20 | Boston, MA | $49.41 |
Accountant Hourly Rate: Big 4, Industry, 1099 CPA, and Fractional CFO Pay
Accountant compensation varies meaningfully by employer tier (Big 4 vs second-tier vs regional vs industry vs 1099) and career stage (staff vs senior vs manager vs partner). At Big 4 partner levels, total compensation $400K–$1M+ translates to effective hourly $190–$480.
Staff accountant hourly equivalent — at $41.28/hour median (annualized from $85,864 at 2,080 hours).
Big 4 partner (top tier) — Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG partners earn $400,000–$1,500,000+ annually. Effective hourly $190–$720+.
Big 4 senior manager / managing director — $180,000–$280,000+. Strong bonus structure.
Big 4 manager / senior — $120,000–$180,000. Tax-season overtime pushes effective hourly higher.
Big 4 senior associate — $70,000–$110,000 base plus tax-season overtime. Effective hourly with overtime $40–$60/hour.
Fortune 500 industry accountant — Controller, Assistant Controller, VP Finance, CFO track. Strong work-life vs Big 4.
1099 CPA specialty (forensic, valuation, tax) — established 1099 CPAs bill $150–$400+/hour for forensic accounting, business valuation, expert witness, complex tax.
Fractional CFO — emerging service. Established fractional CFOs bill $200–$500+/hour at growth-stage company retainer engagements.
Regional / mid-tier firm — BDO, Grant Thornton, RSM, Crowe, Baker Tilly, CohnReznick, CLA, Eide Bailly, Mazars, Wipfli, FORVIS, Plante Moran. Strong career progression.
Tax-season busy-season overtime — Big 4 associates routinely work 60–80 hour weeks Jan–Apr (busy season). Effective hourly during busy season drops; off-season returns to normal.
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual (50 wks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days/week (24 hrs) | $991 | $4,290 | $49,537 |
| 4 days/week (32 hrs) | $1,321 | $5,720 | $66,049 |
| Full-time (40 hrs) | $1,651 | $7,150 | $82,562 |
* Based on the national median hourly rate of $41.28. Actual earnings vary by location.
Accountant Pay Per Hour vs Similar Healthcare Roles
How does accountant hourly pay compare to similar allied health professions? Here's a side-by-side comparison using BLS 2025 national median data:
| Occupation | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Accountant ★ | $41.28 |
| Financial Analyst | $47.61 |
| Bookkeeping / Accounting Clerk | $22.93 |
| Auditor ★ | $39.88 |
| Tax Examiner / Collector | $29.61 |
★ = Accountant (2026 projected). Other roles: BLS OEWS 2025 national median wages.
Factors That Drive Accountant Hourly Pay Differences
Accountant hourly pay varies dramatically by employer tier (Big 4 vs second-tier vs regional vs industry vs 1099), career stage, specialty (tax vs audit vs forensic vs valuation), and 1099 vs W-2. The national median sits at $41.28/hour, but accountant effective hourly rates reach $61.44+ in top markets like Sunnyvale, CA and exceed $300/hour for Big 4 partners and 1099 specialty CPAs.
This guide breaks down the five biggest drivers of accountant hourly pay differences. Whether you're a 150-hour CPA candidate planning first role, a working CPA considering Big-4-to-industry transition, or a controller / CFO benchmarking competitive wages, the framework below is the central reference.
1. Employer Tier: Big 4 / Second-Tier / Regional / Industry
- Big 4 (top tier) — Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG. Partner $400K–$1.5M+.
- Second-tier national — BDO, Grant Thornton, RSM, Crowe, Baker Tilly, CohnReznick.
- Strong regional — CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Eide Bailly, Mazars, Wipfli, FORVIS, Plante Moran.
- Big Law forensic / valuation — Alvarez & Marsal, FTI Consulting, AlixPartners, Cornerstone, Charles River Associates, Compass Lexecon.
- Fortune 500 industry (controller / VP Finance / CFO track) — Apple, Google, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, JPM, Citi, Wells Fargo Big Corporate CFO orgs.
- 1099 specialty CPA — forensic, valuation, expert witness, complex tax.
- Fractional CFO — $200–$500+/hour at growth-stage retainer.
- Solo CPA / small firm owner — established with mature client base.
2. State Big 4 / Fortune 500 Concentration
- New York (top tier) — densest Big 4 + Wall Street finance. Top partner pay.
- California (LA + SF) — Big 4 LA + SF Bay tech / PE / VC clients.
- Illinois (Chicago) — Grant Thornton HQ + RSM HQ.
- Texas (Houston / Dallas) — Big 4 Houston energy practice + Dallas PE / banking / tech.
- Massachusetts (Boston) — Big 4 Boston life sciences + fintech + education.
- Other strong markets — New Jersey, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), Georgia (Atlanta), North Carolina (Charlotte banking), Florida (Miami fintech / PE), DC (federal practice).
3. Career Stage and Tax-Season Overtime
- Staff associate (year 1–2) — $60K–$80K base.
- Senior associate (year 3–5) — $80K–$130K plus busy-season overtime.
- Manager (year 5–7) — $130K–$180K.
- Senior manager (year 8–10) — $180K–$280K.
- Managing director / non-equity partner — $250K–$400K.
- Equity partner (year 12+) — $400K–$1.5M+.
- Tax-season busy-season overtime — Jan–Apr 60–80 hour weeks at Big 4. Effective hourly during busy season drops materially.
- CPA pipeline shortage — Big 4 raised first-year salaries aggressively 2022–2024.
4. State CPA Licensure and Specialty
- 150-hour education requirement — all 50 states + DC for CPA licensure.
- State experience requirements — typically 1–2 years.
- Alternative 120-hour pathway pilots — Minnesota, South Carolina, Utah, Pennsylvania, Indiana piloting.
- CPA mobility — established for individual licensure.
- Tax specialty (state / local SALT, international, M&A) — premium especially at Big 4 / mid-tier.
- Forensic accounting / valuation — premium specialty.
- Internal audit / SOX — Fortune 500 internal audit.
- CFA / CMA / CIA / EA — additional credentials.
5. State Cost of Living and Tax
- State cost of living — California, NY, MA, NJ, CT, WA, Hawaii, MD lead nominal.
- State income tax (senior level) — accountants in TX, FL, TN, NV, WA, WY, SD, AK, NH keep more. Senior partner savings $50K+ annually vs California / NY.
- Tax-driven partner migration — Big 4 partners increasingly migrate to TX, FL.
- Brokerage HQ states — NY, IL, MA, CT, OH, PA, FL, VA.
2026 Accountant Hourly Pay Outlook
Accountant pay has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.61% nationally over the past five years — driven by CPA pipeline shortage forcing Big 4 to raise starting salaries, sustained Fortune 500 corporate finance hiring, expanding state-level adoption of alternative 120-hour pathway pilots responding to pipeline crisis, growing private equity / portfolio company CFO finance hiring, and ongoing tax law complexity (state and local SALT, international tax under OECD Pillar Two, IRA / clean energy tax credits, R&D capitalization). The BLS projects accountant employment growth at 6% through 2033, with strong upward pay pressure especially for CPAs and Big 4 senior managers.
The CPA pipeline crisis has driven Big 4 to raise first-year associate salaries aggressively over 2022–2024, with continued pressure expected through 2026. States with rapid Big 4 expansion (Texas — Austin / Dallas / Houston, Florida — Miami), no-state-income-tax states attracting partners, and high-cost AmLaw / Fortune 500 hub states (NY, CA, IL, MA, DC metro) continue to lead state-level accountant hourly pay rankings. CPAs strategically pursuing forensic / valuation / fractional CFO 1099 specialty paths see the highest effective hourly rates outside Big 4 partner economics.
More Salary Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. We applied a 2.61% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS trends, to estimate current 2026 compensation.