Accountant Salary in Fayetteville, AR: $79,205 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time accountant in Fayetteville, AR earns a median $79,205/year (≈ $38.08/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2011). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 91.4), that paycheck buys what $86,702 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 17.3% above the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Fayetteville's projected median annual salary for accountants stands at $79,205 in 2026, reflecting a competitive local market despite being approximately 7.76% lower than the national median of $85,864. Salaries range from $51,172 at the tenth percentile to $137,867 at the ninetieth percentile, providing a broad spectrum of earning potential based on experience and specialization. These figures, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, indicate an active job landscape in which CPA licensure can significantly enhance earning capacity. Accountants in Fayetteville can expect considerable financial growth as they advance from staff to senior roles, particularly those who align with the Big 4 firms, which consistently offer the highest salary levels.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $51,172 | $24.60 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60,950 | $29.31 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,205 | $38.08 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $109,444 | $52.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $137,867 | $66.29 |
Median Salary Position
7.76% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, AR, the accountant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $86,695 (2026 est.). At $79,205, the local median is 7.76% below the national median of $85,864.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fayetteville Accountant Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $79,205/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $67,523 | +17.30% more |
| National Average | $85,864 | -7.76% less |
Accountants in Fayetteville, AR earn a median of $79,205 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.76% lower than the national median of $85,864 and 17.30% above the Arkansas state average of $67,523.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.65% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, AR has a cost-of-living index of 91.353 (below the national average of 100). A accountant earning $79,205 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $86,702 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.47% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,590
2025 BLS Actual
$77,190
2026 Current Est.
$79,205
2019–2027 Growth
+29.8%
Salary Trajectory for Accountants in Fayetteville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.61% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,590 | Actual |
| 2020 | $71,420 | Actual |
| 2021 | $65,160 | Actual |
| 2022 | $67,960 | Actual |
| 2023 | $67,960 | Actual |
| 2024 | $76,110 | Actual |
| 2025 | $77,190 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,205 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $81,272 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median accountant salary grew 23.3% from $62,590 (2019) to $77,190 (2025). At a 2.61% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $81,272 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,682 (29.85%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.61% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $51,172 – $60,950 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $60,950 – $79,205 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,205 – $109,444 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $109,444 – $137,867 |
CPA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual accountant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Accountant Job Market in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, approximately 1,980 accountants contribute to a local economy buoyed by a cost-of-living index of 91.353, meaning that the purchasing power of those salaries is stronger than in many other areas. Employers from various sectors, including the Big 4 public accounting firms and regional firms, tend to lead in compensation offerings, which helps shape overall accountant pay in Fayetteville, AR. The disparity in earnings—evident in the gap between entry-level positions and senior roles or specialized areas like tax or forensic accounting—highlights key drivers of income. Those seeking to maximize their accountant salary in Fayetteville should consider obtaining a CPA license, pursuing specializations, and potentially shifting to corporate accounting roles, which often provide competitive salaries combined with bonuses, particularly during busy seasons.
More salary data for Fayetteville, AR:
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.
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $77,190 for accountantsin the Fayetteville metropolitan area. A 2.61% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.61%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for accountants (SOC 13-2011).
Compiled and verified by Sofia Patel, CPA, a licensed accountant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov