Accountant Salary in Albany, NY: $86,870 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time accountant in Albany, NY earns a median $86,870/year (≈ $41.76/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2011). Once you factor in Albany's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 99.6), that paycheck buys what $87,249 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.1% above the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, accounting professionals in Albany, NY, can anticipate a median annual salary of $86,870, slightly above the national median of $85,864. This compensation reflects a salary range that spans from $61,084 at the lower end (10th percentile) to $137,159 at the upper end (90th percentile), illustrating a robust potential for earnings growth as one advances in experience and expertise. These statistics are derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and indicate that obtaining a CPA license is essential in capturing a notable increase in pay, particularly when transitioning from staff to senior positions. The job market in Albany shows promise, especially for those pursuing a career in accounting where specialization can unlock further financial rewards.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61,084 | $29.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $71,612 | $34.43 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $86,870 | $41.76 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $109,823 | $52.80 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $137,159 | $65.94 |
Median Salary Position
1.17% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Albany
In Albany, NY, the accountant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $76,075 (2026 est.). At $86,870, the local median is 1.17% above the national median of $85,864.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Albany: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Albany Accountant Pay Compares
Albany median: $86,870/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Albany Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $84,258 | +3.10% more |
| National Average | $85,864 | +1.17% more |
Accountants in Albany, NY earn a median of $86,870 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.17% higher than the national median of $85,864 and 3.10% above the New York state average of $84,258.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Albany has a cost of living 0.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Albany, NY has a cost-of-living index of 99.566 (below the national average of 100). A accountant earning $86,870 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $87,249 in an average-cost city — an effective 0.44% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$72,870
2025 BLS Actual
$84,660
2026 Current Est.
$86,870
2019–2027 Growth
+22.3%
Salary Trajectory for Accountants in Albany (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.61% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $72,870 | Actual |
| 2020 | $75,540 | Actual |
| 2021 | $80,700 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,240 | Actual |
| 2023 | $81,760 | Actual |
| 2024 | $84,030 | Actual |
| 2025 | $84,660 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,870 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $89,137 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Albany metropolitan area, the median accountant salary grew 16.2% from $72,870 (2019) to $84,660 (2025). At a 2.61% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $89,137 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,267 (22.32%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Albany 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) | $61,084 – $71,612 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $71,612 – $86,870 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $86,870 – $109,823 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $109,823 – $137,159 |
CPA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual accountant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Accountant Job Market in Albany
The local job market for accountants is solid, with approximately 4,680 accountants employed in Albany, creating a competitive yet dynamic environment. While the cost of living index sits at 99.566, which is below the national average, accountants may find their purchasing power influenced by this factor. The highest salaries can typically be found within Big 4 firms such as Deloitte and Ernst & Young, where the additional prestige and tier of clients often provide a premium over other employers. The spread in wages is heavily driven by factors including CPA licensure, employer type, and specialty areas like tax and forensic accounting. Maximizing pay in Albany requires not only pursuing certification but also strategically considering transitions from public firms to industry roles after a few years, particularly when seeking to achieve higher compensation and improved work-life balance.
More salary data for Albany, NY:
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 $84,660 for accountantsin the Albany 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