Accountant Salary in Philadelphia, PA: $88,234 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time accountant in Philadelphia, PA earns a median $88,234/year (≈ $42.42/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2011). Once you factor in Philadelphia's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 102.6), that paycheck buys what $86,037 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 16.8% above the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Philadelphia, the median annual salary for accountants is projected to be $88,234 in 2026, a figure that reflects a slight increase compared to the national median of $85,864. This local figure encompasses a salary range from $61,115 at the 10th percentile to $143,059 at the 90th percentile, illustrating significant pay disparities largely influenced by the type of employer and the employee's level of experience. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, these salaries indicate that the Big 4 accounting firms tend to offer the highest compensation, often setting a benchmark that smaller firms and corporate accounting departments cannot always meet. As a result, the competition for talent and the differentiation in salaries can create both opportunities and challenges for professionals considering their career paths in Philadelphia.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61,115 | $29.38 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $75,285 | $36.19 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $88,234 | $42.42 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $113,302 | $54.48 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $143,059 | $68.78 |
Median Salary Position
2.76% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, PA, the accountant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $81,944 (2026 est.). At $88,234, the local median is 2.76% above the national median of $85,864.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Philadelphia: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Philadelphia Accountant Pay Compares
Philadelphia median: $88,234/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Philadelphia Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $75,543 | +16.80% more |
| National Average | $85,864 | +2.76% more |
Accountants in Philadelphia, PA earn a median of $88,234 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.76% higher than the national median of $85,864 and 16.80% above the Pennsylvania state average of $75,543.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Philadelphia has a cost of living 2.55% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Philadelphia, PA has a cost-of-living index of 102.554 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $88,234 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $86,037 — a 2.49% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$76,660
2025 BLS Actual
$85,990
2026 Current Est.
$88,234
2019–2027 Growth
+18.1%
Salary Trajectory for Accountants in Philadelphia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.61% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $76,660 | Actual |
| 2020 | $78,030 | Actual |
| 2021 | $78,560 | Actual |
| 2022 | $78,670 | Actual |
| 2023 | $81,060 | Actual |
| 2024 | $84,080 | Actual |
| 2025 | $85,990 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $88,234 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $90,537 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Philadelphia metropolitan area, the median accountant salary grew 12.2% from $76,660 (2019) to $85,990 (2025). At a 2.61% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,537 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,877 (18.10%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Philadelphia 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) | $61,115 – $75,285 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $75,285 – $88,234 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $88,234 – $113,302 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $113,302 – $143,059 |
CPA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual accountant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Accountant Job Market in Philadelphia
With approximately 29,370 accountants employed in the Philadelphia area, the local job market remains robust, yet the cost of living index of 102.554 indicates that expenses are somewhat above the national average. This reality can impact the purchasing power of accountant pay in Philadelphia, PA. Among local employers, Big 4 firms like Deloitte and PwC offer the most lucrative salaries, while mid-tier CPA firms and corporate accounting roles typically provide more stable but lower compensation. Factors contributing to the variance in pay include the CPA license's value, the prestige associated with the tier of firm, and specialty roles that command premiums, such as tax and forensic accounting positions. To maximize earnings in this competitive market, aspiring accountants should focus on gaining credentials such as the CPA, exploring opportunities in high-paying sectors, and considering public accounting for initial experience before transitioning to industry roles, where controllers often enjoy higher cash compensation, albeit less prestige.
More salary data for Philadelphia, PA:
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 $85,990 for accountantsin the Philadelphia 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