What an accountant costs in 2026
The median accountant in the United States earned $83,680 a year, $40.23 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. With benefits at a small employer, a full-time accountant at the median costs about $113,000 a year, or about $9,400 a month.
The middle half of accountants earn $67,020 to $109,810. There are 1,449,500 of them across the country, and what one costs you depends most on where you are: District of Columbia has the highest median at $111,530, and Arkansas the lowest of the 50 states at $66,330.
Liaison does the routine half of an accountant’s job for 7% of that. See how.
What an accountant would cost you
Pick a state or a metro area and the hours you need. The cost is the median hourly wage there plus benefits at the rate you choose.
Accountant, the United States, 40 hours a week
$112,972 a year
$9,414 a month. Wages $83,678 at the median of $40.23 an hour, plus $29,293 in benefits. The middle half of accountants here earn $67,020 to $109,810 in wages.
Accountant wages and cost by state
Median wage, May 2025. The cost column adds benefits at the rate for employers with 1 to 49 workers (35% on top of wages).
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Cost to a small employer | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $74,880 | $36.00 | $101,093 | $60,840 to $95,870 | 24,300 |
| Alaska | $83,460 | $40.13 | $112,677 | $72,230 to $102,460 | 2,190 |
| Arizona | $79,970 | $38.45 | $107,965 | $64,990 to $103,640 | 27,410 |
| Arkansas | $66,330 | $31.89 | $89,550 | $52,570 to $88,950 | 7,870 |
| California | $97,050 | $46.66 | $131,024 | $75,810 to $125,850 | 175,360 |
| Colorado | $97,030 | $46.65 | $130,997 | $74,900 to $127,270 | 35,410 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 | $46.90 | $131,699 | $78,020 to $123,670 | 16,770 |
| Delaware | $95,020 | $45.69 | $128,284 | $74,270 to $120,450 | 6,570 |
| District of Columbia | $111,530 | $53.62 | $150,574 | $83,050 to $156,730 | 9,810 |
| Florida | $79,250 | $38.10 | $106,993 | $62,730 to $103,140 | 91,000 |
| Georgia | $81,900 | $39.37 | $110,571 | $64,830 to $109,110 | 44,020 |
| Guam | $50,410 | $24.24 | $68,057 | $43,220 to $63,630 | 610 |
| Hawaii | $74,500 | $35.82 | $100,580 | $60,710 to $92,870 | 4,670 |
| Idaho | $74,730 | $35.93 | $100,891 | $61,150 to $93,400 | 5,570 |
| Illinois | $80,230 | $38.57 | $108,316 | $66,290 to $102,270 | 54,930 |
| Indiana | $77,720 | $37.36 | $104,928 | $62,370 to $100,120 | 25,660 |
| Iowa | $77,440 | $37.23 | $104,550 | $62,090 to $98,150 | 13,210 |
| Kansas | $79,000 | $37.98 | $106,656 | $62,960 to $100,650 | 13,610 |
| Kentucky | $75,270 | $36.19 | $101,620 | $61,040 to $96,780 | 11,930 |
| Louisiana | $73,810 | $35.49 | $99,649 | $59,960 to $91,830 | 14,050 |
| Maine | $77,480 | $37.25 | $104,604 | $63,920 to $98,700 | 3,860 |
| Maryland | $89,370 | $42.97 | $120,656 | $73,100 to $116,420 | 26,170 |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 | $47.82 | $134,278 | $79,370 to $128,560 | 46,230 |
| Michigan | $78,820 | $37.89 | $106,413 | $63,850 to $101,030 | 41,460 |
| Minnesota | $81,600 | $39.23 | $110,166 | $68,190 to $105,020 | 30,530 |
| Mississippi | $68,100 | $32.74 | $91,940 | $57,550 to $93,640 | 7,350 |
| Missouri | $76,590 | $36.82 | $103,402 | $60,370 to $99,580 | 28,000 |
| Montana | $75,810 | $36.45 | $102,349 | $61,690 to $97,320 | 4,730 |
| Nebraska | $72,080 | $34.65 | $97,313 | $59,990 to $90,660 | 10,340 |
| Nevada | $81,600 | $39.23 | $110,166 | $68,190 to $103,640 | 6,930 |
| New Hampshire | $83,470 | $40.13 | $112,690 | $71,360 to $105,160 | 7,000 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 | $48.48 | $136,128 | $80,320 to $129,280 | 42,250 |
| New Mexico | $78,580 | $37.78 | $106,089 | $63,290 to $99,090 | 6,300 |
| New York | $102,640 | $49.35 | $138,571 | $79,760 to $134,820 | 109,830 |
| North Carolina | $82,050 | $39.45 | $110,773 | $65,120 to $108,090 | 49,270 |
| North Dakota | $75,730 | $36.41 | $102,241 | $60,960 to $95,780 | 4,430 |
| Ohio | $79,320 | $38.14 | $107,088 | $63,020 to $102,230 | 50,440 |
| Oklahoma | $79,370 | $38.16 | $107,155 | $59,990 to $104,240 | 16,720 |
| Oregon | $85,800 | $41.25 | $115,836 | $74,350 to $104,150 | 14,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,000 | $37.98 | $106,656 | $62,330 to $99,990 | 54,290 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,530 | $20.93 | $58,769 | $34,660 to $57,940 | 12,370 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 | $46.07 | $129,364 | $76,400 to $120,280 | 6,570 |
| South Carolina | $76,560 | $36.81 | $103,361 | $62,100 to $99,080 | 15,270 |
| South Dakota | $78,880 | $37.92 | $106,494 | $66,970 to $97,920 | 5,820 |
| Tennessee | $76,840 | $36.94 | $103,740 | $62,430 to $94,790 | 27,340 |
| Texas | $80,920 | $38.91 | $109,248 | $65,560 to $103,760 | 116,470 |
| Utah | $79,990 | $38.46 | $107,992 | $61,910 to $104,140 | 15,490 |
| Vermont | $78,890 | $37.93 | $106,507 | $66,190 to $97,100 | 2,630 |
| Virgin Islands | $59,060 | $28.39 | $79,735 | $48,130 to $83,210 | 340 |
| Virginia | $93,290 | $44.85 | $125,948 | $74,250 to $123,510 | 47,100 |
| Washington | $96,550 | $46.42 | $130,349 | $79,180 to $122,480 | 34,740 |
| West Virginia | $73,320 | $35.25 | $98,987 | $59,260 to $91,660 | 4,900 |
| Wisconsin | $79,400 | $38.17 | $107,196 | $65,000 to $100,800 | 25,100 |
| Wyoming | $77,620 | $37.32 | $104,793 | $60,470 to $100,560 | 2,670 |
Highest and lowest paying metro areas
Out of the 393 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for accountants. The lowest list covers the 50 states and DC; the calculator above has every metro area, Puerto Rico’s included.
| Highest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $121,700 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,730 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $105,650 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $102,140 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $102,020 |
| Lowest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Hot Springs, AR | $59,770 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $61,840 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $62,990 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $63,170 |
| Gadsden, AL | $63,250 |
The routine part of the accountant’s job
Much of what an accountant does every week is routine: the follow-ups, the reconciling, the scheduling, the reports pulled together from three systems. That routine part is what Liaison does, inside the tools the business already runs: $629 a month on Professional, set up with you, or $149 a month self-serve. The judgment stays with your people.
The routine half of an accountant’s job, for 7% of what one costs.
- Codes the bills, reconciles the processors against the deposits and flags what does not match.
- Prepares month-end: duplicates, missing receipts, payroll cross-checks, the reconciliation notes.
- Chases receivables in your voice and forecasts cash from how each customer actually pays.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $113,000 a year for an accountant at the median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI bookkeeper.
Questions
How much does an accountant cost a small business?
The median accountant earned $83,680 a year, or $40.23 an hour, in May 2025. Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages (June 2026), so a full-time accountant at the median costs about $113,000 a year. The middle half earn $67,020 to $109,810.
Which states pay accountants the most?
District of Columbia ($111,530), New York ($102,640) and New Jersey ($100,830) have the highest median wage for accountants. The lowest among the 50 states and DC are Arkansas ($66,330), Mississippi ($68,100) and Nebraska ($72,080).
Which metro areas pay accountants the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,700), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($110,730) and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($105,650), out of the 393 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for accountants.
Where does this data come from?
Wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation 13-2011. The benefit cost is from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026. Recruiting, training, equipment and turnover are not included.
See it on your own business.
Thirty minutes with us, on your own tools. Bring the thing that eats your evenings and watch it get handled from your own inbox, calendar and books.
Professional is $629 a month and we set it up with you. Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with the free trial first: 7 days, no card. Every plan is on the pricing page.