What Accountants and Auditors do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Accountants and Auditors this way: "Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Prepare detailed reports on audit findings"; "Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities"; "Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies"; "Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions"; "Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is bachelor's degree.
Job outlook for Accountants and Auditors
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 1,595,200 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 1,674,600 in 2035, an increase of 79,400 jobs (+5%). That is faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 115,300 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 7.2% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. 5.5% of workers in this occupation are self-employed; the wage figures below cover wage and salary workers. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $83,680, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Accountants and Auditors earn the most
Across the 34 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $74,508 in Alabama to $102,140 in District of Columbia, a gap of $27,632 (1.37 times). 17 of those 34 states average above the BLS national median of $83,680 and 17 average at or below it.
California employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 166,580, which is 9.3% of the 1,789,160 counted across them. New Jersey follows with 147,930.
Highest-paying states
District of Columbia ($102,140), New York ($101,427) and New Jersey ($100,978) lead the ranking, while Alabama ($74,508) and Tennessee ($76,339) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Accountants and Auditors: pay against the cost of living
We compare 60 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Jefferson County, WV (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV) at $56,646. The smallest margin is $31,844 in Los Angeles County, CA.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 60 of the 60 markets. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 16.5% and 42.2% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Accountants and Auditors
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (13-2000) include Financial Risk Specialists, Personal Financial Advisors, Financial and Investment Analysts and Financial Examiners.
Frequently asked questions about Accountants and Auditors
How much do Accountants and Auditors earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $83,680. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $74,508 to $102,140.
Which state pays Accountants and Auditors the most?
District of Columbia, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $102,140. New York is next at $101,427.
Is Accountants and Auditors a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 5% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 115,300 openings a year.
What education do Accountants and Auditors need?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree, according to BLS.
Where can Accountants and Auditors afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Jefferson County, WV leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $56,646 on a median wage of $102,140.