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Average Salary by State and Job Type

Have you ever wondered how your salary compares to other Americans in your state, or other states? This article looks at the average salary for common jobs by state, exploring reasons for why states might have different salary ranges, and how those average salaries have changed over time in the U.S. 

Key statistics

  • The median household income in the U.S. is $74,580 as of 2022, while the average per capita income is $65,470.
  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, wages in the U.S. increased 5.97% in June of 2023 compared to the same month in the previous year.
  • The purchasing power of today's average hourly wage is almost the same as it was in 1978. Adjusted for inflation, wages have been relatively stagnant since the 1980s, with little real growth.
  • Women’s full-time median salary ($52,208) amounts to 84% of men’s full-time median salary ($62,868).
  • The average teacher salary across the U.S. is $62,812. New York offers the highest teacher salary ($92,222) while Mississippi offers the lowest ($47,162).
  • An average attorney's salary in the U.S. is $84,971; New York offers the highest salary for attorneys at $130,648, while Arkansas offers the lowest at less than half of that in New York ($59,520).
  • Registered nurses in 2022 earned an average of $78,245 across the U.S., California offers the highest salary at $124,000 on average, more than double the lowest salary in South Dakota ($60,540).
  • A professor’s average salary is $146,987, but they earn the most in California ($184,725), and the least in Hawaii ($106,075).
  • A typical accountant in the U.S. will earn an average salary of $49,954; New York has the highest-paid accountants ($68,366), but those working in Hawaii will earn the least ($38,954).

Contents

What is the average salary in each state in the U.S?

According to the most recent Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements (CPS ASEC) conducted by the Census Bureau, as of 2022, the median household income is $74,580. [1] Income in the United States: 2022 - U.S. Census https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2023/demo/p60-279.html The average per capita income in the U.S. is $65,470. Average incomes by state range from $46,370 in Mississippi, to $95,970 in the District of Columbia. 

States like Mississippi, Oklahoma and Arkansas have the lowest costs of living in the U.S, but also experience higher rates of poverty. According to the BLS, as of Q3 2023, the median weekly earnings of all employees in the United States was $1,118 U.S. dollars. [2] Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers Q3 2023 - BLS https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/wkyeng.pdf

Below is a breakdown of the average salary per capita in each U.S. state according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Source [3] Personal Income Statistics - Bureau of Economic Analysis https://apps.bea.gov/itable/?ReqID=70&step=1#eyJhcHBpZCI6NzAsInN0ZXBzIjpbMSwyOSwyNSwzMSwyNiwyNywzMF0sImRhdGEiOltbIlRhYmxlSWQiLCI2MDAiXSxbIk1ham9yX0FyZWEiLCIwIl0sWyJTdGF0ZSIsWyIwIl1dLFsiQXJlYSIsWyJYWCJdXSxbIlN0YXRpc3RpYyIsWyI1Il1dLFsiVW5pdF9vZl9tZWFzdXJlIiwiTGV2ZWxzIl0sWyJZZWFyIixbIjIwMjIiXV0sWyJZZWFyQmVnaW4iLCItMSJdLFsiWWVhcl9FbmQiLCItMSJdXX0=

Why do states have different average salaries?

There are various reasons why different U.S. states vary when it comes to average wages. Different skills and abilities are needed to do each job, and as no two jobs are alike, it's natural to have some variation depending on your occupation. 

Occupations that have less variation among workers are more likely to have smaller wage differences. Take fast food servers for instance, who have fairly consistent levels of wages, and their job doesn't really change much depending on the company or state they work in, as the role tends to involve similar kinds of duties and skill levels.

Differences in education and professional qualifications

Some workers with more advanced education or professional qualifications may earn more than others in the same occupation due to their credentials and expertise, which is typically much sought after by employers. Also, workers with more experience, which is valued by employers, may also demand higher wages for the jobs they do. 

Generally speaking, wages vary depending on the employer and the industry worked in. Training requirements, working conditions, clients, and job tasks are the main reasons why they may vary. Roles involving more complex tasks and responsibilities will naturally demand higher wages. 

Top 10 states by educational attainment

Rankings from World Population Review show that Washington DC and Massachusetts top the list, as well as being the two states with the highest average salary. 59.8% of people in Washington D.C. have a Bachelor of Science Degree or above, with 44.5% of people in Massachusetts holding this level of education.

Colorado, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York also rank in the top 10 for both average salary and educational attainment, demonstrating a clear link between education level and salary.

State Bachelor of Science Degree or above
District of Columbia 59.8%
Massachusetts 44.5%
Colorado 41.6%
Maryland 40.9%
New Jersey 40.7%
Connecticut 40%
Vermont 39.7%
Virginia 39.5%
New Hampshire 37.6%
New York 37.5%

Source [4] Most Educated States - World Population Review https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/most-educated-states

Varying costs of living in each state

That said, geographic location in terms of state is another reason why wages may vary. Some states may have higher costs of living, or more demands locally for certain types of work or professions, which is why some jobs may command a more competitive salary.

So in one particular state, it may be better to have a job as a teacher rather than a nurse, for example. Or, it may be more lucrative to have the same job, but in a different state. As a result, some Americans may find themselves relocating to a different state for better pay and benefits.

Change in average salaries over time in the U.S.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, wages in the U.S. increased 5.97% in June of 2023 over the same month in the previous year. [5] United States Wages and Salaries Growth - Trading Economics https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/wage-growth

Statistical research group Statista also claims that the U.S. rate of inflation (4.2%) overtook the growth of wages (3.2%) for the first time in many years in April 2021. In February 2023, the growth of wages went back to surpassing inflation for the first time since March 2021. [6] Wage Growth vs Inflation U.S. - Statista https://www.statista.com/statistics/1351276/wage-growth-vs-inflation-us/

Inflation’s effect on purchasing power

In 2022, there were high rates of inflation in the U.S. that caused Americans to lose value in their wages. This led to many citizens losing spending power in their wallets. Despite wages continuing to climb to 6.7% wage growth in summer 2022, this hasn't been enough to stave off higher inflation rates. If we go back even further to five years ago and a study back in 2018 conducted by the Pew Research Center, wage growth still hadn't increased in line with economists' expectations. Generally speaking, despite economic turbulence over the last few decades, the real average wage (after accounting for inflation), still has around the same purchasing power that it did 40 years ago. [7] For Most Workers, Real Wages Have Barely Budged in Decades - Pew Research https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/08/07/for-most-us-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/ The disconnect between workers' pay and the job market has sparked activism for raising minimum wages in various states and cities.

According to data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, non-management private-sector workers earned an average of $22.65 per hour in July 2018, a 2.7% increase from the previous year. However, this growth is consistent with the modest wage increases of the past five years, ranging between 2% and 3% annually since 2013. As a comparison, before the 2007-08 financial crash, average hourly earnings often rose by around 4% each year. [7] For Most Workers, Real Wages Have Barely Budged in Decades - Pew Research https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/08/07/for-most-us-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/

Despite these nominal wage increases, when adjusting for inflation, the purchasing power of today's average hourly wage is almost the same as it was in 1978. Real wages have been relatively stagnant since the 1980s, with little real growth. The highest recorded average hourly earnings in January 1973, at $4.03 per hour, would have the equivalent purchasing power of $23.68 in today's dollars. [7] For Most Workers, Real Wages Have Barely Budged in Decades - Pew Research https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/08/07/for-most-us-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/

The minimum wage varies by state

The U.S. federal government sets a standard minimum wage of $7.25 that applies to all employees, however, each state can also decide their own minimum wage. 

Washington D.C. has the highest minimum wage at $17 per hour, while many states offer the federal minimum of $7.25. Georgia and Wyoming have a minimum wage of $5.15 for employees not covered by the Fair Labor Standard Act (FSLA), however, the majority of workers in the U.S. are covered by the FSLA.

State Minimum Wage
Washington, D.C. $17.00
Washington $15.74
California $15.50
Connecticut $15.00
Massachusetts $15.00
New York $14.20
Oregon $14.20
New Jersey $14.13 (employers with > 6 employees) $11.90 (employers with < 6 employees)
Arizona $13.85
Maine $13.80
Colorado $13.65
Maryland $13.25
Vermont $13.18
Illinois $13.00
Rhode Island $13.00
Florida $12.00
Hawaii $12.00
Missouri $12.00
New Mexico $12.00
Virginia $12.00
Delaware $11.75
Nevada $10.25 (if the employee is offered health benefits)$11.25 (if the employee is not offered health benefits)
Arkansas $11.00
Alaska $10.85
South Dakota $10.80
Minnesota $8.63 (employers with gross revenue > $500,000)$10,59 (employers with gross revenue < $500,000)
Nebraska $10.50
Ohio $10.10
Michigan $10.10
Montana $9.95
West Virginia $8.75 ($7.25 for employers with less than six nonexempt employees working at one separate, distinct and permanent location)
Alabama $7.25
Louisiana $7.25
Mississippi $7.25
South Carolina $7.25
Tennessee $7.25
Idaho $7.25
Indiana $7.25
Iowa $7.25
Kansas $7.25
Kentucky $7.25
New Hampshire $7.25
North Carolina $7.25
North Dakota $7.25
Oklahoma $7.25
Pennsylvania $7.25
Texas $7.25
Utah $7.25
Wisconsin $7.25
Georgia $7.25 ($5.15 for employees not covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act)
Wyoming $7.25 ($5.15 for employees not covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act)

Source [8] State Minimum Wage Laws - DOL https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state

Figures correct as of September 2023 and are subject to change.

Salaries by gender

Average salaries in the U.S. vary by gender as well as location. Statistics on earnings for full-time wage and salary workers as of Q3 2023 show that the median weekly salary for men is $1,209, which is approximately $62,868 over the year. For women, it’s $1,004 per week or $52,208 as an annual salary. This means the women’s median salary amounts to 84% of the men’s median salary. [2] Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers Q3 2023 - BLS https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/wkyeng.pdf

Median full-time salary for men and women (Q3 2023)
Men  Women
$62,868 $52,208

Source [2] Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers Q3 2023 - BLS https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/wkyeng.pdf

Difference in salary by age

When looking at median weekly earnings for full-time employees, those aged between 45 and 54 earn the most at $1,272 per week or $66,144 annually. 

Age group Median full-time weekly earnings Median annual salary
16-24 $714 $37,128
25-34 $1,040 $54,080
35-44 $1,263 $65,676
45-54 $1,272 $66,144
55-64 $1,222 $63,544
65 and over $1,128 $58,656

Source [2] Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers Q3 2023 - BLS https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/wkyeng.pdf

Average salaries for popular jobs in the U.S.

Below are some of the most common average salaries for workers working popular jobs across the U.S.

Average teacher salary by state

According to data from World Population Review, a teacher’s salary greatly depends on where you are based in terms of state; the average teacher salary across the U.S. is $62,812. New York has the highest-paid teachers with an average salary of $92,222 compared to the lowest average teacher salary of $47,162 in Mississippi. New York's average teacher salary is about 11.5% higher than the average earnings of a full-time, year-round employee. 

Mississippi has the lowest average teacher salary, closely followed by South Dakota with a salary of $49,761. These are the only states that offer average annual teacher salaries of less than $50,000. 

Average teacher salaries are also difficult to calculate because starting teachers who are at the beginning of their career are often paid much less than the average teacher (and often less than the livable wage in many states), because of their lack of experience. The District of Columbia and New Jersey have starting teacher salaries over $50,000. Montana has the lowest starting salary at $31,418, which is far less than its livable wage of $47,000. Thirty-four U.S. states have starting teacher salaries below $40,000 a year.

The table below shows the average teacher salary by state, from most to least. 

State Average teacher salary
U.S. Average $62,812
New York  $92,222 
Massachusetts  $88,903 
California  $87,275 
District of Columbia  $82,523 
Washington  $81,586 
Connecticut  $81,185 
New Jersey  $79,045 
Rhode Island  $76,852 
Maryland  $75,766 
Alaska  $73,722 
Pennsylvania  $72,428 
Illinois  $72,301 
Oregon  $69,671 
Minnesota  $68,491 
Hawaii  $67,000 
Delaware  $65,647 
Michigan  $65,198 
Ohio  $63,153 
Vermont  $62,866 
New Hampshire  $62,783 
Georgia  $61,249 
Wyoming  $60,820 
Wisconsin  $60,453 
Virginia  $59,965 
Iowa  $59,262 
Texas  $58,887 
Maine  $58,757 
Utah  $58,619 
Colorado  $58,481 
Nevada  $57,804 
Nebraska  $57,420 
Alabama  $55,834 
North Dakota  $55,769 
Kansas  $54,815 
Oklahoma  $54,804 
Arizona  $54,580 
Kentucky  $54,574 
New Mexico  $54,272 
Idaho  $54,232 
Indiana  $54,126 
North Carolina  $53,644 
Montana  $53,628 
Tennessee  $53,619 
South Carolina  $53,393 
Arkansas  $52,486 
Missouri  $52,481 
Louisiana  $52,376 
Florida  $51,230 
West Virginia  $50,315 
South Dakota  $49,761 
Mississippi  $47,162 

Source [9] Teacher Pay by State - World Population Review https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/teacher-pay-by-state

Figures correct as of September 2023 and are subject to change.

Attorney salaries by state

Attorney salaries are higher than a lot of professions, but there is a lot of variation depending on the state you live in and where you practice law. According to Zippia, the average salary for an attorney in the U.S. is $84,971. 

New York offers the highest average attorney salary of $130,648. Arkansas offers the lowest attorney salary, at less than half of that in New York, at $59,520.

The below table indicates the average attorney's salary based on location. 

State Average attorney salary 10th percentile 90th percentile
State U.S. Average Average attorney salary $84,971 10th percentile $53,571 90th percentile $133,184
State New York Average attorney salary $130,648 10th percentile $85,000 90th percentile $199,000 
State California Average attorney salary $125,659 10th percentile $80,000 90th percentile $197,000
State Massachusetts Average attorney salary $115,902 10th percentile $75,000 90th percentile $178,000
State Connecticut Average attorney salary $107,945 10th percentile $69,000 90th percentile $167,000
State Virginia Average attorney salary $105,281 10th percentile $66,000 90th percentile $165,000
State New Jersey Average attorney salary $101,074 10th percentile $64,000 90th percentile $157,000
State New Mexico Average attorney salary $101,051 10th percentile $62,000 90th percentile $164,000
State Delaware Average attorney salary $100,929 10th percentile $64,000 90th percentile $157,000
State Mississippi Average attorney salary $100,358 10th percentile $60,000 90th percentile $165,000
State North Dakota Average attorney salary $97,400 10th percentile $64,000 90th percentile $146,000
State Vermont Average attorney salary $95,743 10th percentile $61,000 90th percentile $148,000
State New Hampshire Average attorney salary $95,225 10th percentile $61,000 90th percentile $147,000
State Rhode Island Average attorney salary $94,525 10th percentile $60,000 90th percentile $147,000
State Arizona Average attorney salary $93,188 10th percentile $57,000 90th percentile $151,000
State Colorado Average attorney salary $92,676 10th percentile $59,000 90th percentile $145,000
State Maine Average attorney salary $91,820 10th percentile $59,000 90th percentile $142,000 
State Illinois Average attorney salary $91,646 10th percentile $59,000 90th percentile $141,000
State Maryland Average attorney salary $91,546 10th percentile $58,000 90th percentile $142,000
State Washington Average attorney salary $90,337 10th percentile $57,000 90th percentile $143,000
State Texas Average attorney salary $89,493 10th percentile $53,000 90th percentile $149,000
State Nevada Average attorney salary $87,667 10th percentile $54,000 90th percentile $140,000
State Oregon Average attorney salary $86,676 10th percentile $54,000 90th percentile $137,000
State Kentucky Average attorney salary $85,827 10th percentile $54,000 90th percentile $135,000
State Georgia Average attorney salary $83,232 10th percentile $50,000 90th percentile $136,000
State Pennsylvania Average attorney salary $82,538 10th percentile $53,000 90th percentile $128,000
State West Virginia Average attorney salary $81,422 10th percentile $51,000 90th percentile $127,000
State Louisiana Average attorney salary $80,971 10th percentile $48,000 90th percentile $136,000
State Minnesota Average attorney salary $79,839 10th percentile $52,000 90th percentile $121,000
State Florida Average attorney salary $79,287 10th percentile $47,000 90th percentile $133,000
State North Carolina Average attorney salary $77,681 10th percentile $48,000 90th percentile $124,000
State Michigan Average attorney salary $77,633 10th percentile $50,000 90th percentile $120,000
State Utah Average attorney salary $77,132 10th percentile $48,000 90th percentile $121,000
State Tennessee Average attorney salary $76,057 10th percentile $47,000 90th percentile $122,000
State South Dakota Average attorney salary $74,217 10th percentile $48,000 90th percentile $112,000
State Alaska Average attorney salary $73,407 10th percentile $48,000 90th percentile $110,000
State Nebraska Average attorney salary $73,161 10th percentile $47,000 90th percentile $112,000 
State Ohio Average attorney salary $72,939 10th percentile $46,000 90th percentile $113,000
State Alabama Average attorney salary $72,110 10th percentile $43,000 90th percentile $119,000
State Hawaii Average attorney salary $71,690 10th percentile $51,000 90th percentile $100,000
State Iowa Average attorney salary $71,048 10th percentile $46,000 90th percentile $109,000
State Wisconsin Average attorney salary $70,932 10th percentile $46,000 90th percentile $109,000
State Oklahoma Average attorney salary $69,240 10th percentile $42,000 90th percentile $111,000
State Missouri Average attorney salary $68,519 10th percentile $43,000 90th percentile $107,000
State Kansas Average attorney salary $66,610 10th percentile $42,000 90th percentile $104,000
State Idaho Average attorney salary $65,019 10th percentile $41,000 90th percentile $101,000
State Indiana Average attorney salary $64,013 10th percentile $41,000 90th percentile $99,000
State South Carolina Average attorney salary $62,861 10th percentile $38,000 90th percentile $102,000
State Wyoming Average attorney salary $59,905 10th percentile $38,000 90th percentile $92,000
State Arkansas Average attorney salary $59,520 10th percentile $36,000 90th percentile $96,000

Source [10] Attorney Salary by State - Zippia https://www.zippia.com/advice/attorney-salary-by-state/

Figures correct as of September 2023 and are subject to change.

Average nurse salary by state

The average salary for a registered nurse in the U.S. is $78,245 according to data from NurseLabs, but this varies greatly from state to state.

In California, registered nurse salaries average at $124,000, making it the best-paying state in the U.S. for wages in this sector.

California’s average nursing salary is more than double South Dakota’s average of $60,540. Differences in costs of living between various states can mean that some nurses cannot afford to move to other states to earn more, despite the offer of higher wages.

What nurses can earn in the U.S. depends on their experience, qualifications, industry, and where they are based. For instance, a nursing assistant will earn less than a nurse practitioner. 

The table below features the typical average nurse salary in the U.S. by state. 

State Average nursing salary
U.S. Average $78,245
California $124,000
Hawaii $106,530
Oregon $98,630
DC $98,540
Alaska $97,230
Massachusetts $96,630
Washington $95,350
New York $93,320
New Jersey $89,690
Nevada $88,800
Connecticut $88,530
Rhode Island $85,270
Minnesota $84,030
Maryland $82,660
Arizona $81,600
Colorado $80,670
Texas $79,120
New Hampshire $78,270
Illinois $78,260
Delaware $77,760
New Mexico $77,590
Wisconsin $76,850
Virginia $76,680
Pennsylvania $76,000
Michigan $75,930
Georgia $75,380
Vermont $75,160
Idaho $73,640
Maine $73,630
Montana $73,610
Wyoming $73,130
Utah $72,790
Florida $72,000
Ohio $71,640
North Carolina $71,200
North Dakota $71,200
Louisiana $70,380
Nebraska $69,850
South Carolina $69,580
Indiana $68,890
Oklahoma $68,180
Missouri $67,790
West Virginia $67,640
Kentucky $67,260
Tennessee $66,680
Kansas $66,560
Arkansas $65,810
Iowa $64,990
Mississippi $63,130
Alabama $61,920
South Dakota $60,540

Source [11] Nurse Salary: How Much Do Registered Nurses Earn? - Nurse Labs https://nurseslabs.com/nurse-salary-2022/

Figures correct as of September 2023 and are subject to change.

College professor salaries by state

College professors are among the highest-paid in the U.S. education system. Professor salaries typically range between $88,000 and $280,000 annually, based on data from Zippia on 01/09/2023. The average professor's salary in the United States is $146,987, as of September 2023.

Oregon Health and Science University pays the highest professor salaries of any academic institution. Professors earn the highest salaries in California ($184,725), Utah ($179,789), and New York ($179,258). The lowest average professor's salary is in Hawaii at $106,075, however, Hawaii has the most expensive cost of living in the U.S. [12] Cost of Living by State - Wise Voter https://wisevoter.com/state-rankings/cost-of-living-by-state/ The table below features the typical average professor salary in the U.S. by state.

State Average professor salary
U.S. Average $146,987
California $184,725
Utah $179,789
New York $179,258
Connecticut $175,104
District of Columbia $170,189
Massachusetts $169,102
North Dakota $166,261
Alabama $162,175
Michigan $161,286
Oklahoma $160,897
Oregon $159,500
Texas $158,884
Washington $158,541
Mississippi $158,105
Minnesota $157,978
New Mexico $157,242
Maine $156,784
North Carolina $155,201
Nevada $154,883
Colorado $153,528
Arkansas $152,406
Indiana $151,984
Pennsylvania $149,559
Louisiana $148,799
Alaska $148,230
Arizona $147,541
Nebraska $144,196
Maryland $142,323
Montana $140,936
New Jersey $140,543
Kentucky $139,849
Rhode Island $138,841
Wyoming $138,639
Kansas $138,292
Iowa $137,685
Georgia $136,806
West Virginia $136,285
Ohio $136,153
Missouri $135,213
South Dakota $133,861
Virginia $133,009
South Carolina $132,732
Idaho $132,414
Delaware $131,133
New Hampshire $130,081
Tennessee $127,349
Florida $125,167
Illinois $123,891
Vermont $121,660
Wisconsin $115,257
Hawaii $106,075

Source [13] Professor Salary - Zippia https://www.zippia.com/professor-jobs/salary/

Figures correct as of September 2023 and are subject to change.

Factors that could influence college professor salaries

There are many factors that may influence a college professor's salary, including whether the institution they work at is public or private, the subject area they decide to teach, the level of education and experience they have, and regional or national demand for the institution they work at.

Generally speaking, professor salaries are high because of their expertise and contributions to academic research. Professors who have advanced degrees such as a PhD may earn greater salaries than those who don't have one. Similarly, those with greater levels of experience in their field can also earn higher figures.

Regional differences can have an impact on college professor salaries, with salaries greatly varying depending on where in the U.S. an institution is located. Local economic conditions, the costs of living, and the level of funding for education that is available in a region are all factors that can come into play. States like California and New York for instance have greater levels of funding available for higher education. 

Average accountant salary by state

A typical accountant in the U.S. will earn an average salary of $49,954, according to data from Zippia.

New York has the highest-paid accountants with an average salary of $68,366 and potential earnings of $90,000 a year for those in the 90th percentile.

Other high-earning states for accountants include New Jersey with a $67,833 salary on average, and Massachusetts where accountants take home an average of $62,743 per year.

Accountants working in Hawaii will earn the lowest salary on average at $38,954.The table below features the typical average accountant salary in the U.S. by state.

State Average accountant salary 10th percentile 90th percentile
State U.S. Average Average accountant salary $49,954 10th percentile $36,940 90th percentile $66,040
State New York Average accountant salary $68,366 10th percentile $51,000 90th percentile $90,000
State New Jersey Average accountant salary $67,833 10th percentile $50,000 90th percentile $90,000
State Massachusetts Average accountant salary $62,743 10th percentile $47,000 90th percentile $82,000
State Connecticut Average accountant salary $62,386 10th percentile $47,000 90th percentile $82,000
State Rhode Island Average accountant salary $60,990 10th percentile $46,000 90th percentile $80,000
State Virginia Average accountant salary $60,099 10th percentile $44,000 90th percentile $80,000
State Delaware Average accountant salary $59,242 10th percentile $44,000 90th percentile $78,000
State Maryland Average accountant salary $58,489 10th percentile $43,000 90th percentile $78,000
State Washington Average accountant salary $56,929 10th percentile $42,000 90th percentile $76,000
State Alaska Average accountant salary $55,612 10th percentile $45,000 90th percentile $67,000
State California Average accountant salary $55,339 10th percentile $40,000 90th percentile $76,000
State New Hampshire Average accountant salary $54,960 10th percentile $41,000 90th percentile $72,000
State Pennsylvania Average accountant salary $54,607 10th percentile $40,000 90th percentile $72,000
State Oregon Average accountant salary $52,823 10th percentile $38,000 90th percentile $72,000
State Colorado Average accountant salary $52,649 10th percentile $39,000 90th percentile $70,000
State Vermont Average accountant salary $52,073 10th percentile $39,000 90th percentile $68,000
State North Carolina Average accountant salary $51,783 10th percentile $38,000 90th percentile $69,000
State Michigan Average accountant salary $51,209 10th percentile $38,000 90th percentile $68,000
State Minnesota Average accountant salary $50,767 10th percentile $38,000 90th percentile $67,000
State Maine Average accountant salary $50,399 10th percentile $38,000 90th percentile $66,000
State Illinois Average accountant salary $50,229 10th percentile $37,000 90th percentile $66,000
State Georgia Average accountant salary $49,935 10th percentile $37,000 90th percentile $67,000
State Wisconsin Average accountant salary $49,883 10th percentile $37,000 90th percentile $66,000
State Texas Average accountant salary $49,856 10th percentile $36,000 90th percentile $67,000
State Ohio Average accountant salary $49,196 10th percentile $36,000 90th percentile $65,000
State Arizona Average accountant salary $47,972 10th percentile $35,000 90th percentile $64,000
State Indiana Average accountant salary $47,841 10th percentile $35,000 90th percentile $63,000
State Nevada Average accountant salary $46,895 10th percentile $34,000 90th percentile $64,000
State Iowa Average accountant salary $46,149 10th percentile $34,000 90th percentile $61,000
State South Dakota Average accountant salary $46,027 10th percentile $34,000 90th percentile $60,000
State Kentucky Average accountant salary $45,426 10th percentile $34,000 90th percentile $60,000
State Oklahoma Average accountant salary $45,280 10th percentile $33,000 90th percentile $60,000
State Idaho Average accountant salary $45,231 10th percentile $33,000 90th percentile $60,000
State New Mexico Average accountant salary $45,154 10th percentile $33,000 90th percentile $61,000
State Utah Average accountant salary $45,148 10th percentile $33,000 90th percentile $60,000
State Florida Average accountant salary $45,139 10th percentile $32,000 90th percentile $61,000
State South Carolina Average accountant salary $45,123 10th percentile $33,000 90th percentile $60,000
State Missouri Average accountant salary $44,893 10th percentile $33,000 90th percentile $59,000
State Kansas Average accountant salary $44,835 10th percentile $33,000 90th percentile $59,000
State Nebraska Average accountant salary $44,642 10th percentile $33,000 90th percentile $59,000
State Tennessee Average accountant salary $44,616 10th percentile $33,000 90th percentile $59,000
State Alabama Average accountant salary $44,027 10th percentile $32,000 90th percentile $59,000
State West Virginia Average accountant salary $43,817 10th percentile $32,000 90th percentile $58,000
State Montana Average accountant salary $43,390 10th percentile $32,000 90th percentile $57,000
State Arkansas Average accountant salary $42,844 10th percentile $31,000 90th percentile $57,000
State Louisiana Average accountant salary $42,765 10th percentile $31,000 90th percentile $58,000
State Wyoming Average accountant salary $42,614 10th percentile $32,000 90th percentile $56,000
State Mississippi Average accountant salary $40,889 10th percentile $30,000 90th percentile $55,000
State North Dakota Average accountant salary $39,626 10th percentile $29,000 90th percentile $52,000
State Hawaii Average accountant salary $38,954 10th percentile $32,000 90th percentile $46,000

Source [14] Accountant Salary by State - Zippia https://www.zippia.com/advice/accountant-salary-by-state/

Figures correct as of September 2023 and are subject to change.

Factors that could affect how much an accountant earns

The salary you can earn as an accountant depends on various factors like level of education and experience, and geographic location. An accountant with a master's degree for example is likely to have a greater advantage in the job market. 

Having certification will also bring a higher salary and other opportunities for promotion. Accountancy salaries also depend on the size of the organization you work for, the sector or industry you work in (insurance, healthcare etc.), and your level of negotiating skills.

Sources

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