Accountants and Auditors
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$81,680
~$39/hr · ~$6,807/mo
US Jobs
1.6M
Faster than average
AI & Automation Risk
8/10
High Risk
AI & Automation Risk
High Risk 8/10
Accountancy is a fundamentally digital occupation centered on data analysis, regulatory compliance, and reporting, all of which are highly susceptible to AI and robotic process automation. While high-level advisory roles and complex forensic audits require human judgment and relationship management, the core tasks of data organization, tax computation, and anomaly detection are increasingly being automated, significantly increasing worker productivity and restructuring the entry-level labor market.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WVBEST VALUE | $95,640 | Below avg (88.0) | $108,655 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $121,630 | Above avg (113.1) | $107,581 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $97,670 | Average (102.4) | $95,364 |
| Midland, MI | $86,390 | Below avg (90.6) | $95,332 |
| Boulder, CO | $94,450 | Average (100.6) | $93,874 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $105,100 | Above avg (112.6) | $93,302 |
| Springfield, IL | $83,970 | Below avg (90.7) | $92,630 |
| Midland, TX | $87,490 | Below avg (95.4) | $91,725 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $98,080 | Above avg (107.0) | $91,654 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $99,440 | Above avg (109.5) | $90,777 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $95,680 | Above avg (105.8) | $90,462 |
| Decatur, IL | $78,240 | Below avg (86.7) | $90,283 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $105,750 | Above avg (117.6) | $89,961 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $88,880 | Average (98.9) | $89,882 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $87,620 | Average (97.9) | $89,476 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
10-Year Growth
+5% (Faster than average)
Hourly Rate
~$39/hr
Monthly Income
~$6,807/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)