Accountant and Auditor Salary in Durham, NC
Accountants and Auditors in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $85,090 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,804 take-home, or $5,484 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median accountant and auditor salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,890
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,276
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,234
- North Carolina income tax$2,886
- Take-home pay$65,804
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Accountant and Auditor pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,620 | $29.14 | $48,978 | $4,082 |
| 25th percentile | $70,700 | $33.99 | $56,255 | $4,688 |
| Median (50th) | $85,090 | $40.91 | $65,804 | $5,484 |
| 75th percentile | $115,740 | $55.64 | $86,144 | $7,179 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $152,900 | $73.51 | $110,181 | $9,182 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $85,090 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median accountant and auditor's $65,804 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,442 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Accountant and Auditor jobs are about as common in Durham, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for accountants and auditors, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #26 of 90 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $121,700 | $85,775 | $77,679 |
| 2 | Charlotte, NC | $92,910 | $70,994 | $72,928 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls, SD | $80,920 | $65,757 | $72,555 |
| 4 | Trenton, NJ | $99,550 | $74,712 | $72,409 |
| 5 | Boulder, CO | $99,990 | $75,482 | $71,749 |
| 6 | Bridgeport, CT | $102,020 | $76,565 | $71,647 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $95,020 | $72,730 | $71,463 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $100,020 | $75,502 | $71,375 |
| 26 | Durham, NC | $85,090 | $65,804 | $67,442 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 90 metros →
About the job: accountants and auditors
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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Accountant and Auditor salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $92,910
- Greensboro, NC — $80,170
- Raleigh, NC — $81,950
Frequently asked questions
How much does a accountant and auditor make in Durham, NC?
The median accountant and auditor salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $85,090 a year, or about $40.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $70,700 and $115,740.
What is a accountant and auditor’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $85,090 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $65,804 a year ($5,484 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,886 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a accountant and auditor?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $83,680. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,442 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #26 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a accountant and auditor afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median accountant and auditor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Project Management Specialist — $104,870
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $95,460
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $93,110
- Human Resources Specialist — $81,100