Accountant and Auditor Salary in Raleigh, NC
Accountants and Auditors in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $81,950 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,721 take-home, or $5,310 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median accountant and auditor salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,199
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,081
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,188
- North Carolina income tax$2,761
- Take-home pay$63,721
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 Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,120 | $27.46 | $46,306 | $3,859 |
| 25th percentile | $67,050 | $32.24 | $53,833 | $4,486 |
| Median (50th) | $81,950 | $39.40 | $63,721 | $5,310 |
| 75th percentile | $105,160 | $50.56 | $79,123 | $6,594 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,220 | $64.53 | $98,159 | $8,180 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,950 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median accountant and auditor's $63,721 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,917 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Raleigh, NC has 1.3× the national concentration of accountant and auditor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for accountants and auditors, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #49 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 |
| 49 | Raleigh, NC | $81,950 | $63,721 | $64,917 |
*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
- Durham, NC — $85,090
- Greensboro, NC — $80,170
Frequently asked questions
How much does a accountant and auditor make in Raleigh, NC?
The median accountant and auditor salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $81,950 a year, or about $39.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $67,050 and $105,160.
What is a accountant and auditor’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $81,950 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $63,721 a year ($5,310 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,761 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a accountant and auditor?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $83,680. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,917 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #49 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a accountant and auditor afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median accountant and auditor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
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- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $80,390
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $78,980
- Human Resources Specialist — $74,170
- Training and Development Specialist — $67,560