Tax Preparer Salary
Tax Preparers earn a median $54,920 a year nationally. Business and Financial Operations Occupations
U.S. median
$54,920
$26.40 per hour
Range
$33,760 – $99,270
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
76,480
across the U.S.
▲8.6%
Pay trend: The median for tax preparers in the U.S. rose from $50,560 (May 2024) to $54,920 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 6.2%.
What tax preparers do
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 9,400
- Self-employed
- 18%
Employment of tax preparers is projected to grow 4.7% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 9,400 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Tax Preparer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$46,308
per year · effective tax rate 15.7%
$3,859Monthly
$1,930Twice a month
$1,781Every 2 weeks
$22.26Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,410
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,405
- Medicare (1.45%)$796
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$46,308
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,760 | $16.23 | $29,306 |
| 25th percentile | $38,910 | $18.71 | $33,444 |
| Median (50th) | $54,920 | $26.40 | $46,308 |
| 75th percentile | $76,300 | $36.68 | $62,507 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,270 | $47.73 | $78,666 |
Best cities for tax preparers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $71,300 | $55,736 | $49,516 | 8,100 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $65,120 | $51,660 | $45,489 | 3,250 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $71,300
- Los Angeles, CA — $65,120
Tax Preparer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $71,850 | −1.9% | $56,094 | $39,010 – $125,070 | 7,620 |
| California | $70,030 | −4.3% | $54,795 | $38,910 – $104,000 | 10,270 |
| Utah | $66,720 | +13.7% | $53,731 | $38,430 – $102,840 | 1,190 |
| Montana | $63,080 | −11.6% | $50,657 | $44,300 – $100,060 | 360 |
| Missouri | $62,780 | +48.5% | $50,610 | $31,400 – $124,300 | 1,330 |
| Colorado | $62,620 | −0.4% | $50,448 | $37,790 – $97,980 | 1,540 |
| Alaska | $62,360 | −19.0% | $52,286 | $40,340 – $117,890 | 70 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 | +31.6% | $51,491 | $36,100 – $97,020 | 420 |
| Oregon | $61,370 | +24.7% | $46,951 | $43,640 – $96,550 | 1,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 | +29.4% | $49,529 | $31,200 – $103,570 | 2,010 |
| Nevada | $60,000 | +44.6% | $50,390 | $41,900 – $99,500 | 1,410 |
| Minnesota | $59,200 | −9.7% | $47,245 | $36,520 – $95,520 | 1,040 |
| Virginia | $58,520 | −1.2% | $46,650 | $36,330 – $98,700 | 1,960 |
| Massachusetts | $58,400 | −0.5% | $46,404 | $37,560 – $82,700 | 1,500 |
| Wyoming | $57,990 | −3.9% | $48,775 | $37,830 – $92,380 | 90 |
| Rhode Island | $57,680 | +2.9% | $46,980 | $52,000 – $62,580 | — |
| North Dakota | $57,060 | −3.5% | $48,028 | $37,080 – $89,310 | 220 |
| Illinois | $54,480 | +38.9% | $43,403 | $33,030 – $76,150 | 1,310 |
| Iowa | $53,660 | −6.6% | $43,909 | $33,520 – $84,700 | 780 |
| South Dakota | $52,530 | +2.9% | $44,388 | $39,080 – $77,480 | 280 |
| Delaware | $51,960 | +23.4% | $41,723 | $37,910 – $74,650 | 240 |
| Mississippi | $50,670 | +51.8% | $41,599 | $29,140 – $88,790 | 580 |
| Georgia | $49,330 | +18.1% | $39,879 | $30,780 – $97,020 | 1,670 |
| Florida | $49,020 | +0.5% | $41,568 | $30,380 – $94,330 | — |
| Ohio | $49,020 | −3.4% | $41,002 | $36,190 – $74,850 | 1,590 |
| North Carolina | $48,130 | +0.9% | $39,441 | $35,480 – $97,720 | 2,710 |
| Texas | $47,460 | −22.8% | $40,314 | $31,110 – $86,950 | 6,010 |
| Kansas | $47,300 | +5.6% | $38,346 | $30,980 – $99,090 | 450 |
| Maine | $47,150 | −8.0% | $38,064 | $38,800 – $63,260 | 250 |
| Maryland | $47,020 | +4.3% | $38,091 | $37,700 – $69,790 | 1,240 |
| Michigan | $46,400 | −1.0% | $37,741 | $29,600 – $77,950 | 1,660 |
| Indiana | $45,710 | −1.6% | $37,589 | $27,190 – $86,360 | 1,820 |
| Washington | $45,370 | +0.6% | $38,635 | $38,260 – $71,480 | 1,360 |
| Arizona | $44,770 | +2.4% | $37,242 | $36,970 – $104,740 | 2,240 |
| Wisconsin | $44,340 | −3.6% | $36,637 | $34,920 – $73,130 | 1,550 |
| New Jersey | $43,420 | −23.1% | $36,217 | $34,250 – $77,640 | 3,220 |
| Nebraska | $43,010 | −12.3% | $35,661 | $30,920 – $71,580 | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $42,700 | +12.8% | $35,113 | $26,720 – $82,210 | 1,300 |
| Connecticut | $41,130 | −16.0% | $34,302 | $35,740 – $81,750 | 700 |
| South Carolina | $39,220 | +4.4% | $32,497 | $28,040 – $80,880 | 1,360 |
| Louisiana | $38,740 | +3.5% | $32,532 | $24,920 – $61,880 | 650 |
| New Mexico | $38,060 | −0.0% | $32,092 | $27,250 – $60,000 | 340 |
| Kentucky | $36,620 | +2.2% | $30,440 | $21,750 – $80,690 | 1,080 |
| Tennessee | $36,600 | +2.7% | $31,588 | $27,770 – $77,270 | 1,260 |
| West Virginia | $35,880 | +17.8% | $30,048 | $21,880 – $63,760 | 330 |
| Arkansas | $35,040 | −2.9% | $29,181 | $28,990 – $66,420 | 550 |
| Hawaii | $34,720 | −24.8% | $28,866 | $29,120 – $69,270 | — |
| Alabama | $33,280 | −0.6% | $27,521 | $23,290 – $48,020 | 290 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $62,370 | Bachelor's degree | -1.0% |
| Credit Counselor | $52,230 | Bachelor's degree | +3.3% |
| Property Appraiser and Assessor | $67,960 | Bachelor's degree | +3.5% |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 | Bachelor's degree | +1.1% |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $81,100 | Bachelor's degree | +4.1% |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 | Bachelor's degree | -3.8% |
| Credit Analyst | $83,510 | Bachelor's degree | -4.3% |
| Accountant and Auditor | $83,680 | Bachelor's degree | +5.0% |
| Budget Analyst | $91,640 | Bachelor's degree | +1.9% |
| Financial Examiner | $94,160 | Bachelor's degree | +9.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make?
The national median salary for tax preparers is $54,920 a year ($26.40 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,760 and the top 10% earn over $99,270. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays tax preparers the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $71,850. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many tax preparers are there in the U.S.?
About 76,480 people work as tax preparers nationwide.