The Powers That Be want me to squeeze every last bit of juice from the bountiful fruit that is the public accounting portion of the 2022 Robert Half Accounting & Finance Salary Guide. ICYMI, we’ve written about the projected starting salaries for each of the 10 public accounting jobs in the 2022 salary guide by professional experience, and how those salaries compare to those expected to be offered next year in five high cost of living cities, eight medium cost of living cities, and eight low cost of living cities.
Today we’re going to look at which of the top 200 US cities by population are expected to offer capital market servants a starting salary in 2022 that is WAY bigger than the national average in public accounting. The 200 cities are based on this list by World Population Review and ranges from New York City at No. 1 to Waco, TX at No. 200.
Using the location tool offered by Robert Half, I put in the names of each of the 200 largest cities to find out which ones had notable starting salary discrepancies—both good and bad—compared to the national average.
The data below from Bob shows the national average -> the average starting salary for that city by percentile per position. There are three salary percentiles:
- 25th percentile: New to the type of role, still acquiring relevant skills.
- 50th percentile: Average experience, has most of the necessary skills.
- 75th percentile: Above-average experience, has all needed skills.
Of the 10 cities projected to have the largest starting salaries in public accounting next year, seven are on the West Coast (six in California) and three are on the East Coast:
1. San Francisco
Salaries in San Francisco are 42% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $162,590
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $200,930
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $241,400
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $128,865
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $156,200
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $181,760
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $88,750
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $107,210
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $124,250
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $70,645
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $87,330
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $100,465
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $58,220
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $71,355
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $84,490
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $160,460
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $198,445
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $230,040
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $109,340
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $136,675
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $156,555
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $78,100
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $97,625
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $111,825
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $65,320
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $80,585
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $91,590
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $58,220
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $71,710
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $82,360
2. San Jose, CA
Salaries in San Jose are 41% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $161,445
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $199,515
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $239,700
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $127,958
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $155,100
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $180,480
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $88,125
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $106,455
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $123,375
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $70,148
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $86,715
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $99,758
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $57,810
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $70,853
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $83,895
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $159,330
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $197,048
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $228,420
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $108,570
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $135,713
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $155,453
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $77,550
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $96,938
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $111,038
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $64,860
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $80,018
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $90,945
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $57,810
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $71,205
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $81,780
3. New York City
Salaries in New York City are 40.5% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $160,873
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $198,808
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $238,850
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $127,504
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $154,550
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $179,840
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $87,813
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $106,078
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $122,938
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $69,899
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $86,408
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $99,404
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $57,605
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $70,601
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $83,598
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $158,765
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $196,349
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $227,610
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $108,185
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $135,231
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $154,901
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $77,275
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $96,594
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $110,644
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $64,630
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $79,734
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $90,623
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $57,605
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $70,953
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $81,490
4. Oakland
Salaries in Oakland are 35% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $154,575
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $191,025
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $229,500
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $122,513
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $148,500
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $172,800
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $84,375
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $101,925
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $118,125
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $67,163
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $83,025
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $95,513
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $55,350
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $67,838
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $80,325
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $152,550
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $188,663
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $218,700
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $103,950
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $129,938
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $148,838
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $74,250
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $92,813
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $106,313
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $62,100
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $76,613
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $87,075
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $55,350
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $68,175
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $78,300
5. Boston
Salaries in Boston are 34% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $153,430
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $189,610
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $227,800
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $121,605
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $147,400
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $171,520
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $83,750
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $101,170
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $117,250
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $66,665
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $82,410
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $94,805
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $54,940
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $67,335
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $79,730
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $151,420
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $187,265
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $217,080
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $103,180
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $128,975
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $147,735
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $73,700
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $92,125
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $105,525
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $61,640
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $76,045
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $86,430
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $54,940
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $67,670
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $77,720
6. Los Angeles
7. Washington, DC
Salaries in Los Angeles and Washington, DC are 33% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $152,285
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $188,195
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $226,100
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $120,698
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $146,300
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $170,240
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $83,125
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $100,415
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $116,375
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $66,168
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $81,795
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $94,098
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $54,530
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $66,833
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $79,135
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $150,290
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $185,868
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $215,460
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $102,410
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $128,013
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $146,633
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $73,150
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $91,438
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $104,738
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $61,180
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $75,478
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $85,785
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $54,530
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $67,165
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $77,140
8. Irvine, CA
Salaries in Irvine are 30% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $148,850
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $183,950
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $221,000
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $117,975
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $143,000
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $166,400
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $81,250
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $98,150
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $113,750
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $64,675
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $79,950
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $91,975
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $53,300
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $65,325
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $77,350
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $146,900
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $181,675
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $210,600
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $100,100
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $125,125
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $143,325
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $71,500
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $89,375
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $102,375
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $59,800
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $73,775
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $83,850
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $53,300
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $65,650
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $75,400
9. San Diego
10. Seattle
Salaries in San Diego and Seattle are 29% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $147,705
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $182,535
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $219,300
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $117,068
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $141,900
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $165,120
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $80,625
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $97,395
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $112,875
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $64,178
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $79,335
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $91,268
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $52,890
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $64,823
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $76,755
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $145,770
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $180,278
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $208,980
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $99,330
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $124,163
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $142,223
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $70,950
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $88,688
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $101,588
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $59,340
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $73,208
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $83,205
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $52,890
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $65,145
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $74,820
Honorable mentions
- Chicago: 24%
- Santa Rosa, CA: 22%
- Ontario, CA: 20%
- Riverside, CA: 20%
- Phoenix: 18%
- Naperville, IL: 15%
- Philadelphia: 15%
- Salt Lake City: 13%
- Austin, TX: 11%
- Dallas: 11%
- Denver: 11%
- Portland, OR: 11%
- Sacramento, CA: 11%
- Houston: 10.5%
- Fort Lauderdale, FL: 10%
- Fort Worth, TX: 10%
- Miami: 10%
Tomorrow we’ll look at 10 cities among the 200 largest that are projected to offer starting salaries in public accounting that are well below average in 2022.
Related articles:
How Are Public Accounting Salaries Stacking Up For 2022?
2022 Projected Public Accounting Salaries In Five HCOL Cities
2022 Projected Public Accounting Salaries In Eight MCOL Cities
2022 Projected Public Accounting Salaries In Eight LCOL Cities
Does this include bonus or is this just base salary?
I’m fairly certain it’s just base.