Earlier this week we gave you 10 cities where starting salaries in public accounting are expected to be on the very high end of the spectrum in 2022. Today we’re giving you 10 cities where starting pay in PA is expected to be on the very low end of the spectrum next year, according to the 2022 Robert Half Accounting & Finance Salary Guide.
These 10 cities aren’t hotbeds of public accounting, which is consistent with the projected starting salaries for each next year—they are well below the national average for the 10 jobs highlighted in Bob’s latest guide.
By now you know that the data below from Robert Half 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.
Using the salary guide’s location tool and a list of the top 200 largest US cities by World Population Review, we were able to determine the following 10 lowest-paying cities for starting out in the meat grinder that is public accounting:
1. El Paso, TX
Salaries in El Paso are 28% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $82,440
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $101,880
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $122,400
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $65,340
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $79,200
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $92,160
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $45,000
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $54,360
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $63,000
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $35,820
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $44,280
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $50,940
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $29,520
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $36,180
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $42,840
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $81,360
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $100,620
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $116,640
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $55,440
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $69,300
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $79,380
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $39,600
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $49,500
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $56,700
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $33,120
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $40,860
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $46,440
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $29,520
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $36,360
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $41,760
2. Spokane, WA
Salaries in Spokane are 17% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $95,035
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $117,445
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $141,100
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $75,323
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $91,300
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $106,240
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $51,875
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $62,665
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $72,625
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $41,293
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $51,045
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $58,723
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $34,030
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $41,708
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $49,385
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $93,790
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $115,993
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $134,460
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $63,910
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $79,888
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $91,508
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $45,650
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $57,063
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $65,363
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $38,180
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $47,103
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $53,535
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $34,030
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $41,915
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $41,915
3. Fort Wayne, IN
Salaries in Fort Wayne are 16% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $96,180
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $118,860
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $142,800
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $76,230
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $92,400
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $107,520
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $52,500
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $63,420
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $73,500
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $41,790
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $51,660
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $59,430
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $34,440
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $42,210
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $49,980
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $94,920
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $117,390
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $136,080
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $64,680
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $80,850
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $92,610
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $46,200
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $57,750
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $66,150
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $38,640
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $47,670
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $54,180
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $34,440
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $42,420
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $48,720
4. Rockford, IL
Salaries in Rockford are 15% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $97,325
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $120,275
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $144,500
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $77,138
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $93,500
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $108,800
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $53,125
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $64,175
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $74,375
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $42,288
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $52,275
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $60,138
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $34,850
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $42,713
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $50,575
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $96,050
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $118,788
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $137,700
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $65,450
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $81,813
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $93,713
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $46,750
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $58,438
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $66,938
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $39,100
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $48,238
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $54,825
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $34,850
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $42,925
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $49,300
5. Grand Rapids, MI
6. Mobile, AL
7. Toledo, OH
Salaries in Grand Rapids, Mobile, and Toledo are 14% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $98,470
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $121,690
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $146,200
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $78,045
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $94,600
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $110,080
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $53,750
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $64,930
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $75,250
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $42,785
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $52,890
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $60,845
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $35,260
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $43,215
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $51,170
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $97,180
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $120,185
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $139,320
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $66,220
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $82,775
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $94,815
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $47,300
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $59,125
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $67,725
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $39,560
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $48,805
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $55,470
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $35,260
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $43,430
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $49,880
8. Sioux Falls, SD
Salaries in Sioux Falls are 12% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $100,760
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $124,520
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $149,600
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $79,860
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $96,800
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $112,640
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $55,000
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $66,440
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $77,000
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $43,780
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $54,120
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $62,260
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $36,080
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $44,220
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $52,360
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $99,440
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $122,980
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $142,560
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $67,760
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $84,700
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $97,020
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $48,400
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $60,500
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $69,300
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $40,480
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $49,940
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $56,760
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $36,080
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $44,440
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $51,040
9. Boise, ID
10. Knoxville, TN
Salaries in Boise and Knoxville are 11% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $101,905
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $125,935
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $151,300
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $80,768
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $97,900
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $113,920
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $55,625
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $67,195
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $77,875
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $44,278
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $54,735
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $62,968
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $36,490
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $44,723
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $52,955
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $100,570
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $124,378
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $144,180
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $68,530
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $85,663
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $98,123
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $48,950
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $61,188
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $70,088
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $40,940
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $50,508
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $57,405
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $36,490
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $44,945
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $51,620
Dishonorable mentions
- Akron, OH: -11%
- Chattanooga, TN: -10.5%
- Louisville: -8%
- Lexington, KY: -8%
- Stockton, CA: -8%
- Albuquerque, NM: -7.5%
- Cape Coral, FL: -7%
- Oklahoma City: -7%
- Tulsa, OK: -7%
- Buffalo: -6.5%
- Rochester, NY: -6.5%
- Birmingham, AL: -5%
- Huntsville, AL: -5%
- Little Rock, AR: -5%
- Fresno, CA: -5%
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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
10 Cities Where Starting Pay In Public Accounting Will Be the Highest In 2022