Our series of articles based on the Robert Half 2022 Accounting & Finance Salary Guide continues as we look at public accounting starting salaries in eight low cost of living cities that have a Big 4 presence and a national accounting firm presence (i.e., RSM US, BDO USA, Grant Thornton).
Most of these cities are often mentioned in discussions on Reddit and Fishbowl about the best LCOL cities for accountants—and where they can get the most bang for their buck. I also used this study from SmartAsset and the cost of living tool on BestPlaces.net to narrow down the cities I wanted to include in this article.
The eight cities are:
- Baltimore
- Cincinnati
- Detroit
- Indianapolis
- Louisville
- Milwaukee
- Oklahoma City
- St. Louis
Using the salary guide’s location feature, we were able to see how public accounting starting salaries in each of these eight cities compared to the projected averages nationwide in 2022. There are 10 public accounting roles highlighted in Robert Half’s latest salary guide, each one having 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.
The salary data below from Robert Half shows the national average -> the average for that city by percentile per position. According to the salary guide, only three of the eight cities are projected to have a public accounting starting salary that is higher than the national average next year.
Here are the starting salary comparisons for those eight LCOL cities:
1. Baltimore
Salaries in Baltimore are 3% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $117,935
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $145,745
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $175,100
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $93,473
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $113,300
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $131,840
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $64,375
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $77,765
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $90,125
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $51,243
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $63,345
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $72,873
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $42,230
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $51,758
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $61,285
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $116,390
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $143,943
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $166,860
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $79,310
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $99,138
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $113,558
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $56,650
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $70,813
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $81,113
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $47,380
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $58,453
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $66,435
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $42,230
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $52,015
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $59,740
2. Cincinnati
Salaries in Cincinnati are 2.5% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $111,638
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $137,963
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $165,750
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $88,481
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $107,250
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $124,800
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $60,938
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $73,613
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $85,313
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $48,506
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $59,963
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $68,981
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $39,975
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $48,994
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $58,013
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $110,175
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $136,256
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $157,950
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $75,075
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $93,844
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $107,494
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $53,625
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $67,031
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $76,781
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $44,850
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $55,331
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $62,888
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $39,975
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $49,238
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $56,550
3. Detroit
Salaries in Detroit are equal to the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500
- 50th percentile: $141,500
- 75th percentile: $170,000
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750
- 50th percentile: $110,000
- 75th percentile: $128,000
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500
- 50th percentile: $75,500
- 75th percentile: $87,500
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750
- 50th percentile: $61,500
- 75th percentile: $70,750
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000
- 50th percentile: $50,250
- 75th percentile: $59,500
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000
- 50th percentile: $139,750
- 75th percentile: $162,000
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000
- 50th percentile: $96,250
- 75th percentile: $110,250
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000
- 50th percentile: $68,750
- 75th percentile: $78,750
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000
- 50th percentile: $56,750
- 75th percentile: $64,500
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000
- 50th percentile: $50,500
- 75th percentile: $58,000
4. Indianapolis
Salaries in Indianapolis are 3% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $111,065
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $137,255
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $164,900
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $88,028
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $106,700
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $124,160
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $60,625
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $73,235
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $84,875
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $48,258
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $59,655
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $68,628
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $39,770
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $48,743
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $57,715
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $109,610
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $135,558
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $157,140
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $74,690
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $93,363
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $106,943
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $53,350
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $66,688
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $76,388
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $44,620
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $55,048
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $62,565
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $39,770
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $48,985
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $56,260
5. Louisville
Salaries in Louisville are 8% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $105,340
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $130,180
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $156,400
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $83,490
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $101,200
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $117,760
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $57,500
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $69,460
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $80,500
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $45,770
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $56,580
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $65,090
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $37,720
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $46,230
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $54,740
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $103,960
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $128,570
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $149,040
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $70,840
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $88,550
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $101,430
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $50,600
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $63,250
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $72,450
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $42,320
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $52,210
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $59,340
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $37,720
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $46,460
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $53,360
6. Milwaukee
Salaries in Milwaukee are 2% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $116,790
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $144,330
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $173,400
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $92,565
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $112,200
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $130,560
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $63,750
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $77,010
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $89,250
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $50,745
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $62,730
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $72,165
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $41,820
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $51,255
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $60,690
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $115,260
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $142,545
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $165,240
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $78,540
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $98,175
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $112,455
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $56,100
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $70,125
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $80,325
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $46,920
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $57,885
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $65,790
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $41,820
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $51,510
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $59,160
7. Oklahoma City
Salaries in Oklahoma City are 7% lower than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $106,485
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $131,595
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $158,100
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $84,398
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $102,300
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $119,040
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $58,125
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $70,215
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $81,375
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $46,268
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $57,195
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $65,798
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $38,130
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $46,733
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $55,335
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $105,090
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $129,968
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $150,660
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $71,610
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $89,513
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $102,533
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $51,150
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $63,938
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $73,238
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $42,780
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $52,778
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $59,985
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $38,130
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $46,965
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $53,940
8. St. Louis
Salaries in St. Louis are 0.5% higher than the national average.
Senior manager/director tax services
- 25th percentile: $114,500 -> $115,073
- 50th percentile: $141,500 -> $142,208
- 75th percentile: $170,000 -> $170,850
Manager of tax services
- 25th percentile: $90,750 -> $91,204
- 50th percentile: $110,000 -> $110,550
- 75th percentile: $128,000 -> $128,640
Senior tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $62,500 -> $62,813
- 50th percentile: $75,500 -> $75,878
- 75th percentile: $87,500 -> $87,938
Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $49,750 -> $49,999
- 50th percentile: $61,500 -> $61,808
- 75th percentile: $70,750 -> $71,104
Entry-level tax accountant
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $41,205
- 50th percentile: $50,250 -> $50,501
- 75th percentile: $59,500 -> $59,798
Senior manager/director audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $113,000 -> $113,565
- 50th percentile: $139,750 -> $140,449
- 75th percentile: $162,000 -> $162,810
Manager audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $77,000 -> $77,385
- 50th percentile: $96,250 -> $96,731
- 75th percentile: $110,250 -> $110,801
Senior audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $55,000 -> $55,275
- 50th percentile: $68,750 -> $69,094
- 75th percentile: $78,750 -> $79,144
Audit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience
- 25th percentile: $46,000 -> $46,230
- 50th percentile: $56,750 -> $57,034
- 75th percentile: $64,500 -> $64,823
Entry-level audit and assurance services
- 25th percentile: $41,000 -> $41,205
- 50th percentile: $50,500 -> $50,753
- 75th percentile: $58,000 -> $58,290
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
