Tax preparers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,760 | $16.23 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $54,920 | $26.40 |
| Mean (average) | $60,930 | $29.30 |
| 90th percentile | $99,270 | $47.72 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Tax preparers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $33,280 | $23,290 | $48,020 | 290 | 0.28 |
| Alaska | $62,360 | $40,340 | $117,890 | 70 | 0.46 |
| Arizona | $44,770 | $36,970 | $104,740 | 2,240 | 1.41 |
| Arkansas | $35,040 | $28,990 | $66,420 | 550 | 0.86 |
| California | $70,030 | $38,910 | $104,000 | 10,270 | 1.15 |
| Colorado | $62,620 | $37,790 | $97,980 | 1,540 | 1.09 |
| Connecticut | $41,130 | $35,740 | $81,750 | 700 | 0.84 |
| Delaware | $51,960 | $37,910 | $74,650 | 240 | 1.01 |
| Florida | $49,020 | $30,380 | $94,330 | ||
| Georgia | $49,330 | $30,780 | $97,020 | 1,670 | 0.7 |
| Hawaii | $34,720 | $29,120 | $69,270 | ||
| Illinois | $54,480 | $33,030 | $76,150 | 1,310 | 0.44 |
| Indiana | $45,710 | $27,190 | $86,360 | 1,820 | 1.16 |
| Iowa | $53,660 | $33,520 | $84,700 | 780 | 1.01 |
| Kansas | $47,300 | $30,980 | $99,090 | 450 | 0.63 |
| Kentucky | $36,620 | $21,750 | $80,690 | 1,080 | 1.09 |
| Louisiana | $38,740 | $24,920 | $61,880 | 650 | 0.68 |
| Maine | $47,150 | $38,800 | $63,260 | 250 | 0.79 |
| Maryland | $47,020 | $37,700 | $69,790 | 1,240 | 0.91 |
| Massachusetts | $58,400 | $37,560 | $82,700 | 1,500 | 0.84 |
| Michigan | $46,400 | $29,600 | $77,950 | 1,660 | 0.77 |
| Minnesota | $59,200 | $36,520 | $95,520 | 1,040 | 0.72 |
| Mississippi | $50,670 | $29,140 | $88,790 | 580 | 1.02 |
| Missouri | $62,780 | $31,400 | $124,300 | 1,330 | 0.92 |
| Montana | $63,080 | $44,300 | $100,060 | 360 | 1.42 |
| Nebraska | $43,010 | $30,920 | $71,580 | 420 | 0.83 |
| Nevada | $60,000 | $41,900 | $99,500 | 1,410 | 1.85 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 | $36,100 | $97,020 | 420 | 1.24 |
| New Jersey | $43,420 | $34,250 | $77,640 | 3,220 | 1.53 |
| New Mexico | $38,060 | $27,250 | $60,000 | 340 | 0.8 |
| New York | $71,850 | $39,010 | $125,070 | 7,620 | 1.6 |
| North Carolina | $48,130 | $35,480 | $97,720 | 2,710 | 1.11 |
| North Dakota | $57,060 | $37,080 | $89,310 | 220 | 1.06 |
| Ohio | $49,020 | $36,190 | $74,850 | 1,590 | 0.58 |
| Oklahoma | $42,700 | $26,720 | $82,210 | 1,300 | 1.54 |
| Oregon | $61,370 | $43,640 | $96,550 | 1,590 | 1.64 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 | $31,200 | $103,570 | 2,010 | 0.67 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,730 | $29,830 | $96,360 | 340 | 0.73 |
| Rhode Island | $57,680 | $52,000 | $62,580 | ||
| South Carolina | $39,220 | $28,040 | $80,880 | 1,360 | 1.2 |
| South Dakota | $52,530 | $39,080 | $77,480 | 280 | 1.26 |
| Tennessee | $36,600 | $27,770 | $77,270 | 1,260 | 0.78 |
| Texas | $47,460 | $31,110 | $86,950 | 6,010 | 0.87 |
| Utah | $66,720 | $38,430 | $102,840 | 1,190 | 1.4 |
| Virginia | $58,520 | $36,330 | $98,700 | 1,960 | 0.97 |
| Washington | $45,370 | $38,260 | $71,480 | 1,360 | 0.78 |
| West Virginia | $35,880 | $21,880 | $63,760 | 330 | 0.96 |
| Wisconsin | $44,340 | $34,920 | $73,130 | 1,550 | 1.07 |
| Wyoming | $57,990 | $37,830 | $92,380 | 90 | 0.68 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for tax preparers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 9,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 17.6%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for tax preparers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Accounting CIP 52.0301
- Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping CIP 52.0302
- Taxation CIP 52.1601
Licenses and certifications
Requirements for regulated professions are set by each state. Always confirm with the state regulator.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
- Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
- Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
- Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
- Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures.
- Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
Technology skills
- Intuit TurboTax (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Tax compliance property tax management software (in demand)
- Tax software (in demand)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- ACI TaskTracker
- ATX Total Accounting Office
- ATX Total Tax Office
- CCH ProSystem fx TAX
- Creative Solutions CPA Depreciation
- Creative Solutions UltraTax CS
- Datagroup ElectroFile 1040
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination.
Common job titles: CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Enrolled Agent, Income Tax Preparer, Tax Accountant, Tax Advisor, Tax Associate, Tax Consultant, Tax Preparer, Tax Professional, Tax Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do tax preparers make?
The national median annual wage for tax preparers was $54,920 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,760 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $99,270. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do tax preparers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is tax preparers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of tax preparers to change +4.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 9,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay tax preparers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($71,850), California ($70,030), Utah ($66,720). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.