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Tax Accountant

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The following article discusses the career of Tax Accountant highlighting what they do, the work environment, how to become, training and certification, education, job and salary outlook.

What We Do

As a tax accountant, you will make sure your clients comply with federal and state regulations. You will also look at tax regulations and find out about ways to minimize the burden of tax. Furthermore, you will prepare tax reports and returns, keep records and looking into more complex tax issues. Finally, you will support clients who are being audited.

Work Environment

Generally speaking, you will have standard business working hours. However, around tax season, you will likely have to do a lot of overtime. Usually, you will work within an accounting office, through which your services will be hired.

How to Become

To become a tax accountant, you should have a finance-related degree, but you should also fully understand tax law and the taxation process. Most importantly, you must have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, also in order to take on the right tone depending on your audience.

Training & Certification Requirements

You will need to hold a finance bachelor’s degree such as accounting, preferably with a tax law concentration. Most employers now look for accountants who are educated to degree level. Furthermore, they may specifically look for candidates who are CPA, CFP or Enrolled Agent.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s

Job Outlook

The project job growth for all accountants and auditors is 11% between 2014 and 2024, which is faster than the national average. This is according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Tax Accountant was $64,797. This number is estimated from over 9,410 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $33.75 and monthly of $5,400.

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$19,000

$138,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Tax Accountant salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, South Dakota had the largest quoted salary of $85,284 while Delaware had the smallest quoted salary of $41,356.

Alaska – $79,924 (▲23% Above national average)Rank: 49th
The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Marcuson-Beck & Associates, LLC.

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$40,000

$128,000

Salary Distribution
Alabama – $53,725 (▼17% Below national average)Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ITAC Solutions, ITAC Solutions, LLC, Vaco, LLC, and Express Employment Professionals.

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$23,000

$96,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $64,821 (●Meets national average)Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Little Rock CPA Firm, and Accountemps.

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$28,000

$115,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $64,416 (●Meets national average)Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, LS Associates, Southwest Accounting Resources, Inc., and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$25,000

$121,000

Salary Distribution
California – $67,046 (●Meets national average)Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MJ Recruiters, LLC, Ploeger Recruiting Services, Lodestar Executive Search, and Bio-Partners.

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$14,000

$174,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $63,188 (●Meets national average)Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bradsby Group, Consortium International, AppleOne, and CyberCoders.

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$25,000

$119,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $76,970 (▲19% Above national average)Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, Contract Staffing Recruiters, Bohan & Bradstreet, Inc., and The Forum Group.

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$31,000

$142,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $64,571 (●Meets national average)Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Agility Talent, Green Key Resources, CyberCoders, and Global Employment Solutions.

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$32,000

$107,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $41,356 (▼12% Below national average)Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Accountemps.

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$7.25

$44.00

Salary Distribution
Florida – $64,086 (●Meets national average)Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Insurance Company, South Florida Recruiters, SNI Financial, and Panacea.

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$20,000

$132,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $66,371 (●Meets national average)Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aerotek, MetaSense, Inc., HRx and Compliance Recruiting, and At-Tech.

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$24,000

$129,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii – $61,363 (●Meets national average)Rank: 52nd
The average salary ranks 52nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Staffing Solutions of Hawaii.

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$30,000

$93,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $44,524 (●Meets national average)Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, MidAmerican Energy, and Accountemps.

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$11.75

$36.80

Salary Distribution
Idaho – $76,220 (▲18% Above national average)Rank: 51st
The average salary ranks 51st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Marcuson-Beck & Associates, LLC.

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$29,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $62,537 (●Meets national average)Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accounting Firm, CFS, Inc., Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Fellows Financial.

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$23,000

$119,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $65,068 (●Meets national average)Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Cube Management, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Capitol Search Consultants, LLC, and Creative Financial Staffing.

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$32,000

$102,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $64,153 (●Meets national average)Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Specialists Group LLC, The, and Accountemps.

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$31,000

$109,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $58,103 (▼10% Below national average)Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Angel Group, Vaco, LLC, Robert Half Management Resources, and Accounting Principals.

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$29,000

$97,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $53,858 (▼17% Below national average)Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Michael Choate Associates, CPAs, AppleOne, Sumit Credits, LLC, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$19,000

$105,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $66,134 (●Meets national average)Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like JOHNLEONARD, Pelham Berkeley Search, Kforce Finance and Accounting, and RRMA.

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$32,000

$111,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $72,774 (▲12% Above national average)Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Direct Hire – Full Time, NORTH STAR, CyberCoders, and Randstad Professionals.

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$29,000

$135,000

Salary Distribution
Maine – $54,000Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state.

Michigan – $60,952 (▼6% Below national average)Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like UHY LLP, Parker and Lynch, Marcuson-Beck & Associates, LLC, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$20,000

$122,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $66,114 (●Meets national average)Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Masterson Staffing Solutions, Northstar Staffing Solutions, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and CyberCoders.

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$26,000

$123,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $62,208 (●Meets national average)Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Beacon Hill Staffing, Consortium International, Kforce Finance and Accounting, and SearchAccountingJobs.

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$27,000

$111,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi – $64,000Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state.

Montana – $59,695 (▼8% Below national average)Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Marcuson-Beck & Associates, LLC.

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$30,000

$95,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $59,584 (▼8% Below national average)Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Adams & Clark CPAs PA, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Accountants One.

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$24,000

$110,000

Salary Distribution
North Dakota – $47,715 (▼26% Below national average)Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Spherion.

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$21,000

$84,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska – $42,201 (▼10% Below national average)Rank: 50th
The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Accountemps.

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$7.25

$45.30

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire – $75,320 (▲16% Above national average)Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting and Accountemps.

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$37,000

$114,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $74,671 (▲15% Above national average)Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, Talent Plus Staffing, Professional Search Network, and Marcus & Associates.

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$19,000

$167,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $61,997 (●Meets national average)Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Marcuson-Beck & Associates, LLC and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$31,000

$103,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada – $63,676 (●Meets national average)Rank: 47th
The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Marcuson-Beck & Associates, LLC, CyberCoders, Accountemps, and ICONMA, LLC..

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$30,000

$108,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $73,370 (▲13% Above national average)Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MISSION STAFFING, CyberCoders, National Insurance Company, and WeiserMazars LLP.

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$24,000

$150,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $59,820 (▼8% Below national average)Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Insurance Company, Vaco, LLC, General Employment, and General Employment, Inc..

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$29,000

$101,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma – $60,841 (▼6% Below national average)Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accountemps, firstPRO Inc., Accounting Principals, and Fuse3 Solutions.

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$30,000

$101,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $73,292 (▲13% Above national average)Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Services, Inc., Robert Half Finance & Accounting, CyberCoders, and Marcuson-Beck & Associates, LLC.

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$31,000

$133,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $63,753 (●Meets national average)Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like firstPRO Inc., Aspire Staffing Partners, Ascendo Resources, and The Dubin Group.

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$26,000

$117,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island – $56,000Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state.

South Carolina – $56,686 (▼13% Below national average)Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like AppleOne, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, The Hultquist Firm CPA, and FGP International.

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$26,000

$98,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota – $85,284 (▲32% Above national average)Rank: 48th
The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Maverick Recruiting.

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$43,000

$138,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $59,240 (▼9% Below national average)Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CIG, The Hadden Group, Creative Financial Staffing, and StaffSource.

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$24,000

$108,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $63,928 (●Meets national average)Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Insurance Company, The McIntyre Group, Burnett Specialists, and CyberCoders.

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$24,000

$122,000

Salary Distribution
Utah – $57,581 (▼11% Below national average)Rank: 46th
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Marcuson-Beck & Associates, LLC, Accountemps, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$24,000

$106,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $65,843 (●Meets national average)Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, Parker + Lynch, Merito Group, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$31,000

$113,000

Salary Distribution
Vermont – $64,365 (●Meets national average)Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting.

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$26,000

$118,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $56,793 (▲21% Above national average)Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Liberty Mutual, Marcuson-Beck & Associates, LLC, and Randstad Professionals.

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$13.50

$51.65

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $56,698 (▼13% Below national average)Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Capitol Search Consultants, LLC, HALPIN PERSONNEL INC, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Roger G. Roth, CPA & Associates, LLP.

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$25,000

$100,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia – $49,823 (▼23% Below national average)Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Capitol Search Consultants, LLC and Page Personnel.

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$25,000

$83,000

Salary Distribution
Wyoming – $51,000Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state.

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Tax Accountant. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
AerotekGeorgia$99,504
Kforce Finance and AccountingConnecticut$98,188
MISSION STAFFINGNew York$94,343
JOHNLEONARDMassachusetts$93,651
CyberCodersWashington$92,678
National Insurance CompanyTexas$90,817
MetaSense, Inc.Georgia$90,000
HRx and Compliance RecruitingGeorgia$90,000
Direct Hire – Full TimeMaryland$89,450
Services, Inc.Oregon$89,450
CyberCodersNew York$88,623
National Insurance CompanyOhio$88,399
National Insurance CompanyNew York$88,399
National Insurance CompanyFlorida$88,399
Kforce Finance and AccountingNew Jersey$88,291
National Insurance Company$88,232
Robert Half Finance & AccountingOregon$87,857
NORTH STARMaryland$87,319
At-TechGeorgia$87,026
WeiserMazars LLP$86,979

References

*Indicates number of job postings as of June, 2017.

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