Tax Preparers
Tax Preparers (SOC 13-2082) earn a median $54,920 a year ($26.40 an hour) in the United States, with 76,480 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What tax preparers do
Tax preparers prepare tax returns for individuals and small businesses. The work involves interviewing clients to collect income records, deductions, and other information, computing the taxes owed or overpaid, and applying the deductions, adjustments, and credits that reduce the client's liability. Preparers compute taxes owed or overpaid with adding machines or personal computers, furnish taxpayers with the advice and information needed to file correctly, and check forms prepared by others for arithmetic and data entry errors. Titles include income tax preparer and enrolled agent. The occupation excludes accountants and auditors, who handle broader accounting and audit work, and it differs from tax examiners and collectors, who work for the government and review returns. Financial records such as income statements and records of expenditures are reviewed to decide which forms a return needs, and preparers explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Corporate Tax Preparer, CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Credentialed Tax Expert, Credentialed Tax Professional, Enrolled Agent.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.23 | $18.71 | $26.40 | $36.68 | $47.72 | $29.30 | 76,480 |
| Annual | $33,760 | $38,910 | $54,920 | $76,300 | $99,270 | $60,930 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where tax preparers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.76 | $27.42 | $34.54 | $48.59 | $60.13 | $38.06 | 7,620 | 0.79 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $39,010 | $57,030 | $71,850 | $101,070 | $125,070 | $79,160 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.71 | $22.80 | $33.67 | $40.81 | $50.00 | $34.39 | 10,270 | 0.56 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $38,910 | $47,420 | $70,030 | $84,890 | $104,000 | $71,540 | ||||
| Utah | Hourly | $18.48 | $23.18 | $32.08 | $38.73 | $49.44 | $32.46 | 1,190 | 0.69 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $38,430 | $48,210 | $66,720 | $80,550 | $102,840 | $67,520 | ||||
| Montana | Hourly | $21.30 | $22.82 | $30.33 | $39.83 | $48.10 | $33.16 | 360 | 0.70 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $44,300 | $47,470 | $63,080 | $82,850 | $100,060 | $68,980 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $15.09 | $17.11 | $30.18 | $47.42 | $59.76 | $34.67 | 1,330 | 0.45 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $31,400 | $35,580 | $62,780 | $98,630 | $124,300 | $72,120 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.71 | $22.80 | $33.67 | $40.81 | $50.00 | $34.39 | 10,270 | 0.56 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $38,910 | $47,420 | $70,030 | $84,890 | $104,000 | $71,540 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.76 | $27.42 | $34.54 | $48.59 | $60.13 | $38.06 | 7,620 | 0.79 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $39,010 | $57,030 | $71,850 | $101,070 | $125,070 | $79,160 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $14.96 | $17.04 | $22.82 | $35.60 | $41.80 | $27.24 | 6,010 | 0.43 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $31,110 | $35,440 | $47,460 | $74,060 | $86,950 | $56,670 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $16.47 | $18.17 | $20.88 | $30.31 | $37.33 | $25.42 | 3,220 | 0.75 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $34,250 | $37,790 | $43,420 | $63,050 | $77,640 | $52,870 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $17.06 | $21.07 | $23.14 | $35.02 | $46.98 | $27.80 | 2,710 | 0.55 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $35,480 | $43,820 | $48,130 | $72,840 | $97,720 | $57,820 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $22.80 | $34.47 | $40.50 | $46.94 | $50.59 | $40.53 | 1,410 | 0.60 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $47,420 | $71,700 | $84,240 | $97,630 | $105,230 | $84,300 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $23.27 | $30.84 | $39.03 | $47.98 | $54.58 | $40.17 | 760 | 0.67 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $48,390 | $64,140 | $81,180 | $99,800 | $113,530 | $83,550 | ||||
| Kansas City, MO-KS | Hourly | $17.01 | $23.09 | $37.94 | $47.85 | $68.04 | $39.68 | 560 | 0.51 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $35,380 | $48,030 | $78,920 | $99,530 | $141,520 | $82,540 | ||||
| Jefferson City, MO | Hourly | $24.00 | $24.10 | $36.53 | $48.46 | $58.83 | $37.10 | 30 | 0.42 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $49,910 | $50,140 | $75,990 | $100,790 | $122,360 | $77,180 | ||||
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $20.93 | $21.59 | $34.52 | $36.22 | $45.06 | $31.87 | 60 | 0.59 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $43,530 | $44,900 | $71,800 | $75,340 | $93,730 | $66,290 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.76 | $23.61 | $34.28 | $47.57 | $60.07 | $36.36 | 8,100 | 0.85 | 1.73 |
| Annual | $39,010 | $49,100 | $71,300 | $98,940 | $124,950 | $75,620 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.17 | $19.66 | $31.31 | $37.83 | $51.32 | $32.76 | 3,250 | 0.52 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $37,790 | $40,880 | $65,120 | $78,680 | $106,740 | $68,140 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $16.40 | $17.57 | $22.61 | $36.21 | $43.24 | $27.78 | 1,780 | 0.44 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $34,110 | $36,540 | $47,020 | $75,320 | $89,950 | $57,780 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $19.11 | $20.72 | $21.52 | $38.00 | $55.63 | $31.42 | 1,580 | 0.67 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $39,760 | $43,100 | $44,770 | $79,030 | $115,700 | $65,360 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $22.80 | $34.47 | $40.50 | $46.94 | $50.59 | $40.53 | 1,410 | 0.60 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $47,420 | $71,700 | $84,240 | $97,630 | $105,230 | $84,300 | ||||
Top industries employing tax preparers
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services employ 94.5% of tax preparers nationally (72,250 jobs) at a median $52,000 a year ($25.00 an hour), followed by Software Publishers (1.6%) and Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (1.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services NAICS 541200 | 72,250 | 94.5% | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Software Publishers NAICS 513200 | 1,240 | 1.6% | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 1,010 | 1.3% | $73,110 | $35.15 |
| Legal Services NAICS 541100 | 640 | 0.8% | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities NAICS 523000 | 310 | 0.4% | $74,250 | $35.70 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (76,480). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $46,290 for tax preparers in May 2021 and $54,920 in May 2025, with employment of 83,190 and 76,480.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $46,290 | $22.26 | 83,190 |
| May 2022 | $48,250 | $23.20 | 82,370 |
| May 2023 | $49,010 | $23.56 | 81,650 |
| May 2024 | $50,560 | $24.31 | 73,570 |
| May 2025 | $54,920 | $26.40 | 76,480 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York profile | $34.54 | $71,850 | $39,010 | $125,070 | 7,620 | 0.79 | 1.60 |
| 2 | California profile | $33.67 | $70,030 | $38,910 | $104,000 | 10,270 | 0.56 | 1.15 |
| 3 | Utah profile | $32.08 | $66,720 | $38,430 | $102,840 | 1,190 | 0.69 | 1.40 |
| 4 | Montana profile | $30.33 | $63,080 | $44,300 | $100,060 | 360 | 0.70 | 1.42 |
| 5 | Missouri profile | $30.18 | $62,780 | $31,400 | $124,300 | 1,330 | 0.45 | 0.92 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $30.11 | $62,620 | $37,790 | $97,980 | 1,540 | 0.54 | 1.09 |
| 7 | Alaska profile | $29.98 | $62,360 | $40,340 | $117,890 | 70 | 0.23 | 0.46 |
| 8 | New Hampshire profile | $29.51 | $61,370 | $36,100 | $97,020 | 420 | 0.61 | 1.24 |
| 9 | Oregon profile | $29.51 | $61,370 | $43,640 | $96,550 | 1,590 | 0.81 | 1.64 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania profile | $29.46 | $61,270 | $31,200 | $103,570 | 2,010 | 0.33 | 0.67 |
| 11 | Nevada profile | $28.85 | $60,000 | $41,900 | $99,500 | 1,410 | 0.91 | 1.85 |
| 12 | Minnesota profile | $28.46 | $59,200 | $36,520 | $95,520 | 1,040 | 0.35 | 0.72 |
| 13 | Virginia profile | $28.13 | $58,520 | $36,330 | $98,700 | 1,960 | 0.48 | 0.97 |
| 14 | Massachusetts profile | $28.08 | $58,400 | $37,560 | $82,700 | 1,500 | 0.41 | 0.84 |
| 15 | Wyoming profile | $27.88 | $57,990 | $37,830 | $92,380 | 90 | 0.33 | 0.68 |
| 16 | Rhode Island profile | $27.73 | $57,680 | $52,000 | $62,580 | ** | ** | ** |
| 17 | North Dakota profile | $27.43 | $57,060 | $37,080 | $89,310 | 220 | 0.52 | 1.06 |
| 18 | Illinois profile | $26.19 | $54,480 | $33,030 | $76,150 | 1,310 | 0.21 | 0.44 |
| 19 | Iowa profile | $25.80 | $53,660 | $33,520 | $84,700 | 780 | 0.50 | 1.01 |
| 20 | South Dakota profile | $25.26 | $52,530 | $39,080 | $77,480 | 280 | 0.62 | 1.26 |
| 21 | Delaware profile | $24.98 | $51,960 | $37,910 | $74,650 | 240 | 0.50 | 1.01 |
| 22 | Mississippi profile | $24.36 | $50,670 | $29,140 | $88,790 | 580 | 0.50 | 1.02 |
| 23 | Georgia profile | $23.72 | $49,330 | $30,780 | $97,020 | 1,670 | 0.34 | 0.70 |
| 24 | Florida profile | $23.57 | $49,020 | $30,380 | $94,330 | ** | ** | ** |
| 25 | Ohio profile | $23.57 | $49,020 | $36,190 | $74,850 | 1,590 | 0.29 | 0.58 |
| 26 | North Carolina profile | $23.14 | $48,130 | $35,480 | $97,720 | 2,710 | 0.55 | 1.11 |
| 27 | Texas profile | $22.82 | $47,460 | $31,110 | $86,950 | 6,010 | 0.43 | 0.87 |
| 28 | Kansas profile | $22.74 | $47,300 | $30,980 | $99,090 | 450 | 0.31 | 0.63 |
| 29 | Maine profile | $22.67 | $47,150 | $38,800 | $63,260 | 250 | 0.39 | 0.79 |
| 30 | Maryland profile | $22.61 | $47,020 | $37,700 | $69,790 | 1,240 | 0.45 | 0.91 |
| 31 | Michigan profile | $22.31 | $46,400 | $29,600 | $77,950 | 1,660 | 0.38 | 0.77 |
| 32 | Indiana profile | $21.98 | $45,710 | $27,190 | $86,360 | 1,820 | 0.57 | 1.16 |
| 33 | Washington profile | $21.81 | $45,370 | $38,260 | $71,480 | 1,360 | 0.38 | 0.78 |
| 34 | Arizona profile | $21.52 | $44,770 | $36,970 | $104,740 | 2,240 | 0.69 | 1.41 |
| 35 | Wisconsin profile | $21.32 | $44,340 | $34,920 | $73,130 | 1,550 | 0.53 | 1.07 |
| 36 | New Jersey profile | $20.88 | $43,420 | $34,250 | $77,640 | 3,220 | 0.75 | 1.53 |
| 37 | Nebraska profile | $20.68 | $43,010 | $30,920 | $71,580 | 420 | 0.41 | 0.83 |
| 38 | Oklahoma profile | $20.53 | $42,700 | $26,720 | $82,210 | 1,300 | 0.76 | 1.54 |
| 39 | Connecticut profile | $19.77 | $41,130 | $35,740 | $81,750 | 700 | 0.41 | 0.84 |
| 40 | South Carolina profile | $18.86 | $39,220 | $28,040 | $80,880 | 1,360 | 0.59 | 1.20 |
| 41 | Louisiana profile | $18.63 | $38,740 | $24,920 | $61,880 | 650 | 0.33 | 0.68 |
| 42 | New Mexico profile | $18.30 | $38,060 | $27,250 | $60,000 | 340 | 0.39 | 0.80 |
| 43 | Kentucky profile | $17.60 | $36,620 | $21,750 | $80,690 | 1,080 | 0.54 | 1.09 |
| 44 | Tennessee profile | $17.59 | $36,600 | $27,770 | $77,270 | 1,260 | 0.38 | 0.78 |
| 45 | West Virginia profile | $17.25 | $35,880 | $21,880 | $63,760 | 330 | 0.47 | 0.96 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $16.85 | $35,040 | $28,990 | $66,420 | 550 | 0.42 | 0.86 |
| 47 | Hawaii profile | $16.69 | $34,720 | $29,120 | $69,270 | ** | ** | ** |
| 48 | Alabama profile | $16.00 | $33,280 | $23,290 | $48,020 | 290 | 0.14 | 0.28 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (13-2080), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Business and Financial Operations Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 13-2082 Tax Preparers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-2082, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 13-2082.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.