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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Tax Preparer expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $55,867, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $39,107 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Tax Preparer falls within the Finance & Strategy sector, specifically in Business & Finance. The typical education path involves High school + certification. The career outlook? Seasonal. Work style is office/remote — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
$61,920 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Tax Preparer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $101,760 — $61,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Tax Preparers average $40,224, the median sits at $55,867, and senior earners pull in $79,331. That $39,107 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $24,500 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $95,040 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $40,160 (average of the bottom 3). That $54,880 delta is real money — $4,573/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Tax Preparer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $101,760 — $61,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $40,224 | $55,867 | $79,331 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £22,511 | £31,265 | £44,396 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$30,896 | CA$42,911 | CA$60,934 |
| Australia | 13 | A$35,450 | A$49,237 | A$69,916 |
| Sweden | 24 | 209,856 kr | 291,467 kr | 413,884 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $48,548 | $67,428 | $95,748 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $46,915 | $65,160 | $92,527 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $46,656 | $64,800 | $92,016 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $42,682 | $59,280 | $84,178 |
| Washington | 8 | $41,861 | $58,140 | $82,559 |
| New York | 5 | $39,399 | $54,720 | $77,703 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $39,398 | $54,720 | $77,702 |
| Florida | 22 | $39,100 | $54,305 | $77,114 |
| Colorado | 11 | $38,424 | $53,367 | $75,781 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $38,362 | $53,280 | $75,658 |
| Nevada | 5 | $38,293 | $53,184 | $75,521 |
| Arizona | 12 | $38,102 | $52,920 | $75,146 |
| Oregon | 5 | $38,016 | $52,800 | $74,976 |
| Idaho | 3 | $37,901 | $52,640 | $74,749 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $37,601 | $52,224 | $74,158 |
| Utah | 4 | $37,498 | $52,080 | $73,954 |
| Virginia | 7 | $36,881 | $51,223 | $72,737 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $36,403 | $50,560 | $71,795 |
| Alaska | 1 | $36,288 | $50,400 | $71,568 |
| Illinois | 5 | $35,873 | $49,824 | $70,750 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $34,982 | $48,587 | $68,993 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $34,560 | $48,000 | $68,160 |
| Montana | 1 | $34,560 | $48,000 | $68,160 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $34,445 | $47,840 | $67,933 |
| Texas | 40 | $34,275 | $47,604 | $67,598 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $34,215 | $47,520 | $67,479 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $34,042 | $47,280 | $67,138 |
| Georgia | 6 | $33,926 | $47,120 | $66,910 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $33,869 | $47,040 | $66,797 |
| Kansas | 4 | $33,696 | $46,800 | $66,456 |
| Michigan | 6 | $33,581 | $46,640 | $66,229 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $33,178 | $46,080 | $65,434 |
| Maryland | 1 | $33,178 | $46,080 | $65,434 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $31,968 | $44,400 | $63,048 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $31,795 | $44,160 | $62,707 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $31,363 | $43,560 | $61,855 |
| Missouri | 4 | $31,363 | $43,560 | $61,855 |
| Alabama | 5 | $31,242 | $43,392 | $61,616 |
| Indiana | 3 | $30,758 | $42,720 | $60,662 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $30,758 | $42,720 | $60,662 |
| Iowa | 2 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Ohio | 6 | $30,355 | $42,160 | $59,867 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $29,030 | $40,320 | $57,254 |
Geography shapes Tax Preparer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $67,428 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($101,760 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $48,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $101,760 | 212 | $48,000 | $62,976 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $95,040 | 198 | $48,000 | $59,167 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $88,320 | 184 | $48,000 | $55,334 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $86,880 | 181 | $48,000 | $54,512 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $85,440 | 178 | $48,000 | $53,691 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $84,960 | 177 | $48,000 | $53,417 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $84,960 | 177 | $48,000 | $53,417 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $83,040 | 173 | $48,000 | $52,321 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $83,040 | 173 | $48,000 | $52,321 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $81,120 | 169 | $48,000 | $51,226 |
From a career planning perspective, Tax Preparer offers a $39,107 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires High school + certification. Day-to-day, expect office/remote work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Tax Preparers is $55,867 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $40,224, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $79,331.
The highest-paying city for Tax Preparers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $101,760. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($101,760), Santa Clara ($95,040), Irvine ($88,320). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Tax Preparer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $39,840. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Tax Preparers (10th percentile) average $40,224 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $73,267. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Tax Preparers average $79,331 nationally — $39,107 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Tax Preparers can earn up to $144,499.
The top-paying states for Tax Preparers are California ($67,428 median), Massachusetts ($65,160 median), Hawaii ($64,800 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Tax Preparer involves High school + certification. The field is in the Finance & Strategy sector (Business & Finance), and the career outlook is seasonal. Work style is typically office/remote.
With a national median of $55,867 and representation across 288 metro areas, Tax Preparer offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $39,107 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: seasonal.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.