Cities with the Highest Wages
Accountants are hard-working professionals who put a lot of time into their careers. Like any busy person, they want to be paid well for their time. What some accounting professionals might not know is that they can get an instant raise simply by living in top-paying metropolitan areas for their field. Accountants are paid well all over the country, but in specific areas, the pay scale gets a real boost.
For example, in the Nassau-Suffolk Area of New York, accountants earn more on average than in any other city in the country. They even make more than accountants in New York City, one of the most expensive cities in the country, even the world. In Nassau-Suffolk, NY, accountants earn an average annual income of $83,870. In New York City, NY, accountants earn an average salary of $83,420. The difference is only one of a few hundred dollars, but it shows how much geography can affect your salary.
On the west coast in the San Jose area of California, accountants receive the third highest salaries of any city in the country. With an average annual income of $83,090, accountants in San Jose are living well on the California coast. But the northeast continues to be the highest paying region for the accounting field. In the Bethesda area of Maryland, accountants earn an average salary of $82,640. In the Bridgeport are of Connecticut, they earn approximately $81,580 per year.
As you can see, your city can significantly increase your income.
How does your metropolitan area compare?
Accounting Salaries for Metropolitan Areas with the Highest Employment Levels
High employment levels are a very important factor in a poor job market. All professionals, no matter which field they are in, are looking for cities with high employment levels for their field. Accountants are lucky to have job possibilities all over the country. But certain cities still have higher employment levels for accountants than others. And while high employment levels might bring job security, flexibility, and opportunity, they do not always guarantee the highest salaries in the business.
For example, Tallahassee, Florida has the highest employment level for accounting professionals of any city in the United States. But it has a lower average salary on the broad spectrum of earning potential. In this metropolitan area, accountants earn an average annual income of $51,290. In the Bridgeport area of Connecticut, the area with the second highest employment level, the average salary for the field is $81,580. Almost $30,000 annually is a significant difference and one to consider.
Santa Fe, New Mexico has high employment levels for those in this field and an average salary of $55,500. A few hundred miles in Denver, Colorado, accountants enjoy high employment levels and an average annual salary of $68, 290. San Francisco, California promises high employment levels as well as a high salary, with average incomes around $78,380. However, you must also consider the high cost of living.
Different cities bring varying opportunities for accounting professionals. As an accountant, you must consider which metropolitan area works best for you.
