Accountant salary in Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ
For this job Allentown-Bethlehem sits right at the Pennsylvania figure, with a median of $78,430 a year1. That is about level with the Pennsylvania statewide median of $79,000, and 6.3% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #183 of 521. BLS counts about 2,500 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Allentown-Bethlehem against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | $50,470 | $78,430 | $129,120 | |
| Pennsylvania | $50,680 | $79,000 | $130,270 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $129,120, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Allentown-Bethlehem earns $61,740–$100,110. The mean ($85,500) is 9% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $38,370 wide, between the figure for Pennsylvania ($37,660) and the US figure ($42,790).
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,470 | $4,206 | $24.26 | $65,123 |
| 25th percentile | $61,740 | $5,145 | $29.68 | $79,665 |
| Median | $78,430 | $6,536 | $37.71 | $101,200 |
| 75th percentile | $100,110 | $8,342 | $48.13 | $129,174 |
| 90th percentile | $129,120 | $10,760 | $62.08 | $166,606 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $16,690 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $21,680, or about $27,974 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Allentown-Bethlehem, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $79,000 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Allentown-Bethlehem
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,770 to the $78,430 median and brings it to $101,200 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Allentown-Bethlehem
Of the 17 roles we track in Allentown-Bethlehem, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($100,050); recruiters come next at $70,040.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +27.6% | 1,850 | |
| Accountant | this role | 2,500 | |
| Recruiter | -10.7% | 1,720 | |
| Executive Assistant | -12.9% | 590 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -13.6% | 1,400 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Allentown-Bethlehem (-6.3%), between data entry specialists (-6.0%) and recruiters (-7.8%). The typical role here is at -3.0%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in Allentown-Bethlehem than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 7.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Allentown-Bethlehem, 9.5% across Pennsylvania and 9.1% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $65,690 in Altoona to $85,990 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $20,300 a year. Of the 3 areas in Pennsylvania with more accountants than Allentown-Bethlehem, 2 pay less: Pittsburgh, PA ($76,940) and Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($76,510).
| Area | Median | vs Allentown-Bethlehem | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +9.6% | 29,370 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | this area | 2,500 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -1.9% | 10,430 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -2.4% | 3,210 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -3.0% | 1,990 | |
| Reading, PA | -3.7% | 1,230 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -4.2% | 1,400 |
Allentown-Bethlehem against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Allentown-Bethlehem is #87 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Pennsylvania, Sumter and Yuba City pay just above Allentown-Bethlehem and Pueblo and Hanford-Corcoran just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Allentown-Bethlehem. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Allentown-Bethlehem | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +15.2% | 2,530 | jobs | |
| Yuba City, CA | +0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Sumter, SC | +0.0% | 150 | pay | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | this area | 2,500 | ||
| Pueblo, CO | -0.1% | 420 | pay | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | -0.2% | 210 | pay | |
| Montgomery, AL | -4.3% | 2,530 | jobs | |
| Tallahassee, FL | -21.2% | 2,450 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ?
About $101,200 a year at the median, or $8,433 a month: $78,430 in pay plus about $22,770 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Allentown-Bethlehem?
The median was $78,430 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,470, the 90th $129,120, and the middle half earned $61,740 to $100,110.
Is Allentown-Bethlehem cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for accountants?
About the same: a median of $78,430 against $79,000 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia-Camden at $85,990, the next down Pittsburgh at $76,940.
How many accountants work in Allentown-Bethlehem?
BLS counts about 2,500 in the May 2025 survey. 3 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Harrisburg-Carlisle, with about 3,210.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Allentown-Bethlehem?
Yes: $8,390 a year more at the median. The medians are $78,430 and $70,040.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.