Accountant salary in Bay City, MI
Bay City is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $73,320 a year1 is 7.0% below the Michigan statewide median of $78,820, and 12.4% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #376 of 521. BLS counts about 260 accountants here: a small pool for a local search.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Bay City, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Bay City against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City, MI | $49,090 | $73,320 | $109,880 | |
| Michigan | $52,620 | $78,820 | $131,080 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Bay City earns $61,250–$85,230. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $109,880, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $23,980 wide, against $37,180 across Michigan and $42,790 nationally: employers in Bay City pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,090 | $4,091 | $23.60 | $63,342 |
| 25th percentile | $61,250 | $5,104 | $29.45 | $79,032 |
| Median | $73,320 | $6,110 | $35.25 | $94,606 |
| 75th percentile | $85,230 | $7,102 | $40.98 | $109,974 |
| 90th percentile | $109,880 | $9,157 | $52.83 | $141,781 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $12,070 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $11,910, or about $15,368 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 Bay City, and the Michigan statewide median of $78,820 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Bay City
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 $21,286 to the $73,320 median and brings it to $94,606 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 Bay City
Of the 13 roles we track in Bay City, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($94,170); recruiters come next at $63,200.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +28.4% | 90 | |
| Accountant | this role | 260 | |
| Recruiter | -13.8% | 120 | |
| Office Manager | -19.2% | 180 | |
| Executive Assistant | -20.0% | 40 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #6 of the 13 roles we track in Bay City (-12.4%), between virtual receptionists (-10.9%) and customer support specialists (-13.2%). The typical role here is at -13.2%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 10.7% of the jobs in these 13 roles in Bay City, 10.5% across Michigan and 9.4% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $69,740 in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area to $91,790 in Midland, a gap of $22,050 a year. Of the 18 areas in Michigan with more accountants than Bay City, 3 pay less: the Mid Michigan nonmetro area ($69,790), the Northern Michigan nonmetro area ($69,740) and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetro area ($70,140).
| Area | Median | vs Bay City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MI | +2.0% | 610 | |
| Flint, MI | +1.6% | 860 | |
| Southern Michigan (Nonmetro) | +1.5% | 1,000 | |
| Bay City, MI | this area | 260 | |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Nonmetro) | -4.3% | 820 | |
| Mid Michigan (Nonmetro) | -4.8% | 1,150 | |
| Northern Michigan (Nonmetro) | -4.9% | 840 |
Bay City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Bay City is #478 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Michigan, Valdosta and Minot pay just above Bay City and Killeen-Temple and Youngstown-Warren just below. All four are within $240 a year of the median in Bay City. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Bay City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, IL | +4.6% | 260 | jobs | |
| Sandusky, OH | +1.4% | 260 | jobs | |
| Minot, ND | +0.3% | 310 | pay | |
| Valdosta, GA | +0.1% | 310 | pay | |
| Bay City, MI | this area | 260 | ||
| Killeen-Temple, TX | -0.1% | 730 | pay | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -0.3% | 1,150 | pay | |
| Mansfield, OH | -8.2% | 260 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Bay City, MI?
About $94,606 a year at the median, or $7,884 a month: $73,320 in pay plus about $21,286 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Bay City?
The median was $73,320 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,090, the 90th $109,880, and the middle half earned $61,250 to $85,230.
Is Bay City cheaper than the rest of Michigan for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $73,320 against $78,820 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is the Southern Michigan nonmetro area at $74,430, the next down the Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetro area at $70,140.
How many accountants work in Bay City?
BLS counts about 260 in the May 2025 survey. 18 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Monroe, with about 290.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Bay City?
Yes: $10,120 a year more at the median. The medians are $73,320 and $63,200.
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 2026-11-13.