Accountant salary in Columbus, IN
For this job Columbus sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $78,740 a year1. That is 1.3% above the Indiana statewide median of $77,720, and 5.9% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #167 of 521. BLS counts about 330 people in this job here, 1% of the Indiana total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Columbus, IN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbus against Indiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, IN | $51,370 | $78,740 | $121,120 | |
| Indiana | $50,950 | $77,720 | $125,880 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $121,120, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Columbus earns $62,940–$101,140. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $38,200 wide, between the figure for Indiana ($37,750) 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 | $51,370 | $4,281 | $24.70 | $66,284 |
| 25th percentile | $62,940 | $5,245 | $30.26 | $81,213 |
| Median | $78,740 | $6,562 | $37.86 | $101,600 |
| 75th percentile | $101,140 | $8,428 | $48.62 | $130,503 |
| 90th percentile | $121,120 | $10,093 | $58.23 | $156,284 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,800 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $22,400, or about $28,903 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 Columbus, and the Indiana statewide median of $77,720 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Columbus
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 $22,860 to the $78,740 median and brings it to $101,600 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 Columbus
Of the 14 roles we track in Columbus, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($91,510); marketing specialists come next at $66,390.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +16.2% | 140 | |
| Accountant | this role | 330 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -15.7% | 180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -19.8% | 240 | |
| Recruiter | -20.8% | 340 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #3 of the 14 roles we track in Columbus (-5.9%), between payroll specialists (-5.3%) and virtual receptionists (-6.4%). The typical role here is at -9.0%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in Columbus than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 9.6% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Columbus, 9.8% across Indiana and 9.3% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Indiana
Across the 15 areas of Indiana with data for this job, the median runs from $63,170 in Terre Haute to $79,290 in Indianapolis-Carmel, a gap of $16,120 a year. Of the 11 areas in Indiana with more accountants than Columbus, 10 pay less, the largest of them Fort Wayne, IN ($75,250), the Northern Indiana nonmetro area ($73,570) and the Southern Indiana nonmetro area ($72,580).
| Area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | +0.7% | 11,210 | |
| Columbus, IN | this area | 330 | |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | -1.0% | 1,020 | |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | -1.3% | 570 | |
| Kokomo, IN | -1.5% | 170 | |
| Evansville, IN | -1.7% | 1,050 | |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | -1.7% | 990 |
Columbus against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbus is #442 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Indiana, Kenosha and St. Louis pay just above Columbus and Fresno and Birmingham just below. All four are within $140 a year of the median in Columbus. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJ | +5.4% | 330 | jobs | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +0.2% | 13,610 | pay | |
| Kenosha, WI | +0.1% | 570 | pay | |
| Columbus, IN | this area | 330 | ||
| Fresno, CA | -0.1% | 2,810 | pay | |
| Birmingham, AL | -0.1% | 7,790 | pay | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -2.4% | 330 | jobs | |
| Lebanon, PA | -5.8% | 330 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Columbus, IN?
About $101,600 a year at the median, or $8,467 a month: $78,740 in pay plus about $22,860 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Columbus?
The median was $78,740 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,370, the 90th $121,120, and the middle half earned $62,940 to $101,140.
Is Columbus cheaper than the rest of Indiana for accountants?
No, it costs more: a median of $78,740 against $77,720 statewide. The next area up in Indiana is Indianapolis-Carmel at $79,290, the next down South Bend-Mishawaka at $77,940.
How many accountants work in Columbus?
BLS counts about 330 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Indiana total of 25,660. 11 areas in Indiana have more; the closest in size is Bloomington, with about 480.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Columbus?
Yes: $12,350 a year more at the median. The medians are $78,740 and $66,390.
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.