Accountant salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Budget above the national rate here. The median accountant in Durham-Chapel Hill earned $85,090 a year in May 20251, 3.7% above the North Carolina statewide median of $82,050 and 1.7% above the US median of $83,680. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#59 of 521). BLS counts about 3,060 people in this job here, 6% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Durham-Chapel Hill against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $60,620 | $85,090 | $152,900 | |
| North Carolina | $53,610 | $82,050 | $146,100 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Durham-Chapel Hill earns $70,700–$115,740. The top tenth earns $152,900 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. The mean ($98,060) is 15% 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 $45,040 wide, wider than in North Carolina as a whole ($42,970) and the US ($42,790), so what a accountant earns in Durham-Chapel Hill depends more on the employer.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,620 | $5,052 | $29.14 | $78,219 |
| 25th percentile | $70,700 | $5,892 | $33.99 | $91,226 |
| Median | $85,090 | $7,091 | $40.91 | $109,794 |
| 75th percentile | $115,740 | $9,645 | $55.64 | $149,342 |
| 90th percentile | $152,900 | $12,742 | $73.51 | $197,290 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $30,650 over the median, the 25th only $14,390 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $39,548 a year in employer cost. 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 25th percentile and the median in Durham-Chapel Hill, and the North Carolina statewide median of $82,050 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Durham-Chapel Hill
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 $24,704 to the $85,090 median and brings it to $109,794 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 Durham-Chapel Hill
Of the 17 roles we track in Durham-Chapel Hill, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($93,110) and recruiters ($81,100). Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,870.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +23.2% | 3,180 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +9.4% | 2,740 | |
| Accountant | this role | 3,060 | |
| Recruiter | -4.7% | 2,370 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -14.8% | 3,300 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Durham-Chapel Hill (+1.7%), between medical administrative assistants (+2.0%) and administrative assistants (+0.6%). The typical role here is at +0.2%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 8.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Durham-Chapel Hill, 9.4% across North Carolina and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $73,740 in Jacksonville to $92,910 in Charlotte-Concord, a gap of $19,170 a year. Of the 3 areas in North Carolina with more accountants than Durham-Chapel Hill, 2 pay less: Raleigh-Cary, NC ($81,950) and Greensboro-High Point, NC ($80,170).
| Area | Median | vs Durham-Chapel Hill | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | +9.2% | 16,820 | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | this area | 3,060 | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | -3.7% | 9,190 | |
| Asheville, NC | -5.5% | 1,540 | |
| Burlington, NC | -5.6% | 430 | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | -5.8% | 3,300 | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | -7.2% | 2,030 |
Durham-Chapel Hill against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Durham-Chapel Hill is #69 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside North Carolina, Baltimore-Columbia and Bellingham pay just above Durham-Chapel Hill and Houston-Pasadena and Colorado Springs just below. All four are within $360 a year of the median in Durham-Chapel Hill. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Durham-Chapel Hill | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | +10.6% | 3,090 | jobs | |
| Bellingham, WA | +0.4% | 870 | pay | |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | +0.1% | 13,550 | pay | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | this area | 3,060 | ||
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | +0.0% | 28,400 | pay | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | -0.1% | 2,580 | pay | |
| Huntsville, AL | -6.9% | 3,010 | jobs | |
| Provo-Orem, UT | -11.0% | 3,020 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About $109,794 a year at the median, or $9,149 a month: $85,090 in pay plus about $24,704 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $85,090 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $60,620, the 90th $152,900, and the middle half earned $70,700 to $115,740.
Is Durham-Chapel Hill cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for accountants?
No, it costs more: a median of $85,090 against $82,050 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Charlotte-Concord at $92,910, the next down Raleigh-Cary at $81,950.
How many accountants work in Durham-Chapel Hill?
BLS counts about 3,060 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the North Carolina total of 49,270. 3 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Greensboro-High Point, with about 3,300.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes: $3,990 a year more at the median. The medians are $85,090 and $81,100.
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.