Accountant salary in Eau Claire, WI
Hiring an accountant costs less in Eau Claire than in Wisconsin or the country as a whole. The median is $76,380 a year1: 3.8% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $79,400 and 8.7% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #272 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 670 people in this job here, 3% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Eau Claire, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Eau Claire against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WI | $56,210 | $76,380 | $123,300 | |
| Wisconsin | $58,340 | $79,400 | $127,800 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Eau Claire earns $62,650–$95,830. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $123,300, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($83,400) 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 only $33,180 wide, against $35,800 across Wisconsin and $42,790 nationally: employers in Eau Claire 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 | $56,210 | $4,684 | $27.02 | $72,529 |
| 25th percentile | $62,650 | $5,221 | $30.12 | $80,839 |
| Median | $76,380 | $6,365 | $36.72 | $98,555 |
| 75th percentile | $95,830 | $7,986 | $46.07 | $123,652 |
| 90th percentile | $123,300 | $10,275 | $59.28 | $159,097 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $13,730 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $19,450, or about $25,097 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 Eau Claire, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $79,400 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Eau Claire
At the $76,380 median, a local hire costs about $98,555 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,175 here. 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 Eau Claire
Of the 16 roles we track in Eau Claire, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($95,840); executive assistants come next at $68,510.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +25.5% | 460 | |
| Accountant | this role | 670 | |
| Executive Assistant | -10.3% | 100 | |
| Office Manager | -11.0% | 610 | |
| Recruiter | -15.0% | 390 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #11 of the 16 roles we track in Eau Claire (-8.7%), between project coordinators (-6.3%) and executive assistants (-10.5%). The typical role here is at -3.2%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in Eau Claire than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 8.7% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Eau Claire, 9.0% across Wisconsin and 9.2% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $74,210 in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area to $81,130 in Madison, a gap of $6,920 a year. Of the 8 areas in Wisconsin with more accountants than Eau Claire, 1 pays less: the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area ($75,590).
| Area | Median | vs Eau Claire | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +1.3% | 1,310 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | +0.9% | 500 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | +0.6% | 330 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +0.4% | 630 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | this area | 670 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -1.0% | 1,210 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -2.8% | 280 |
Eau Claire against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Eau Claire is #289 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Wisconsin, Pensacola-Ferry Pass and Fargo pay just above Eau Claire and Gulfport-Biloxi and Louisville just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Eau Claire. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Eau Claire | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton, NY | +8.0% | 670 | jobs | |
| Lynchburg, VA | +3.4% | 680 | jobs | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | +0.1% | 1,580 | pay | |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL | +0.0% | 1,170 | pay | |
| Eau Claire, WI | this area | 670 | ||
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | +0.0% | 860 | pay | |
| Louisville, KY-IN | -0.1% | 4,590 | pay | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -5.0% | 680 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Eau Claire, WI?
About $98,555 a year at the median, or $8,213 a month: $76,380 in pay plus about $22,175 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Eau Claire?
The median was $76,380 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $56,210, the 90th $123,300, and the middle half earned $62,650 to $95,830.
Is Eau Claire cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,380 against $79,400 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is La Crosse-Onalaska at $76,680, the next down the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area at $75,590.
How many accountants work in Eau Claire?
BLS counts about 670 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Wisconsin total of 25,100. 8 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is the Western Wisconsin nonmetro area, with about 680.
Does an accountant cost more than an executive assistant in Eau Claire?
Yes: $7,870 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,380 and $68,510.
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.