Cost of hiring an accountant in Houston-Pasadena, TX
Budget above the national rate here. The median accountant in Houston-Pasadena earned $85,090 a year in May 2025[1], 5.2% above the Texas statewide median of $80,920 and 1.7% above the US median of $83,680. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#60 of 521). About 28,400 accountants work here, 24% of the Texas total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Houston-Pasadena against Texas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | $58,780 | $85,090 | $144,190 | |
| Texas | $53,380 | $80,920 | $132,040 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $144,190, 2.5 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Houston-Pasadena earns $72,470–$109,670. The mean ($95,640) is 12% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58,780 | $4,898 | $28.26 | $83,971 |
| 25th percentile | $72,470 | $6,039 | $34.84 | $103,529 |
| Median | $85,090 | $7,091 | $40.91 | $121,557 |
| 75th percentile | $109,670 | $9,139 | $52.73 | $156,671 |
| 90th percentile | $144,190 | $12,016 | $69.32 | $205,986 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $24,580 a year in pay and about $35,114 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $12,620 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Houston-Pasadena
At the $85,090 median, a local hire costs about $121,557 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $36,467 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Houston-Pasadena
Of the 17 roles we track in Houston-Pasadena, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,510 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $35,350.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +16.9% | 35,550 | |
| Accountant | this role | 28,400 | |
| Executive Assistant | -12.0% | 7,390 | |
| Recruiter | -14.7% | 18,320 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -20.8% | 14,480 | |
| Office Manager | -22.4% | 36,940 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -25.9% | 28,720 | |
| Paralegal | -26.3% | 7,320 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -36.4% | 3,260 | |
| Bookkeeper | -41.9% | 26,090 | |
| HR Assistant | -42.5% | 1,140 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -45.1% | 33,710 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -46.4% | 1,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -48.0% | 20,220 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -52.5% | 65,510 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -53.6% | 4,430 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -58.5% | 17,140 |
Other areas in Texas
Across the 32 areas of Texas with data for this job, the median runs from $63,410 in Laredo to $100,890 in Midland, a gap of $37,480 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Houston-Pasadena | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | +18.6% | 1,240 | |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | this area | 28,400 | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | -2.3% | 12,480 | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | -2.9% | 37,450 | |
| Northwestern Region of Texas (Nonmetro) | -5.3% | 1,030 | |
| Odessa, TX | -5.7% | 550 | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -7.6% | 8,360 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Houston-Pasadena, TX?
About $121,557 a year at the median, or $10,130 a month: $85,090 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Houston-Pasadena?
The median was $85,090 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $58,780, the 90th $144,190, and the middle half earned $72,470 to $109,670.
Is Houston-Pasadena cheaper than the rest of Texas for accountants?
No, it costs more: a median of $85,090 against $80,920 statewide. Midland pays the most ($100,890) and Laredo the least ($63,410).
How many accountants work in Houston-Pasadena?
BLS counts about 28,400 in the May 2025 survey. That is 24% of the Texas total of 116,470.
Does an accountant cost more than an executive assistant in Houston-Pasadena?
Yes: $10,240 a year more at the median. The medians are $85,090 and $74,850.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.