Accountant salary in Jackson, MI
Jackson pays accountants more than Michigan as a whole but less than the country. The median is $81,470 a year1: 3.4% above the Michigan statewide median of $78,820 and 2.6% below the US median of $83,680. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#101 of 521). BLS counts about 500 people in this job here, 1% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Jackson, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Jackson against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MI | $53,370 | $81,470 | $127,970 | |
| Michigan | $52,620 | $78,820 | $131,080 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Jackson earns $63,040–$102,490. The top tenth earns $127,970 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $39,450 wide, between the figure for Michigan ($37,180) 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 | $53,370 | $4,448 | $25.66 | $68,865 |
| 25th percentile | $63,040 | $5,253 | $30.31 | $81,342 |
| Median | $81,470 | $6,789 | $39.17 | $105,123 |
| 75th percentile | $102,490 | $8,541 | $49.27 | $132,245 |
| 90th percentile | $127,970 | $10,664 | $61.52 | $165,123 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $21,020 a year in pay and about $27,123 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $18,430 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.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Jackson, and the Michigan statewide median of $78,820 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Jackson
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 $23,653 to the $81,470 median and brings it to $105,123 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 Jackson
Of the 15 roles we track in Jackson, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($100,280); executive assistants come next at $71,890.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +23.1% | 210 | |
| Accountant | this role | 500 | |
| Executive Assistant | -11.8% | 130 | |
| Recruiter | -15.0% | 270 | |
| Office Manager | -19.5% | 410 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #4 of the 15 roles we track in Jackson (-2.6%), between project coordinators (-2.0%) and bookkeepers (-3.9%). The typical role here is at -5.7%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in Jackson than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 10.7% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Jackson, 10.3% across Michigan and 9.2% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
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. All 12 areas in Michigan with more accountants than Jackson pay less, among them Detroit-Warren, MI ($80,650) and Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ($76,270).
| Area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, MI | +12.7% | 450 | |
| Jackson, MI | this area | 500 | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | -1.0% | 19,390 | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | -1.8% | 1,580 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -2.8% | 2,270 | |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | -5.3% | 1,060 | |
| Saginaw, MI | -6.3% | 790 |
Jackson against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Jackson is #353 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Michigan, Charlottesville and Columbus pay just above Jackson and Tulsa and Medford just below. All four are within $260 a year of the median in Jackson. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | +0.3% | 11,410 | pay | |
| Charlottesville, VA | +0.1% | 1,100 | pay | |
| Jackson, MI | this area | 500 | ||
| Tulsa, OK | -0.2% | 5,110 | pay | |
| Medford, OR | -0.3% | 600 | pay | |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -4.5% | 500 | jobs | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | -5.4% | 500 | jobs | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | -10.7% | 510 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Jackson, MI?
About $105,123 a year at the median, or $8,760 a month: $81,470 in pay plus about $23,653 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Jackson?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $81,470 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $53,370, the 90th $127,970, and the middle half earned $63,040 to $102,490.
Is Jackson cheaper than the rest of Michigan for accountants?
No, it costs more: a median of $81,470 against $78,820 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Midland at $91,790, the next down Detroit-Warren at $80,650.
How many accountants work in Jackson?
BLS counts about 500 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Michigan total of 41,460. 12 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Traverse City, with about 610.
Does an accountant cost more than an executive assistant in Jackson?
Yes: $9,580 a year more at the median. The medians are $81,470 and $71,890.
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.