Accountant salary in Lima, OH
Lima is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $72,980 a year1 is 8.0% below the Ohio statewide median of $79,320, and 12.8% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #385 of 521 areas. About 300 accountants work here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Lima, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Lima against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima, OH | $48,710 | $72,980 | $120,690 | |
| Ohio | $52,140 | $79,320 | $131,400 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Lima earns $58,720–$86,340. The top tenth earns $120,690 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $27,620 wide, against $39,210 across Ohio and $42,790 nationally: employers in Lima 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 | $48,710 | $4,059 | $23.42 | $62,852 |
| 25th percentile | $58,720 | $4,893 | $28.23 | $75,768 |
| Median | $72,980 | $6,082 | $35.09 | $94,168 |
| 75th percentile | $86,340 | $7,195 | $41.51 | $111,406 |
| 90th percentile | $120,690 | $10,058 | $58.02 | $155,729 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $14,260 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $13,360, or about $17,239 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 Lima, and the Ohio statewide median of $79,320 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Lima
At the $72,980 median, a local hire costs about $94,168 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $21,188 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 Lima
Of the 16 roles we track in Lima, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($81,670); recruiters come next at $63,510.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +11.9% | 150 | |
| Accountant | this role | 300 | |
| Recruiter | -13.0% | 230 | |
| Executive Assistant | -15.0% | 80 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -15.6% | 130 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #9 of the 16 roles we track in Lima (-12.8%), between office managers (-12.4%) and medical administrative assistants (-14.9%). The typical role here is at -12.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 7.9% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Lima, 9.9% across Ohio and 9.2% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 16 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $67,280 in Mansfield to $81,700 in Columbus, a gap of $14,420 a year. Of the 12 areas in Ohio with more accountants than Lima, 3 pay less: the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area ($71,130), Canton-Massillon, OH ($72,170) and the Southern Ohio nonmetro area ($69,040).
| Area | Median | vs Lima | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | +4.7% | 960 | |
| Sandusky, OH | +1.9% | 260 | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | +0.1% | 1,150 | |
| Lima, OH | this area | 300 | |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | -1.1% | 1,100 | |
| Springfield, OH | -2.1% | 270 | |
| North Northeastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -2.5% | 1,630 |
Lima against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Lima is #462 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Ohio, Springfield and State College pay just above Lima and Missoula and Tyler just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Lima. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Lima | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | +4.5% | 300 | jobs | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | +3.4% | 300 | jobs | |
| State College, PA | +0.1% | 460 | pay | |
| Springfield, MO | +0.1% | 2,070 | pay | |
| Lima, OH | this area | 300 | ||
| Missoula, MT | -0.1% | 600 | pay | |
| Tyler, TX | -0.1% | 800 | pay | |
| Grand Island, NE | -6.7% | 300 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Lima, OH?
About $94,168 a year at the median, or $7,847 a month: $72,980 in pay plus about $21,188 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Lima?
The median was $72,980 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,710, the 90th $120,690, and the middle half earned $58,720 to $86,340.
Is Lima cheaper than the rest of Ohio for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $72,980 against $79,320 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is Youngstown-Warren at $73,080, the next down Canton-Massillon at $72,170.
How many accountants work in Lima?
BLS counts about 300 in the May 2025 survey. 12 areas in Ohio have more; the closest in size is the Southern Ohio nonmetro area, with about 960.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Lima?
Yes: $9,470 a year more at the median. The medians are $72,980 and $63,510.
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.