Cost of hiring an accountant in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI
Minneapolis-St. Paul is the most expensive place in Minnesota to hire an accountant. The median is $86,500 a year[1], 6.0% above the Minnesota statewide median of $81,600 and 3.4% above the US median of $83,680. Only 49 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. With about 21,820 accountants, no area in Minnesota employs more.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Minneapolis-St. Paul against Minnesota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | $61,940 | $86,500 | $145,710 | |
| Minnesota | $58,280 | $81,600 | $138,960 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $145,710, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Minneapolis-St. Paul earns $73,900–$110,290. The mean ($96,710) 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 | $61,940 | $5,162 | $29.78 | $88,486 |
| 25th percentile | $73,900 | $6,158 | $35.53 | $105,571 |
| Median | $86,500 | $7,208 | $41.59 | $123,571 |
| 75th percentile | $110,290 | $9,191 | $53.02 | $157,557 |
| 90th percentile | $145,710 | $12,142 | $70.05 | $208,157 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $12,600 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $23,790, or about $33,986 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.
What a hire really costs in Minneapolis-St. Paul
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $37,071 to the $86,500 median and brings it to $123,571 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Minneapolis-St. Paul
Of the 17 roles we track in Minneapolis-St. Paul, this one ranks #3 by median pay. Marketing Specialist is the highest at $97,910 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,000.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +13.2% | 16,760 | |
| Project Coordinator | +13.1% | 15,450 | |
| Accountant | this role | 21,820 | |
| Recruiter | -7.1% | 12,660 | |
| Executive Assistant | -7.5% | 6,150 | |
| Office Manager | -9.4% | 14,480 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -10.8% | 14,070 | |
| Paralegal | -11.9% | 5,990 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -27.1% | 1,920 | |
| Bookkeeper | -33.2% | 16,510 | |
| HR Assistant | -34.5% | 2,350 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -37.5% | 19,180 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -40.0% | 8,920 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -42.7% | 620 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -42.8% | 38,630 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -46.5% | 920 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -56.1% | 8,780 |
Other areas in Minnesota
Across the 9 areas of Minnesota with data for this job, the median runs from $73,830 in the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area to $86,500 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, a gap of $12,670 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Minneapolis-St. Paul | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | this area | 21,820 | |
| Rochester, MN | -2.9% | 760 | |
| Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -9.3% | 990 | |
| St. Cloud, MN | -10.2% | 800 | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | -10.5% | 940 | |
| Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -10.7% | 260 | |
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | -11.2% | 930 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI?
About $123,571 a year at the median, or $10,298 a month: $86,500 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul?
The median was $86,500 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $61,940, the 90th $145,710, and the middle half earned $73,900 to $110,290.
Is Minneapolis-St. Paul the most expensive area in Minnesota for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $86,500 is the highest of 9 areas in Minnesota. Rochester comes next at $83,960.
How many accountants work in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
BLS counts about 21,820 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Minneapolis-St. Paul?
Yes: $6,170 a year more at the median. The medians are $86,500 and $80,330.
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.