Cost of hiring an accountant in New York-Newark, NY-NJ
Accountants earn more in New York-Newark than anywhere else in New York. Expect a median of $105,650 a year[1], 2.9% above the New York statewide median of $102,640 and 26.3% above the US median of $83,680. Nationally that is #3 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. With about 111,930 accountants, no area in New York employs more.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in New York-Newark against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | $71,850 | $105,650 | $174,750 | |
| New York | $63,700 | $102,640 | $171,030 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in New York-Newark earns $82,830–$137,490. The top tenth earns $174,750 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. The mean ($119,280) is 13% 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 | $71,850 | $5,988 | $34.54 | $102,643 |
| 25th percentile | $82,830 | $6,902 | $39.82 | $118,329 |
| Median | $105,650 | $8,804 | $50.79 | $150,929 |
| 75th percentile | $137,490 | $11,458 | $66.10 | $196,414 |
| 90th percentile | $174,750 | $14,562 | $84.01 | $249,643 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $31,840 a year in pay and about $45,486 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $22,820 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 New York-Newark
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $45,279 to the $105,650 median and brings it to $150,929 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 New York-Newark
Of the 17 roles we track in New York-Newark, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $126,660 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $44,690.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +19.9% | 68,910 | |
| Accountant | this role | 111,930 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -4.9% | 79,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -11.3% | 91,680 | |
| Recruiter | -15.0% | 52,370 | |
| Executive Assistant | -20.6% | 76,950 | |
| Office Manager | -23.6% | 95,180 | |
| Paralegal | -28.7% | 33,850 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -39.9% | 7,770 | |
| Bookkeeper | -42.6% | 77,010 | |
| HR Assistant | -46.2% | 7,640 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -51.3% | 122,680 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -53.1% | 125,570 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -53.4% | 52,640 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -54.7% | 4,120 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -57.1% | 10,110 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -57.7% | 74,190 |
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $76,510 in the Capital/Northern New York nonmetro area to $105,650 in New York-Newark, a gap of $29,140 a year.
| Area | Median | vs New York-Newark | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | this area | 111,930 | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | -15.9% | 1,860 | |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | -19.9% | 4,680 | |
| Ithaca, NY | -20.7% | 370 | |
| Binghamton, NY | -21.9% | 670 | |
| Syracuse, NY | -22.2% | 2,710 | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | -22.3% | 4,870 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in New York-Newark, NY-NJ?
About $150,929 a year at the median, or $12,577 a month: $105,650 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 do accountants earn in New York-Newark?
The median was $105,650 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $71,850, the 90th $174,750, and the middle half earned $82,830 to $137,490.
Is New York-Newark the most expensive area in New York for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $105,650 is the highest of 16 areas in New York. Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie comes next at $88,900.
How many accountants work in New York-Newark?
BLS counts about 111,930 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in New York-Newark?
Yes: $5,130 a year more at the median. The medians are $105,650 and $100,520.
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 2026-11-05.