Accountant salary in Olympia-Lacey, WA
The median accountant in Olympia-Lacey earned $94,470 a year in May 20251. That is 12.9% above the US median of $83,680, even though it is 2.2% below the Washington statewide median of $96,550. Nationally that is #21 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. About 1,330 accountants work here, 4% of the Washington total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Olympia-Lacey against Washington and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | $66,660 | $94,470 | $127,570 | |
| Washington | $66,330 | $96,550 | $152,310 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Olympia-Lacey earns $77,740–$113,290. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $127,570, only 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $35,550 wide, against $43,300 across Washington and $42,790 nationally: employers in Olympia-Lacey 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 | $66,660 | $5,555 | $32.05 | $86,013 |
| 25th percentile | $77,740 | $6,478 | $37.38 | $100,310 |
| Median | $94,470 | $7,872 | $45.42 | $121,897 |
| 75th percentile | $113,290 | $9,441 | $54.47 | $146,181 |
| 90th percentile | $127,570 | $10,631 | $61.33 | $164,606 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $16,730 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $18,820, or about $24,284 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 25th percentile and the median in Olympia-Lacey, and the Washington statewide median of $96,550 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Olympia-Lacey
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 $27,427 to the $94,470 median and brings it to $121,897 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 Olympia-Lacey
Of the 17 roles we track in Olympia-Lacey, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($103,000); recruiters come next at $86,700.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +9.0% | 810 | |
| Accountant | this role | 1,330 | |
| Recruiter | -8.2% | 1,410 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -15.4% | 620 | |
| Executive Assistant | -15.8% | 720 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Olympia-Lacey (+12.9%), between payroll specialists (+12.9%) and virtual receptionists (+12.9%). The typical role here is at +12.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 9.9% of the jobs in the 16 of these roles with a job count in Olympia-Lacey, 10.2% across Washington and 9.2% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Washington
Across the 13 areas of Washington with data for this job, the median runs from $82,380 in Yakima to $99,370 in Seattle-Tacoma, a gap of $16,990 a year. Of the 2 areas in Washington with more accountants than Olympia-Lacey, 1 pays less: Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($86,350).
| Area | Median | vs Olympia-Lacey | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | +5.2% | 22,100 | |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | this area | 1,330 | |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | -1.3% | 1,020 | |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | -1.4% | 250 | |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | -1.6% | 400 | |
| Western Washington (Nonmetro) | -3.1% | 1,140 | |
| Walla Walla, WA | -5.1% | 170 |
Olympia-Lacey against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Olympia-Lacey is #144 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 Washington, Santa Rosa-Petaluma and New Haven pay just above Olympia-Lacey and Los Angeles-Long Beach and Worcester just below. All four are within $490 a year of the median in Olympia-Lacey. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Olympia-Lacey | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | +0.5% | 2,000 | pay | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | +0.2% | 1,740 | pay | |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | this area | 1,330 | ||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | -0.1% | 70,640 | pay | |
| Worcester, MA | -0.4% | 3,090 | pay | |
| Savannah, GA | -15.5% | 1,360 | jobs | |
| Peoria, IL | -15.8% | 1,350 | jobs | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -18.8% | 1,280 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Olympia-Lacey, WA?
About $121,897 a year at the median, or $10,158 a month: $94,470 in pay plus about $27,427 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Olympia-Lacey?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $94,470 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $66,660, the 90th $127,570, and the middle half earned $77,740 to $113,290.
Is Olympia-Lacey cheaper than the rest of Washington for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $94,470 against $96,550 statewide. The next area up in Washington is Seattle-Tacoma at $99,370, the next down Kennewick-Richland at $93,280.
How many accountants work in Olympia-Lacey?
BLS counts about 1,330 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Washington total of 34,740. Only Seattle-Tacoma and Spokane-Spokane Valley have more in Washington.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Olympia-Lacey?
Yes: $7,770 a year more at the median. The medians are $94,470 and $86,700.
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.