Accountant salary and cost of hiring in Pennsylvania
The median accountant in Pennsylvania earned $79,000 a year in May 2025[1], 5.6% below the US median of $83,680. That puts Pennsylvania at #29 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $50,680 | $79,000 | $130,270 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Pennsylvania earns $62,330–$99,990; the top tenth earns $130,270 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Pennsylvania median that makes about $112,857 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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].
Pay by metro area in Pennsylvania
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $110,420 | 29,370 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $100,110 | 2,500 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $97,760 | 10,430 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $95,080 | 3,210 | |
| Lancaster, PA | $93,920 | 1,990 | |
| Reading, PA | $96,780 | 1,230 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | $97,600 | 1,400 | |
| Lebanon, PA | $95,420 | 330 | |
| State College, PA | $87,060 | 460 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | $90,550 | 230 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $91,970 | 850 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | $90,810 | 370 | |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $88,460 | 1,640 | |
| Erie, PA | $89,180 | 970 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $88,040 | 690 | |
| Williamsport, PA | $88,570 | 340 | |
| Johnstown, PA | $86,930 | 380 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $88,030 | 1,030 | |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $84,580 | 1,020 | |
| Altoona, PA | $82,680 | 490 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD pays the most ($85,990) and Altoona, PA the least ($65,690): $20,300 a year apart for the same job.
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | +0.3% | |
| Kansas | +0.0% | |
| Pennsylvania | +0.0% | |
| Vermont | -0.1% | |
| South Dakota | -0.2% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in Pennsylvania?
The median was $79,000 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $62,330 to $99,990.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in Pennsylvania?
About $112,857 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Pennsylvania do accountants earn the most?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with a median of $85,990 a year.
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. Data checked 2026-10-16.