Cost of hiring an accountant in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ
No other area in Pennsylvania pays accountants more than Philadelphia-Camden: the median is $85,990 a year[1]. That is 8.8% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $79,000, and 2.8% above the US median of $83,680. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#54 of 521). It is the largest market for the job in Pennsylvania: about 29,370 people.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Philadelphia-Camden against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | $59,560 | $85,990 | $139,420 | |
| Pennsylvania | $50,680 | $79,000 | $130,270 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Philadelphia-Camden earns $73,370–$110,420. The top tenth earns $139,420 or more, 2.3 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. The mean ($96,100) 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 | $59,560 | $4,963 | $28.63 | $85,086 |
| 25th percentile | $73,370 | $6,114 | $35.27 | $104,814 |
| Median | $85,990 | $7,166 | $41.34 | $122,843 |
| 75th percentile | $110,420 | $9,202 | $53.09 | $157,743 |
| 90th percentile | $139,420 | $11,618 | $67.03 | $199,171 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $24,430 a year in pay and about $34,900 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $12,620 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 Philadelphia-Camden
At the $85,990 median, a local hire costs about $122,843 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $36,853 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Philadelphia-Camden
Of the 17 roles we track in Philadelphia-Camden, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,160 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,030.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +21.1% | 17,210 | |
| Accountant | this role | 29,370 | |
| Executive Assistant | -7.6% | 7,150 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -7.6% | 17,600 | |
| Recruiter | -10.8% | 16,000 | |
| Office Manager | -15.5% | 28,900 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -17.4% | 19,260 | |
| Paralegal | -18.1% | 11,150 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -31.6% | 2,410 | |
| Bookkeeper | -38.7% | 22,660 | |
| HR Assistant | -40.9% | 1,630 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -43.2% | 32,850 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -43.8% | 1,220 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -45.2% | 15,550 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -45.3% | 41,740 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -52.0% | 2,340 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -55.8% | 22,210 |
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $65,690 in Altoona to $85,990 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $20,300 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Philadelphia-Camden | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | this area | 29,370 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -8.8% | 2,500 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -10.5% | 10,430 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -11.0% | 3,210 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -11.5% | 1,990 | |
| Reading, PA | -12.1% | 1,230 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -12.6% | 1,400 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ?
About $122,843 a year at the median, or $10,237 a month: $85,990 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 Philadelphia-Camden?
The median was $85,990 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $59,560, the 90th $139,420, and the middle half earned $73,370 to $110,420.
Is Philadelphia-Camden the most expensive area in Pennsylvania for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $85,990 is the highest of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. Allentown-Bethlehem comes next at $78,430.
How many accountants work in Philadelphia-Camden?
BLS counts about 29,370 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an accountant cost more than an executive assistant in Philadelphia-Camden?
Yes: $6,500 a year more at the median. The medians are $85,990 and $79,490.
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.