Accountant salary in Roanoke, VA
Roanoke is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $77,240 a year1 is 17.2% below the Virginia statewide median of $93,290, and 7.7% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #231 of 521 areas. About 1,200 accountants work here, 3% of the Virginia total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Roanoke, VA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Roanoke against Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | $51,210 | $77,240 | $124,840 | |
| Virginia | $60,000 | $93,290 | $156,730 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $124,840, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Roanoke earns $61,140–$100,250. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $39,110 wide, against $49,260 across Virginia and $42,790 nationally: employers in Roanoke 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 | $51,210 | $4,268 | $24.62 | $66,077 |
| 25th percentile | $61,140 | $5,095 | $29.39 | $78,890 |
| Median | $77,240 | $6,437 | $37.13 | $99,665 |
| 75th percentile | $100,250 | $8,354 | $48.20 | $129,355 |
| 90th percentile | $124,840 | $10,403 | $60.02 | $161,084 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $16,100 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $23,010, or about $29,690 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 median and the 75th percentile in Roanoke, and the Virginia statewide median of $93,290 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Roanoke
At the $77,240 median, a local hire costs about $99,665 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,425 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Roanoke
Of the 17 roles we track in Roanoke, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($91,170); recruiters come next at $67,450.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +18.0% | 930 | |
| Accountant | this role | 1,200 | |
| Recruiter | -12.7% | 780 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -16.7% | 700 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.7% | 230 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in Roanoke (-7.7%), between administrative assistants (-5.1%) and bookkeepers (-8.4%). The typical role here is at -10.9%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in Roanoke than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 8.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Roanoke, 11.0% across Virginia and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Virginia
Across the 13 areas of Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $74,800 in Blacksburg-Christiansburg to $84,220 in Richmond, a gap of $9,420 a year. All 2 areas in Virginia with more accountants than Roanoke also pay more, among them Richmond, VA ($84,220) and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC ($79,450).
| Area | Median | vs Roanoke | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA-WV | +0.5% | 590 | |
| Southwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | +0.1% | 600 | |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | +0.1% | 320 | |
| Roanoke, VA | this area | 1,200 | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | -0.9% | 450 | |
| Southside Virginia (Nonmetro) | -1.7% | 620 | |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | -3.2% | 490 |
Roanoke against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Roanoke is #156 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Virginia, Oklahoma City and Wildwood-The Villages pay just above Roanoke and Corvallis and Fayetteville-Springdale just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Roanoke. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Roanoke | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | +8.2% | 1,200 | jobs | |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | +0.1% | 180 | pay | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | +0.1% | 6,700 | pay | |
| Roanoke, VA | this area | 1,200 | ||
| Corvallis, OR | -0.1% | 210 | pay | |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | -0.1% | 1,980 | pay | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -0.1% | 1,190 | jobs | |
| Reading, PA | -2.2% | 1,230 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Roanoke, VA?
About $99,665 a year at the median, or $8,305 a month: $77,240 in pay plus about $22,425 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Roanoke?
The median was $77,240 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,210, the 90th $124,840, and the middle half earned $61,140 to $100,250.
Is Roanoke cheaper than the rest of Virginia for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $77,240 against $93,290 statewide. The next area up in Virginia is Staunton-Stuarts Draft at $77,300, the next down Harrisonburg at $76,530.
How many accountants work in Roanoke?
BLS counts about 1,200 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Virginia total of 47,100. Only Richmond and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake have more in Virginia.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Roanoke?
Yes: $9,790 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,240 and $67,450.
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.