Accountant salary in Rocky Mount, NC
Rocky Mount is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $76,960 a year1 is 6.2% below the North Carolina statewide median of $82,050, and 8.0% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #243 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 360 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Rocky Mount, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Rocky Mount against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount, NC | $51,270 | $76,960 | $124,280 | |
| North Carolina | $53,610 | $82,050 | $146,100 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $124,280, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Rocky Mount earns $61,500–$98,370. The mean ($84,020) is 9% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $36,870 wide, against $42,970 across North Carolina and $42,790 nationally: employers in Rocky Mount 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 | $51,270 | $4,272 | $24.65 | $66,155 |
| 25th percentile | $61,500 | $5,125 | $29.57 | $79,355 |
| Median | $76,960 | $6,413 | $37.00 | $99,303 |
| 75th percentile | $98,370 | $8,198 | $47.29 | $126,929 |
| 90th percentile | $124,280 | $10,357 | $59.75 | $160,361 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,460 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $21,410, or about $27,626 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 Rocky Mount, and the North Carolina statewide median of $82,050 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Rocky Mount
At the $76,960 median, a local hire costs about $99,303 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,343 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 Rocky Mount
Of the 17 roles we track in Rocky Mount, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($91,010); executive assistants come next at $70,020.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +18.3% | 290 | |
| Accountant | this role | 360 | |
| Executive Assistant | -9.0% | 50 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -10.7% | 160 | |
| Recruiter | -19.9% | 270 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in Rocky Mount (-8.0%), between HR assistants (-1.7%) and executive assistants (-8.6%). The typical role here is at -12.7%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in Rocky Mount than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 8.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Rocky Mount, 9.4% across North Carolina and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $73,740 in Jacksonville to $92,910 in Charlotte-Concord, a gap of $19,170 a year. Of the 15 areas in North Carolina with more accountants than Rocky Mount, 5 pay less, the largest of them the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area ($75,790), the Western North Carolina nonmetro area ($74,770) and the Central North Carolina nonmetro area ($75,120).
| Area | Median | vs Rocky Mount | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | +2.1% | 800 | |
| Wilmington, NC | +1.2% | 1,520 | |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | +0.7% | 1,040 | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | this area | 360 | |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | -1.5% | 1,770 | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | -1.6% | 370 | |
| Greenville, NC | -2.4% | 550 |
Rocky Mount against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Rocky Mount is #429 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside North Carolina, Memphis and Omaha pay just above Rocky Mount and Pittsburgh and Bismarck just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Rocky Mount. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Rocky Mount | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | +18.6% | 360 | jobs | |
| Merced, CA | +4.5% | 360 | jobs | |
| Omaha, NE-IA | +0.1% | 5,170 | pay | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | +0.0% | 4,390 | pay | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | this area | 360 | ||
| Pittsburgh, PA | -0.0% | 10,430 | pay | |
| Bismarck, ND | -0.1% | 780 | pay | |
| San Angelo, TX | -6.5% | 360 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Rocky Mount, NC?
About $99,303 a year at the median, or $8,275 a month: $76,960 in pay plus about $22,343 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Rocky Mount?
The median was $76,960 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,270, the 90th $124,280, and the middle half earned $61,500 to $98,370.
Is Rocky Mount cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,960 against $82,050 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Hickory-Lenoir at $77,490, the next down the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area at $75,790.
How many accountants work in Rocky Mount?
BLS counts about 360 in the May 2025 survey. 16 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Jacksonville, with about 360.
Does an accountant cost more than an executive assistant in Rocky Mount?
Yes: $6,940 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,960 and $70,020.
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.