Cost of hiring an accountant in Seattle-Tacoma, WA
No other area in Washington pays accountants more than Seattle-Tacoma: the median is $99,370 a year[1]. That is 2.9% above the Washington statewide median of $96,550, and 18.8% above the US median of $83,680. Nationally that is #13 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in Washington: about 22,100 people, 64% of the Washington total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Seattle-Tacoma against Washington and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | $73,250 | $99,370 | $160,640 | |
| Washington | $66,330 | $96,550 | $152,310 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Seattle-Tacoma earns $80,880–$126,800. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $160,640, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $73,250 | $6,104 | $35.22 | $104,643 |
| 25th percentile | $80,880 | $6,740 | $38.88 | $115,543 |
| Median | $99,370 | $8,281 | $47.77 | $141,957 |
| 75th percentile | $126,800 | $10,567 | $60.96 | $181,143 |
| 90th percentile | $160,640 | $13,387 | $77.23 | $229,486 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $18,490 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $27,430, or about $39,186 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.
What a hire really costs in Seattle-Tacoma
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $42,587 to the $99,370 median and brings it to $141,957 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Seattle-Tacoma
Of the 17 roles we track in Seattle-Tacoma, this one ranks #3 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $130,380 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $45,820.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +31.2% | 26,910 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +2.8% | 18,030 | |
| Accountant | this role | 22,100 | |
| Paralegal | -6.5% | 6,310 | |
| Recruiter | -6.6% | 14,120 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -16.9% | 12,450 | |
| Office Manager | -17.8% | 18,020 | |
| Executive Assistant | -18.6% | 7,370 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -32.9% | 1,980 | |
| Bookkeeper | -39.2% | 17,860 | |
| HR Assistant | -39.2% | 1,480 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -39.3% | 6,420 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -39.4% | 15,780 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -46.1% | 25,840 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -50.3% | n/a | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -52.7% | 760 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -53.9% | 14,260 |
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.
| Area | Median | vs Seattle-Tacoma | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | this area | 22,100 | |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | -4.9% | 1,330 | |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | -6.1% | 1,020 | |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | -6.3% | 250 | |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | -6.5% | 400 | |
| Western Washington (Nonmetro) | -7.8% | 1,140 | |
| Walla Walla, WA | -9.8% | 170 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Seattle-Tacoma, WA?
About $141,957 a year at the median, or $11,830 a month: $99,370 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 is the pay range for accountants in Seattle-Tacoma?
The median was $99,370 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $73,250, the 90th $160,640, and the middle half earned $80,880 to $126,800.
Is Seattle-Tacoma the most expensive area in Washington for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $99,370 is the highest of 13 areas in Washington. Olympia-Lacey comes next at $94,470.
How many accountants work in Seattle-Tacoma?
BLS counts about 22,100 in the May 2025 survey. That is 64% of the Washington total of 34,740.
Does an accountant cost more than a paralegal in Seattle-Tacoma?
Yes: $6,470 a year more at the median. The medians are $99,370 and $92,900.
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.