Accountant salary in State College, PA
Hiring an accountant costs less in State College than in Pennsylvania or the country as a whole. The median is $73,040 a year1: 7.5% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $79,000 and 12.7% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #382 of 521. BLS counts about 460 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area State College, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in State College against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | $49,820 | $73,040 | $103,650 | |
| Pennsylvania | $50,680 | $79,000 | $130,270 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in State College earns $58,900–$87,060. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $103,650, only 2.1 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $28,160 wide, against $37,660 across Pennsylvania and $42,790 nationally: employers in State College 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 | $49,820 | $4,152 | $23.95 | $64,284 |
| 25th percentile | $58,900 | $4,908 | $28.32 | $76,000 |
| Median | $73,040 | $6,087 | $35.12 | $94,245 |
| 75th percentile | $87,060 | $7,255 | $41.86 | $112,335 |
| 90th percentile | $103,650 | $8,638 | $49.83 | $133,742 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $14,020 a year in pay and about $18,090 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $14,140 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.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in State College, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $79,000 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in State College
At the $73,040 median, a local hire costs about $94,245 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $21,205 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 State College
Of the 15 roles we track in State College, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($81,820); recruiters come next at $64,220.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +12.0% | 470 | |
| Accountant | this role | 460 | |
| Recruiter | -12.1% | 260 | |
| Executive Assistant | -15.6% | 170 | |
| Office Manager | -16.3% | 510 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #9 of the 15 roles we track in State College (-12.7%), between office managers (-12.1%) and payroll specialists (-13.2%). The typical role here is at -12.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 7.8% of the jobs in these 15 roles in State College, 9.6% across Pennsylvania and 9.3% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
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. Of the 14 areas in Pennsylvania with more accountants than State College, 7 pay less, the largest of them Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA ($70,480), the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area ($67,390) and the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area ($65,850).
| Area | Median | vs State College | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA | +3.4% | 1,230 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | +2.9% | 1,400 | |
| Lebanon, PA | +1.6% | 330 | |
| State College, PA | this area | 460 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | -1.3% | 230 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -2.6% | 850 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | -3.5% | 370 |
State College against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, State College is #375 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Columbia and Baton Rouge pay just above State College and Springfield and Lima just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in State College. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs State College | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC | +6.3% | 470 | jobs | |
| Baton Rouge, LA | +0.0% | 3,410 | pay | |
| Columbia, MO | +0.0% | 930 | pay | |
| State College, PA | this area | 460 | ||
| Springfield, MO | -0.0% | 2,070 | pay | |
| Lima, OH | -0.1% | 300 | pay | |
| Florence, SC | -1.4% | 470 | jobs | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -7.4% | 460 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in State College, PA?
About $94,245 a year at the median, or $7,854 a month: $73,040 in pay plus about $21,205 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in State College?
The median was $73,040 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,820, the 90th $103,650, and the middle half earned $58,900 to $87,060.
Is State College cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $73,040 against $79,000 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Lebanon at $74,190, the next down Gettysburg at $72,080.
How many accountants work in State College?
BLS counts about 460 in the May 2025 survey. 14 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Altoona, with about 490.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in State College?
Yes: $8,820 a year more at the median. The medians are $73,040 and $64,220.
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.