Cost of hiring an accountant in Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL
Tampa-St. Petersburg pays accountants close to the Florida norm. The median is $78,990 a year[1], about level with the Florida statewide median of $79,250 and 5.6% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #163 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 14,770 people in this job here, 16% of the Florida total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Tampa-St. Petersburg against Florida and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | $50,300 | $78,990 | $132,430 | |
| Florida | $50,280 | $79,250 | $131,930 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Tampa-St. Petersburg earns $62,570–$102,490. The top tenth earns $132,430 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. The mean ($88,300) 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 | $50,300 | $4,192 | $24.18 | $71,857 |
| 25th percentile | $62,570 | $5,214 | $30.08 | $89,386 |
| Median | $78,990 | $6,582 | $37.98 | $112,843 |
| 75th percentile | $102,490 | $8,541 | $49.27 | $146,414 |
| 90th percentile | $132,430 | $11,036 | $63.67 | $189,186 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $16,420 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $23,500, or about $33,571 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $33,853 to the $78,990 median and brings it to $112,843 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg
Of the 16 roles we track in Tampa-St. Petersburg, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $97,780 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $36,640.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +23.8% | 11,660 | |
| Accountant | this role | 14,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -4.8% | 8,420 | |
| Recruiter | -17.0% | 10,410 | |
| Executive Assistant | -18.1% | 3,140 | |
| Office Manager | -19.4% | 14,050 | |
| Paralegal | -23.9% | 6,630 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -24.5% | 16,050 | |
| HR Assistant | -33.6% | 530 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -36.1% | 2,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | -36.6% | 12,750 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -37.7% | 650 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -44.6% | 16,350 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -46.0% | 34,150 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -51.2% | 1,460 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -53.6% | 10,290 |
Other areas in Florida
Across the 24 areas of Florida with data for this job, the median runs from $61,840 in Tallahassee to $84,570 in Naples-Marco Island, a gap of $22,730 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Tampa-St. Petersburg | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, FL | +0.7% | 840 | |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | +0.6% | 1,170 | |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | +0.5% | 2,440 | |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | this area | 14,770 | |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL | -0.5% | 10,410 | |
| South Florida (Nonmetro) | -1.0% | 530 | |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | -1.1% | 390 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL?
About $112,843 a year at the median, or $9,404 a month: $78,990 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 is the pay range for accountants in Tampa-St. Petersburg?
The median was $78,990 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,300, the 90th $132,430, and the middle half earned $62,570 to $102,490.
Is Tampa-St. Petersburg cheaper than the rest of Florida for accountants?
About the same: a median of $78,990 against $79,250 statewide. Naples-Marco Island pays the most ($84,570) and Tallahassee the least ($61,840).
How many accountants work in Tampa-St. Petersburg?
BLS counts about 14,770 in the May 2025 survey. That is 16% of the Florida total of 91,000.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Tampa-St. Petersburg?
Yes: $3,780 a year more at the median. The medians are $78,990 and $75,210.
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.