Accountant salary in Topeka, KS
Topeka is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $76,280 a year1 is 3.4% below the Kansas statewide median of $79,000, and 8.8% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #281 of 521. About 1,420 accountants work here, 10% of the Kansas total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Topeka, KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Topeka against Kansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | $51,540 | $76,280 | $118,080 | |
| Kansas | $52,960 | $79,000 | $129,800 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Topeka earns $62,720–$94,550. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $118,080, only 2.3 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 $31,830 wide, against $37,690 across Kansas and $42,790 nationally: employers in Topeka 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 | $51,540 | $4,295 | $24.78 | $66,503 |
| 25th percentile | $62,720 | $5,227 | $30.15 | $80,929 |
| Median | $76,280 | $6,357 | $36.67 | $98,426 |
| 75th percentile | $94,550 | $7,879 | $45.46 | $122,000 |
| 90th percentile | $118,080 | $9,840 | $56.77 | $152,361 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $18,270 a year in pay and about $23,574 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $13,560 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 Topeka, and the Kansas statewide median of $79,000 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Topeka
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,146 to the $76,280 median and brings it to $98,426 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Topeka
Of the 17 roles we track in Topeka, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between recruiters ($76,690) and marketing specialists ($65,340). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,000.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +31.1% | 520 | |
| Recruiter | +0.5% | 720 | |
| Accountant | this role | 1,420 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -14.3% | 620 | |
| Executive Assistant | -17.0% | 340 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Topeka (-8.8%), between virtual receptionists (-5.9%) and sales development representatives (-9.6%). The typical role here is at -8.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 10.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Topeka, 8.6% across Kansas and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Kansas
Across the 5 areas of Kansas with data for this job, the median runs from $65,900 in Manhattan to $79,270 in Wichita, a gap of $13,370 a year. Of the 2 areas in Kansas with more accountants than Topeka, 1 pays less: the Kansas nonmetro area ($74,560).
| Area | Median | vs Topeka | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | +3.9% | 3,120 | |
| Lawrence, KS | +3.6% | 400 | |
| Topeka, KS | this area | 1,420 | |
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | -2.3% | 2,740 | |
| Manhattan, KS | -13.6% | 470 |
Topeka against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Topeka is #137 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Kansas, El Centro and Yuma pay just above Topeka and Grand Rapids-Wyoming and Amarillo just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Topeka. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Topeka | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | +10.9% | 1,430 | jobs | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +9.6% | 1,420 | jobs | |
| Yuma, AZ | +0.0% | 390 | pay | |
| El Centro, CA | +0.0% | 300 | pay | |
| Topeka, KS | this area | 1,420 | ||
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -0.0% | 5,670 | pay | |
| Amarillo, TX | -0.1% | 1,070 | pay | |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -15.5% | 1,430 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Topeka, KS?
About $98,426 a year at the median, or $8,202 a month: $76,280 in pay plus about $22,146 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Topeka?
The median was $76,280 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,540, the 90th $118,080, and the middle half earned $62,720 to $94,550.
Is Topeka cheaper than the rest of Kansas for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,280 against $79,000 statewide. The next area up in Kansas is Lawrence at $79,050, the next down the Kansas nonmetro area at $74,560.
How many accountants work in Topeka?
BLS counts about 1,420 in the May 2025 survey. That is 10% of the Kansas total of 13,610. Only Wichita and the Kansas nonmetro area have more in Kansas.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Topeka?
Yes: $10,940 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,280 and $65,340.
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.