Accountant salary in Tulsa, OK
Tulsa pays accountants more than Oklahoma as a whole but less than the country. The median is $81,320 a year1: 2.5% above the Oklahoma statewide median of $79,370 and 2.8% below the US median of $83,680. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#102 of 521). About 5,110 accountants work here, 31% of the Oklahoma total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Tulsa, OK. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Tulsa against Oklahoma and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | $50,710 | $81,320 | $132,990 | |
| Oklahoma | $47,670 | $79,370 | $155,480 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $132,990, 2.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Tulsa earns $63,920–$104,240. The mean ($90,910) is 12% 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 $40,320 wide, against $44,250 across Oklahoma and $42,790 nationally: employers in Tulsa 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 | $50,710 | $4,226 | $24.38 | $65,432 |
| 25th percentile | $63,920 | $5,327 | $30.73 | $82,477 |
| Median | $81,320 | $6,777 | $39.10 | $104,929 |
| 75th percentile | $104,240 | $8,687 | $50.12 | $134,503 |
| 90th percentile | $132,990 | $11,082 | $63.94 | $171,600 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $17,400 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $22,920, or about $29,574 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 Tulsa, and the Oklahoma statewide median of $79,370 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Tulsa
At the $81,320 median, a local hire costs about $104,929 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $23,609 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 Tulsa
Of the 17 roles we track in Tulsa, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($93,240); recruiters come next at $63,490.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +14.7% | 3,250 | |
| Accountant | this role | 5,110 | |
| Recruiter | -21.9% | 2,560 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -22.4% | 1,860 | |
| Office Manager | -23.3% | 5,410 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #3 of the 17 roles we track in Tulsa (-2.8%), between data entry specialists (-1.5%) and bookkeepers (-4.8%). The typical role here is at -11.6%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in Tulsa than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 10.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Tulsa, 9.6% across Oklahoma and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Oklahoma
Across the 8 areas of Oklahoma with data for this job, the median runs from $64,640 in the Southeast Oklahoma nonmetro area to $83,990 in the Northeast Oklahoma nonmetro area, a gap of $19,350 a year. The one area in Oklahoma with more accountants, Oklahoma City, OK ($77,280), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Tulsa | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | +3.3% | 1,060 | |
| Tulsa, OK | this area | 5,110 | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -5.0% | 6,700 | |
| Southwest Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | -8.8% | 460 | |
| Lawton, OK | -12.1% | 280 | |
| Northwest Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | -12.1% | 670 | |
| Enid, OK | -15.5% | 160 |
Tulsa against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Tulsa is #48 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Oklahoma, Jackson and Charlottesville pay just above Tulsa and Medford and Madison just below. All four are within $210 a year of the median in Tulsa. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Tulsa | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford, CT | +25.5% | 5,000 | jobs | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | +1.0% | 4,870 | jobs | |
| Charlottesville, VA | +0.3% | 1,100 | pay | |
| Jackson, MI | +0.2% | 500 | pay | |
| Tulsa, OK | this area | 5,110 | ||
| Medford, OR | -0.1% | 600 | pay | |
| Madison, WI | -0.2% | 4,440 | pay | |
| Omaha, NE-IA | -5.3% | 5,170 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Tulsa, OK?
About $104,929 a year at the median, or $8,744 a month: $81,320 in pay plus about $23,609 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Tulsa?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $81,320 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,710, the 90th $132,990, and the middle half earned $63,920 to $104,240.
Is Tulsa cheaper than the rest of Oklahoma for accountants?
No, it costs more: a median of $81,320 against $79,370 statewide. The next area up in Oklahoma is the Northeast Oklahoma nonmetro area at $83,990, the next down Oklahoma City at $77,280.
How many accountants work in Tulsa?
BLS counts about 5,110 in the May 2025 survey. That is 31% of the Oklahoma total of 16,720. Only Oklahoma City has more in Oklahoma.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Tulsa?
Yes: $17,830 a year more at the median. The medians are $81,320 and $63,490.
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.