Cost of hiring an accountant in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of the District of Columbia, and it is Washington-Arlington. The median is $102,140 a year[1], 8.4% below the District of Columbia median of $111,530 and 22.1% above the US median of $83,680. Only 3 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. BLS counts about 41,470 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Washington-Arlington against the District of Columbia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | $67,530 | $102,140 | $170,980 | |
| District of Columbia | $71,470 | $111,530 | $185,220 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $170,980, 2.5 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Washington-Arlington earns $79,990–$133,430. The mean ($113,640) is 11% 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 | $67,530 | $5,628 | $32.47 | $96,471 |
| 25th percentile | $79,990 | $6,666 | $38.46 | $114,271 |
| Median | $102,140 | $8,512 | $49.11 | $145,914 |
| 75th percentile | $133,430 | $11,119 | $64.15 | $190,614 |
| 90th percentile | $170,980 | $14,248 | $82.20 | $244,257 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $31,290 a year in pay and about $44,700 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $22,150 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.
What a hire really costs in Washington-Arlington
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $43,774 to the $102,140 median and brings it to $145,914 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 Washington-Arlington
Of the 17 roles we track in Washington-Arlington, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $127,030 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $41,240.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +24.4% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | this role | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | -1.3% | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | -11.6% | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -14.7% | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | -20.1% | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -23.5% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | -25.2% | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -37.9% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | -42.0% | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | -42.1% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -47.5% | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -52.7% | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -53.4% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -54.7% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -58.1% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -59.6% | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $145,914 a year at the median, or $12,160 a month: $102,140 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 Washington-Arlington?
The median was $102,140 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $67,530, the 90th $170,980, and the middle half earned $79,990 to $133,430.
How many accountants work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 41,470 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Washington-Arlington?
Yes: $1,310 a year more at the median. The medians are $102,140 and $100,830.
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 2026-11-05.