As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Accountant I in the United States is $30, which translates to an annual salary of about $62,258.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Accountant I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $67,165 | $5,597 | $1,292 | $32 |
| Average | $62,258 | $5,188 | $1,197 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,887 | $4,741 | $1,094 | $27 |
An Accountant I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Accountant I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant I | 0-2 years | $62,258 |
| Accountant II | 2-4 years | $72,361 |
| Accountant III | 4-7 years | $83,869 |
| Accountant IV | 7+ years | $99,968 |
| Accountant V | 7-10 years | $140,907 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 5.06% |
| CPA | 2.85% |
| Bookkeeping | 1.48% |
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Accountant I's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Coordination | $65,993 | |
| Leadership | $65,993 | |
| Collaboration | $64,748 |
Accountant I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $69,576. While startup companies pay approximate $58,854.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $58,854 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $62,244 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $67,184 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $69,576 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Accountant I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Accountant I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $60,674 and $63,850.
| Typical Education for Accountant I | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 3.8% |
| High School | 7.3% |
| Associates | 10.9% |
| Bachelors | 59.5% |
| Masters | 17.7% |
| Doctorate | 0.8% |
Understanding how an Accountant I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $67,165 | $5,597 | $1,292 | $32 |
| Average | $62,258 | $5,188 | $1,197 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,887 | $4,741 | $1,094 | $27 |
Salaries for an Accountant I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $55,452 in 2023 to around $55,152 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Accountant I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $55,452 |
| 2024 | $55,364 |
| 2025 | $55,152 |
| 2026 |
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|
| 2027 |
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Maintains financial records and ensures that financial transactions are properly recorded. Ensures the accuracy of entries to ledger accounts and reconciles subsidiary ledger accounts to the general ledger. Compiles financial data to aid more senior accountants in the preparation of balance sheets, profit and loss statements and other financial reports. Assists in analyzing current costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations incurred to predict future revenues and expenses. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
CPA: A CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a trusted financial advisor who helps individuals, businesses, and other organizations plan and reach their financial goals.
Bookkeeping: Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions, and is part of the process of accounting in business. Transactions include purchases, sales, receipts, and payments by an individual person or an organization/corporation. There are several standard methods of bookkeeping, including the single-entry and double-entry bookkeeping systems. While these may be viewed as "real" bookkeeping, any process for recording financial transactions is a bookkeeping process. Bookkeeping is the work of a bookkeeper (or book-keeper), who records the day-to-day financial transactions of a business. They usually write the daybooks (which contain records of sales, purchases, receipts, and payments), and document each financial transaction, whether cash or credit, into the correct daybook—that is, petty cash book, suppliers ledger, customer ledger, etc.—and the general ledger. Thereafter, an accountant can create financial reports from the information recorded by the bookkeeper.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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