How much does a Project Accountant I make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Project Accountant I in the United States is $71,183 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.
However, a Project Accountant I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,290
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,321 to $78,567
Key Factors That Influence Project Accountant I Salaries
A Project 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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Project Accountant Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Project 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:
Project Accountant I (0-2 years): $71,183
Project Accountant II (2-4 years): $80,486
Project Accountant III (4-7 years): $88,769
Project Accounting Manager (7+ years): $137,235
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Project Accountant I
0-2 years
$71,183
Project Accountant II
2-4 years
$80,486
Project Accountant III
4-7 years
$88,769
Project Accounting Manager
7+ years
$137,235
$71,183Project A...
$80,486Project A...
$88,769Project A...
$137,235Project A...
View as Table
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Project Accountant I Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Project Accountant Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $89,783
San Francisco: $88,800
Oakland: $86,929
San Jose, CA$89,783
San Francisco, CA$88,800
Oakland, CA$86,929
New York, NY$81,959
Paramus, NJ$80,963
Queens Village, NY$80,959
Passaic, NJ$80,892
Bergenfield, NJ$80,885
Stamford, CT$80,729
Huntington, NY$80,699
Newark, NJ$80,173
Bridgeport, CT$80,023
Vallejo, CA$79,882
New Brunswick, NJ$79,853
Petaluma, CA$79,810
Middlesex, NJ$79,675
Somerset, NJ$79,625
Santa Cruz, CA$79,533
Boston, MA$79,099
Monterey, CA$78,849
Seattle, WA$78,686
Santa Rosa, CA$78,671
Los Angeles, CA$78,650
Juneau, AK$78,465
Washington, DC$78,387
Orange, CA$78,133
Santa Ana, CA$77,945
Long Beach, CA$77,874
Anaheim, CA$77,860
Anchorage, AK$77,824
Santa Maria, CA$77,611
Everett, WA$77,597
Danbury, CT$77,346
Bremerton, WA$77,248
Tacoma, WA$76,992
New Suffolk, NY$76,990
Sacramento, CA$76,970
Santa Barbara, CA$76,892
Trenton, NJ$76,814
San Diego, CA$76,814
Brockton, MA$76,735
Fairbanks, AK$76,561
Lompoc, CA$76,379
Lowell, MA$76,322
Ventura, CA$76,308
Nashua, NH$76,294
Stockton, CA$76,287
Modesto, CA$75,767
Poughkeepsie, NY$75,611
Olympia, WA$75,475
Kennewick, WA$75,475
New Haven, CT$75,447
Lawrence, MA$75,191
Hartford, CT$75,119
Riverside, CA$75,105
New Bedford, MA$75,034
Richland, WA$75,034
Bakersfield, CA$74,934
San Bernardino, CA$74,906
New Britain, CT$74,899
Atlantic City, NJ$74,899
New London, CT$74,870
Norwich, CT$74,849
Portsmouth, NH$74,835
Boulder, CO$74,684
Portland, OR$74,586
Worcester, MA$74,578
Minneapolis, MN$74,358
Philadelphia, PA$74,258
Honolulu, HI$74,023
Saint Paul, MN$73,989
Vineland, NJ$73,973
Providence, RI$73,767
Chicago, IL$73,561
Bellingham, WA$73,475
Springfield, MA$73,418
Baltimore, MD$73,397
Chico, CA$73,219
Pittsfield, MA$73,027
Manchester, NH$72,891
Spokane, WA$72,578
Denver, CO$72,571
Albany, NY$72,237
Troy, NY$72,208
Nassau, NY$72,132
Schenectady, NY$72,059
Wilmington, DE$72,002
Burlington, VT$71,902
Salem, OR$71,873
Portland, ME$71,653
Yakima, WA$71,582
Rochester, MN$71,361
Reno, NV$71,325
Fresno, CA$71,325
Milwaukee, WI$71,261
Detroit, MI$71,190
Ann Arbor, MI$71,178
Allentown, PA$71,169
Colorado Springs, CO$71,048
Syracuse, NY$71,012
Carson City, NV$71,012
Houston, TX$70,913
Eugene, OR$70,877
Gary, IN$70,791
Springfield, OR$70,735
Bismarck, ND$70,720
Galveston, TX$70,670
Medford, OR$70,564
Fort Collins, CO$70,535
Concord, NH$70,500
Austin, TX$70,478
Mesa, AZ$70,329
Reading, PA$70,322
Phoenix, AZ$70,315
Dallas, TX$70,293
Saint Cloud, MN$70,225
Madison, WI$70,129
Utica, NY$69,937
Rochester, NY$69,823
Des Moines, IA$69,816
Raleigh, NC$69,809
Atlanta, GA$69,702
Battle Creek, MI$69,681
Salt Lake City, UT$69,660
Lancaster, PA$69,553
Harrisburg, PA$69,453
Kansas City, MO$69,382
Champaign, IL$69,368
Kansas City, KS$69,368
Fort Worth, TX$69,361
Columbus, OH$69,349
Boca Raton, FL$69,332
Pittsburgh, PA$69,304
Richmond, VA$69,275
Indianapolis, IN$69,261
Cleveland, OH$69,254
Las Vegas, NV$69,169
Cincinnati, OH$69,169
Petersburg, VA$69,062
Huntsville, AL$68,955
Lansing, MI$68,907
Lebanon, PA$68,898
Pueblo, CO$68,891
Appleton, WI$68,870
Buffalo, NY$68,841
Dayton, OH$68,820
Racine, WI$68,805
Charlotte, NC$68,798
Saint Louis, MO$68,777
York, PA$68,734
Elkhart, IN$68,734
Gastonia, NC$68,721
Billings, MT$68,704
Beaumont, TX$68,684
Lorain, OH$68,670
Benton Harbor, MI$68,656
Toledo, OH$68,642
Binghamton, NY$68,606
Rock Hill, SC$68,599
Rockford, IL$68,563
Springfield, IL$68,535
Elyria, OH$68,528
Fargo, ND$68,528
Flagstaff, AZ$68,478
Fort Lauderdale, FL$68,435
Duluth, MN$68,393
Miami, FL$68,393
Cheyenne, WY$68,343
Grand Forks, ND$68,343
Bangor, ME$68,186
Cedar Rapids, IA$68,108
Durham, NC$68,078
Louisville, KY$68,072
Grand Rapids, MI$68,058
Hialeah, FL$68,051
Casper, WY$67,951
Scranton, PA$67,866
New Orleans, LA$67,845
Virginia Beach, VA$67,837
Akron, OH$67,802
Peoria, IL$67,709
Sarasota, FL$67,695
Nashville, TN$67,645
Omaha, NE$67,645
Green Bay, WI$67,645
Baton Rouge, LA$67,610
Charleston, SC$67,595
Jamestown, NY$67,560
Davenport, IA$67,560
Tucson, AZ$67,524
Saint Petersburg, FL$67,481
Tampa, FL$67,467
Evansville, IN$67,425
Port Arthur, TX$67,425
Bradenton, FL$67,396
Santa Fe, NM$67,268
Orlando, FL$67,140
Clearwater, FL$67,118
Canton, OH$66,969
La Crosse, WI$66,969
Albuquerque, NM$66,926
Newport News, VA$66,919
High Point, NC$66,898
Ogden, UT$66,869
Corpus Christi, TX$66,812
Norfolk, VA$66,770
Laramie, WY$66,770
Rock Island, IL$66,727
Saginaw, MI$66,713
Jacksonville, FL$66,706
Salisbury, NC$66,691
Boise, ID$66,677
Moline, IL$66,642
Fort Myers, FL$66,620
Memphis, TN$66,606
Tulsa, OK$66,570
Waterloo, IA$66,528
Spartanburg, SC$66,456
Lincoln, NE$66,421
Fort Wayne, IN$66,407
Provo, UT$66,400
Cedar Falls, IA$66,314
San Antonio, TX$66,286
Greensboro, NC$66,257
South Bend, IN$66,250
Savannah, GA$66,172
Muskegon, MI$66,143
Birmingham, AL$66,136
Winston Salem, NC$66,101
Lake Charles, LA$65,930
Anderson, IN$65,915
Lexington, KY$65,894
Augusta, GA$65,873
Greenville, SC$65,873
Lima, OH$65,816
Wichita, KS$65,809
Tuscaloosa, AL$65,809
Columbia, SC$65,745
Springfield, OH$65,730
Asheville, NC$65,616
Bloomington, IN$65,567
Knoxville, TN$65,310
Shreveport, LA$65,303
Wilmington, NC$65,211
Roanoke, VA$65,211
Topeka, KS$65,083
Frankfort, KY$65,075
Oklahoma City, OK$65,026
Chillicothe, OH$64,997
Longview, TX$64,990
Melbourne, FL$64,983
Sioux Falls, SD$64,869
Mobile, AL$64,862
Terre Haute, IN$64,833
Altoona, PA$64,791
Amarillo, TX$64,741
Killeen, TX$64,720
Fayetteville, AR$64,663
Chattanooga, TN$64,641
Sioux City, IA$64,577
Idaho Falls, ID$64,563
Lynchburg, VA$64,506
Gainesville, FL$64,413
Portsmouth, OH$64,378
Little Rock, AR$64,364
Lafayette, LA$64,335
Youngstown, OH$64,335
Daytona Beach, FL$64,292
Clarksville, TN$64,285
Pensacola, FL$64,278
Temple, TX$64,273
Hopkinsville, KY$64,065
Erie, PA$64,050
Florence, SC$64,022
Charleston, WV$63,908
Great Falls, MT$63,873
Macon, GA$63,773
Tallahassee, FL$63,766
Fayetteville, NC$63,751
Waco, TX$63,737
Helena, MT$63,687
Pine Bluff, AR$63,660
Vincennes, IN$63,574
Lubbock, TX$63,545
Alamogordo, NM$63,502
Twin Falls, ID$63,438
Rapid City, SD$63,417
Jackson, MS$63,289
Huntington, WV$63,284
Greenville, MS$63,282
Parkersburg, WV$63,209
Montgomery, AL$63,196
Wichita Falls, TX$63,125
Springfield, MO$63,125
Biloxi, MS$63,089
Monroe, LA$63,018
Johnstown, PA$62,968
Sumter, SC$62,940
Columbus, GA$62,933
Pascagoula, MS$62,798
Abilene, TX$62,798
Kingsport, TN$62,613
Albany, GA$62,613
Gulfport, MS$62,591
Alexandria, LA$62,356
Fort Smith, AR$62,178
El Paso, TX$61,986
Las Cruces, NM$61,666
Harlingen, TX$61,485
Pocatello, ID$61,474
Florence, AL$61,381
Brownsville, TX$61,367
Mcallen, TX$61,217
Dothan, AL$61,118
Columbus, MS$60,695
Altus, OK$60,363
Lawton, OK$60,228
Pierre, SD$59,972
What Skills Can Increase a Project Accountant I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 4.23% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.07% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Financial Management (Mentioned in 1.13% Job Postings): Financial management focuses on ratios, equities and debts. It is useful for portfolio management,distribution of dividend,capital raising,hedging and looking after fluctuations in foreign currency and product cycles.Financial managers are the people who will do research and based on the research, decide what sort of capital to obtain in order to fund the company's assets as well as maximizing the value of the firm for all the stakeholders. It also refers to the efficient and effective management of money (funds) in such a manner as to accomplish the objectives of the organization. It is the specialized function directly associated with the top management. The significance of this function is not seen in the 'Line' but also in the capacity of the 'Staff' in overall of a company. It has been defined differently by different experts in the field. The term typically applies to an organization or company's financial strategy, while personal finance or financial life management refers to an individual's management strategy. It includes how to raise the capital and how to allocate capital, i.e. capital budgeting. Not only for long term budgeting, but also how to allocate the short term resources like current liabilities. It also deals with the dividend policies of the share holders.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Analysis
4.23%
Microsoft Office
2.07%
Financial Management
1.13%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
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 a Project Accountant I's salary.
Client Service: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
Finance and Accounting: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
Financial Reporting: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Client Service
$91,114
28%
Finance and Accounting
$90,402
27%
Financial Reporting
$88,267
24%
Presentation
$87,555
23%
Initiative
$86,843
22%
Analysis
$86,131
21%
Get Latest Data
Project Accountant I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Project Accountant I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $79,618.
While startup companies pay approximate $67,333.
Project Accountant I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$67,333
Growth Stage
51~500
$71,215
Established
501~5000
$76,886
Enterprise
5000+
$79,618
Project Accountant I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Project Accountant I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Project Accountant positions in Software & Networking or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Project Accountant I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Project Accountant I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$92,538
$44.0
30%
Financial Services
$88,979
$43.0
25%
Internet
$85,420
$41.0
20%
Energy & Utilities
$81,860
$39.0
15%
Insurance
$79,725
$38.0
12%
Project Accountant I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Project 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$64,321
Average$71,183/year
$78,567
$5,360
Average$5,932/month
$6,547
$1,237
Average$1,369/week
$1,511
$31
Average$34/hour
$38
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$78,567
$6,547
$1,511
$38
Average
$71,183
$5,932
$1,369
$34
25th Percentile
$64,321
$5,360
$1,237
$31
Project Accountant I Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Project Accountant I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Project Accountant II role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$80,486 - a projected growth of
13%
over your current level.
Salaries for a Project Accountant I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $66,750 in 2023
to around $65,868 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Project Accountant I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Project Accountant I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$66,750
2024
$66,633
2025
$65,868
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$66,750
2024
$66,633
2025
$65,868
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Project Accountant I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Project Accountant I
Here are companies hiring for Project Accountant I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Project Accountant I
1. Where can a Project Accountant I earn the most?
A Project Accountant I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Project Accountant I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Project Accountant I is $89,783.
2. What is the highest pay for Project Accountant I?
The highest pay for Project Accountant I is $85,290.
3. What is the lowest pay for Project Accountant I?
The lowest pay for Project Accountant I is $58,074.
4. What are the responsibilities of Project Accountant I?
Supports projects with overall accounting and financial activities to measure and monitor project financial performance. Creates and maintains project level accounts. Completes all postings, allocations, accruals and payments for the project. Prepares and distributes monthly reports on project status including budget and forecasting for project reviews. Coordinates with project team to reflect changes in project scope or timeline. Prepares final project close out. 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.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Project Accountant I?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Project Accountant I roles,
with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.