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First Year Tax Professional Salary in the United States

How much does a First Year Tax Professional make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a First Year Tax Professional in the United States is $34,385 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, a First Year Tax Professional's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $39,195
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,785 to $36,903
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $29,418
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence First Year Tax Professional Salaries

A First Year Tax Professional'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.

How Experience Level Affects First Year Tax Professional Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a First Year Tax Professional'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $34,927
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $39,012
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $59,249
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,241
  • Expert (over 8 years): $104,264
Levels Salary
First Yea... Level First Year Tax Professional$34,927
Diet Tech... Level First Year Tax Professional$39,012
Dietitian... Level First Year Tax Professional$59,249
Dietitian... Level First Year Tax Professional$85,241
Dietitian... Level First Year Tax Professional$104,264
View as Graph

How Do First Year Tax Professional 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 First Year Tax Professionals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $38,071.
  • California: $37,927.
  • Massachusetts: $37,422.

Top Paying Cities for First Year Tax Professionals

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: $43,370
  • San Francisco: $42,895
  • Oakland: $41,991

What Skills Can Increase a First Year Tax Professional's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.92% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Food Handling (Mentioned in 4.38% Job Postings): Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 1.65% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.92%
Food Handling 4.38%
Foodservice 1.65%
See More Skills

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 First Year Tax Professional's salary.

  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis $38,855
13%
Commitment $36,792
7%
Written Communication $36,448
6%
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First Year Tax Professional Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For First Year Tax Professional roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, First Year Tax Professional positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view First Year Tax Professional as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a First Year Tax Professional

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$39,543$19.015%

How Education impacts a First Year Tax Professional's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many First Year Tax Professionals enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a First Year Tax Professional with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $31,759 and $33,534).

First Year Tax Professional Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for First Year Tax Professional
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 20.0%
High School 20.0%
Associates 20.0%
Bachelors 60.0%
Masters 20.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

First Year Tax Professional Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a First Year Tax Professional'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.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$31,785
Average $34,385/year
$36,903
$2,649
Average $2,865/month
$3,075
$611
Average $661/week
$710
$15
Average $17/hour
$18
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $36,903 $3,075 $710 $18
Average $34,385 $2,865 $661 $17
25th Percentile $31,785 $2,649 $611 $15

Most common benefits for First Year Tax Professional

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for First Year Tax Professional

Here are companies hiring for First Year Tax Professional and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about First Year Tax Professional

1. What industry pays the highest salary for First Year Tax Professional?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for First Year Tax Professional roles, with salaries approximately 15% 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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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