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Tax Return Preparer Salary in the United States

How much does a Tax Return Preparer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Tax Return Preparer in the United States is $64,628 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, a Tax Return Preparer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,846
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,388 to $70,500
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,618
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Tax Return Preparer Salaries

A Tax Return Preparer'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 Tax Return Preparer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Tax Return Preparer'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): $65,719
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,776
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $86,912
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $105,839
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,304
Levels Salary
Tax Retur... Level Tax Return Preparer$65,719
Tax Accou... Level Tax Return Preparer$76,776
Tax Accou... Level Tax Return Preparer$86,912
Tax Accou... Level Tax Return Preparer$105,839
Tax Accou... Level Tax Return Preparer$161,304
View as Graph

How Do Tax Return Preparer 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 Tax Return Preparers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $71,556.
  • California: $71,284.
  • Massachusetts: $70,334.

Top Paying Cities for Tax Return Preparers

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: $81,515
  • San Francisco: $80,622
  • Oakland: $78,923

What Skills Can Increase a Tax Return Preparer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.08% 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.
  • Tax Planning (Mentioned in 3.25% Job Postings): Tax planning refers to financial planning for tax efficiency. It aims to reduce one's tax liabilities and optimally utilize tax exemptions, tax rebates, and benefits as much as possible. Tax planning includes making financial and business decisions to minimise the incidence of tax.
  • Call Center (Mentioned in 2.29% Job Postings): A call centre or call center is a managed capability that can be centralised or remote that is used for receiving or transmitting a large volume of enquiries by telephone.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 5.08%
Tax Planning 3.25%
Call Center 2.29%
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 Tax Return Preparer's salary.

  • Communicates Effectively: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Tax Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Communicates Effectively $67,213
4%
Leadership $67,213
4%
Tax Compliance $66,566
3%
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Tax Return Preparer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Tax Return Preparer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Tax Return Preparer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Tax Return Preparer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Tax Return Preparer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$77,553$37.020%
Internet$77,553$37.020%
Pharmaceuticals$77,553$37.020%
Software & Networking$77,553$37.020%
Energy & Utilities$74,322$36.015%

How Education impacts a Tax Return Preparer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Tax Return Preparers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Tax Return Preparer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $62,303 and $65,846).

Tax Return Preparer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Tax Return Preparer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 4.4%
Associates 6.2%
Bachelors 52.0%
Masters 34.5%
Doctorate 2.1%
View as Graph

Tax Return Preparer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Tax Return Preparer'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 September 01, 2026
$59,388
Average $64,628/year
$70,500
$4,949
Average $5,386/month
$5,875
$1,142
Average $1,243/week
$1,356
$29
Average $31/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $70,500 $5,875 $1,356 $34
Average $64,628 $5,386 $1,243 $31
25th Percentile $59,388 $4,949 $1,142 $29

Most common benefits for Tax Return Preparer

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

Common company salaries for Tax Return Preparer

Here are companies hiring for Tax Return Preparer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Tax Return Preparer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Tax Return Preparer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Tax Return Preparer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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