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Accounting Principal Salary in the United States

How much does an Accounting Principal make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Accounting Principal in the United States is $56,446 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, an Accounting Principal's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,545
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,423 to $66,443
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,119
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Accounting Principal Salaries

An Accounting Principal's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Accounting Principal 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 Accounting Principals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $62,497.
  • California: $62,260.
  • Massachusetts: $61,430.

Top Paying Cities for Accounting Principals

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: $71,195
  • San Francisco: $70,416
  • Oakland: $68,932

What Skills Can Increase an Accounting Principal's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coordination (Mentioned in 14.26% Job Postings): Ability to plan, execute, and adjust job duties to achieve business goals.
  • Home Care (Mentioned in 3.19% Job Postings): Homecare is health care or supportive care provided by a professional caregiver in the individual home where the patient or client is living, as opposed to care provided in group accommodations like clinics or nursing home.
  • Community Health (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): Community health refers to simple health services that are delivered by laymen outside hospitals and clinics.
Skills Demand Percentage
Coordination 14.26%
Home Care 3.19%
Community Health 1.74%
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 an Accounting Principal's salary.

  • Pediatric: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Integrated Care: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Pediatric $62,655
11%
Integrated Care $62,090
10%
Presentation $61,526
9%
Get Latest Data

Accounting Principal Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Accounting Principal 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, Healthcare, offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Accounting Principal positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Accounting Principal as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Accounting Principal

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$64,913$31.015%

How Education impacts an Accounting Principal's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Accounting Principals 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 an Accounting Principal with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $61,900 and $74,308).

Accounting Principal Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Accounting Principal
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 31.4%
Associates 14.7%
Bachelors 33.0%
Masters 20.4%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Accounting Principal Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Accounting Principal'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
$48,423
Average $56,446/year
$66,443
$4,035
Average $4,704/month
$5,537
$931
Average $1,085/week
$1,278
$23
Average $27/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $66,443 $5,537 $1,278 $32
Average $56,446 $4,704 $1,085 $27
25th Percentile $48,423 $4,035 $931 $23

Most common benefits for Accounting Principal

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

Common company salaries for Accounting Principal

Here are companies hiring for Accounting Principal and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Accounting Principal

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Accounting Principal?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Accounting Principal 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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