Contract Accountant Salary in the United States

How much does a Contract Accountant make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Contract Accountant in the United States is $73,071 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, a Contract Accountant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,410
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,689 to $78,483
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,968
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View as table View as graph 25% $65,689 10% $58,968 90% $83,410 75% $78,483 $73,071 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Contract Accountant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $78,483 $6,540 $1,509 $38
Average $73,071 $6,089 $1,405 $35
25th Percentile $65,689 $5,474 $1,263 $32
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Key Factors That Influence Contract Accountant Salaries

A Contract Accountant'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 Contract Accountant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Contract Accountant'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): $63,298
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,584
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $85,275
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $101,628
  • Expert (over 8 years): $143,320
Levels Salary
Accountan... Level Contract Accountant$63,298
Contract ... Level Contract Accountant$73,584
Accountan... Level Contract Accountant$85,275
Accountan... Level Contract Accountant$101,628
Accountan... Level Contract Accountant$143,320
$63,298 0 yr
$73,584 < 2 yrs
$85,275 2-4 yrs
$101,628 5-8 yrs
$143,320 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Contract Accountant 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 Contract Accountants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $80,904.
  • California: $80,597.
  • Massachusetts: $79,523.

Top Paying Cities for Contract Accountants

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: $92,165
  • San Francisco: $91,258
  • Oakland: $89,234

What Skills Can Increase a Contract Accountant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.15% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Accounts Receivable (Mentioned in 2.4% Job Postings): Accounts receivable is a legally enforceable claim for payment held by a business for goods supplied and/or services rendered that customers/clients have ordered but not paid for. These are generally in the form of invoices raised by a business and delivered to the customer for payment within an agreed time frame. Accounts receivable is shown in a balance sheet as an asset. It is one of a series of accounting transactions dealing with the billing of a customer for goods and services that the customer has ordered. These may be distinguished from notes receivable, which are debts created through formal legal instruments called promissory notes.
  • Internal Control (Mentioned in 1.18% Job Postings): Internal control, as defined by accounting and auditing, is a process for assuring of an organization's objectives in operational effectiveness and efficiency, reliable financial reporting, and compliance with laws, regulations and policies.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.15%
Accounts Receivable 2.4%
Internal Control 1.18%
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 Contract Accountant's salary.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Revenue Recognition: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Leadership
$76,725
5%
Consulting
$76,725
5%
Revenue Recognition
$76,725
5%
Internal Control
$75,994
4%
Finance and Accounting
$75,994
4%
Initiative
$75,994
4%
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How Education impacts a Contract Accountant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Contract Accountants enter the field with a Associate'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 Contract Accountant with a Associate's Degree is between $70,560 and $74,509).

Contract Accountant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Contract Accountant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 5.2%
Associates 8.4%
Bachelors 61.2%
Masters 23.6%
Doctorate 0.5%
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Contract Accountant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Contract Accountant'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Contract Accountant

Salaries for a Contract Accountant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $66,420 in 2023 to around $65,011 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Contract Accountant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Contract Accountant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$66,420
2024
$65,527
2025
$65,011
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $66,420
2024 $65,527
2025 $65,011
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Contract Accountant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Contract Accountant

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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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