How Much Does a Senior Accountant Make? (2025)
Senior accountants are responsible for maintaining financial records and ensuring that financial statements and transactions are properly documented. They ensure the accuracy of entries to ledger accounts and reconcile subsidiary ledger accounts to the general ledger.
Part of their responsibilities are to prepare complex balance sheets, profit and loss statements and other financial reports, analyze current costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations incurred to predict future revenues and expenses. Ultimately, as senior accountants, they guide and review the work of support staff.
This salary guide will thoroughly discuss the overview of a senior accountant salary, as well as factors that affect their compensation, the necessary steps to have higher pay, and some related frequently asked questions.
What is the Average Senior Accountant's Salary?
As of September 14, 2025, the average senior accountant salary in the United States is $83,890 per year. The compensation usually ranges from $70,517 to $95,544, with most senior accountants earning around $76,890 to $89,990.
2025 Average Salary for Senior Accountants: $83,890 per year ($40 per hour)
The average senior accountant salary per month is $6,991, while the average weekly rate is $1,613.
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $34 | $1,356 | $5,876 | $70,517 |
| 25th Percentile | $37 | $1,479 | $6,408 | $76,890 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $40 | $1,613 | $6,991 | $83,890 |
| 75th Percentile | $43 | $1,731 | $7,499 | $89,990 |
| 90th Percentile | $46 | $1,837 | $7,962 | $95,544 |
Senior Accountant Salaries State by State
Senior accountant salaries vary from different locations based on key factors, such as the cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
The state with the highest average annual senior accountant salary is the District of Columbia, at $92,890, followed by California, at $92,590, and Massachusetts, at $91,290.
Meanwhile, the state with the lowest average annual salary is Mississippi at $74,790, followed by West Virginia at $75,590 and Arkansas at $75,790.
| States | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $90,790 |
| Alabama | $77,090 |
| Arkansas | $75,790 |
| Arizona | $81,790 |
| California | $92,590 |
| Colorado | $85,590 |
| Connecticut | $89,690 |
| District of Columbia | $92,890 |
| Delaware | $84,990 |
| Florida | $79,390 |
| Georgia | $80,890 |
| Hawaii | $87,690 |
| Iowa | $80,290 |
| Idaho | $78,290 |
| Illinois | $85,490 |
| Indiana | $80,590 |
| Kansas | $79,890 |
| Kentucky | $78,990 |
| Louisiana | $79,790 |
| Massachusetts | $91,290 |
| Maryland | $86,490 |
| Maine | $81,790 |
| Michigan | $82,590 |
| Minnesota | $85,890 |
| Missouri | $79,690 |
| Mississippi | $74,790 |
| Montana | $79,190 |
| North Carolina | $79,690 |
| North Dakota | $82,890 |
| Nebraska | $79,090 |
| New Hampshire | $84,790 |
| New Jersey | $90,990 |
| New Mexico | $77,690 |
| Nevada | $83,090 |
| New York | $89,190 |
| Ohio | $81,690 |
| Oklahoma | $77,590 |
| Oregon | $85,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,490 |
| Rhode Island | $86,990 |
| South Carolina | $78,590 |
| South Dakota | $76,290 |
| Tennessee | $78,390 |
| Texas | $81,890 |
| Utah | $80,390 |
| Virginia | $84,490 |
| Vermont | $82,390 |
| Washington | $90,990 |
| Wisconsin | $82,490 |
| West Virginia | $75,590 |
| Wyoming | $80,490 |
What are the Best-Paying Cities for Senior Accountants?
The cities that give the best salary for senior accountants are shown in the table below. With an average annual pay of $54,470, San Jose, California, is the best-paying city.
| Cities | Average Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, California | $105,790 ($51 per hour) |
| San Francisco, California | $104,790 ($50 per hour) |
| Oakland, California | $102,490 ($49 per hour) |
| New York, New York | $97,190 ($47 per hour) |
| Queens Village, New York | $96,590 ($46 per hour) |
| Paramus, New Jersey | $95,890 ($46 per hour) |
How Does Experience Affect Senior Accountant Salaries?
Just like any profession, a higher experience level will lead to higher pay when it comes to senior accountant salaries.
With less than a year of experience, an entry-level position will have an average starting salary of $92,285. An intermediate-level senior accountant with 1 to 2 years of experience gets $92,891.
A senior-level senior accountant with 2 to 4 years of experience will have $94,102, while a specialist with 5 to 8 years of experience usually gets $98,002 on average. The most experienced senior accountant is at the expert level with over 8 years of experience, earning $99,876.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Senior Accountant | $92,285 |
| Intermediate Level Senior Accountant | $92,891 |
| Senior Level Senior Accountant | $94,102 |
| Specialist Level Senior Accountant | $98,002 |
| Expert Level Senior Accountant | $99,876 |
How to Increase Salary as a Senior Accountant?
The job role as a senior accountant usually requires a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related fields. Becoming a senior accountant usually requires 4 to 7 years of relevant experience.
According to the BLS, some of the largest employers for accountants are accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services, and management of companies and enterprises. The career outlook for senior accountants projects a 5% growth in employment from 2024 to 2034. which is faster than average for all occupations.
As of September 15, 2025, the average total compensation for senior accountants, including salary, perks, and benefits, is $136,739. Here are ways to increase the salary of senior accountants:
Senior Accountant Advancements
- Excel to management positions: Given the skills and experience of senior accountants, they can become supervisors, managers, and partners, as well as transfer to executive positions in management accounting or internal auditing in private firms. Moreover, they can start their own accounting firm.
- Consider in-demand skills: Some of the in-demand skills for senior accountants include general ledger reconciliation and analysis, accounting software, audit documentation, general ledger, balance sheet analysis, forecasting, bank reconciliation, and internal audit.
- Apply in high-paying sectors: Industries differ in compensation, so it is important that you choose the high-paying ones. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the top industries with high annual median salary for accountant and auditors, such as senior accountants:
- Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media: $133,140
- Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services: $132,450
- Software Publishers: $126,250
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers: $122,720
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing: $118,090
Senior Accountant Skills
According to Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report, internal audit skills give the highest increase in salary at 7.11%, followed by skills in accounting software at 7.09% and bank reconciliation at 7.03%.
Other significant skills with high salary increases are general ledger reconciliation and analysis (6.83%), general ledger (6.59%), and forecasting (6.37%).
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Audit | 10.50% | +7.11% |
| Accounting Software | 10.80% | +7.09% |
| Bank Reconciliation | 10.50% | +7.03% |
| General Ledger Reconciliation and Analysis | 10.50% | +6.83% |
| General Ledger | 10.70% | +6.59% |
| Forecasting | 10.70% | +6.37% |
What are the FAQs About Senior Accountant Salaries?
Here are common questions that people ask about the senior accountant salary:
Can you compare the average senior accountant salary in Dallas, TX, with the salary in San Francisco, CA?
The average senior accountant salary in Dallas, Texas and San Francisco, California, are $82,890 and $104,790, respectively.
What is the most a senior accountant can make?
According to Salary.com, the most a senior accountant can make is $95,554 per year. The compensation for senior accountants can vary based on the experience level, geographical location, skill sets, industry, and education level.
Is a senior accountant a CPA?
Senior accountants are not necessarily CPAs. A senior accountant is a job title that requires several years of accounting experience and being a certified public accountant is not mandatory. However, accountants who file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission must be licensed certified public accountants, while others who would love to boost their job opportunities can take the CPA licensure exam.
How much does a senior accountant make in C?
A senior accountant in DC makes $92,890 per year, which is the highest average salary for senior accountants among all the states. This can be attributed to key factors, such as cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What is the role of a senior accountant?
A senior accountant manages financial records, analyzes financial statements, ensures accuracy and compliance, computes and prepares taxes owed and returns, assesses financial operations, suggests best practices, and may use technology and automated platforms to boost productivity.
