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Sector

Careers in Accounting & Tax Services

Accounting and tax services helps individuals and businesses manage finances, comply with regulations, and minimize taxes. Mostly small firms with moderate credentials and surprisingly on-site work patterns.

1.1M
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$70K
Median salary
Across all roles
Accounting & Tax Services jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Accounting & Tax Services employment by metro · ~393 areas
1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ25K
2.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA15K
3.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN10K
4.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX9K
5.Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV9K

Jobs per 100K workforce — measures industry density

1.Tallahassee, FL293.3
2.Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV283.8
3.San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA280.9
4.Salt Lake City-Murray, UT280.2
5.Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT279.3
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Accounting & Tax Services

Accounting and tax services help businesses and individuals navigate financial compliance and planning — there's satisfaction in solving financial puzzles, trusted advisor relationships, and expertise that clients depend on. Many find meaning in financial clarity.

The challenge can come from seasonal pressure and evolving regulations. Tax season creates intense workload compression. Regulations change constantly; staying current is required. Billable hour pressure exists in many firms. Technology is automating routine work.

The field varies by client type and firm size. Big Four firms operate differently than regional firms, solo practitioners, or industry specialists. Tax differs from audit, advisory, or bookkeeping. Public accounting differs from corporate finance roles.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: intellectual challenge, clear advancement paths, strong demand, and client relationships. If you enjoy numbers and compliance, can handle busy seasons, and want professional services careers, accounting offers stable and well-compensated opportunities.

How people break in

Entry positions (staff accountant) require accounting education. CPA requires exam passage and experience. Tax preparation has lower barriers.

Work environment tends toward
CPA credentialBusy seasonsBig Four to solo firmsClear career pathConsistent demand
Salary vs. national average
-1%
$70K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$15K$37K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level →
Salary range across all accounting & tax services roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$90K
2. Boulder$76K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$74K
4. Trenton-Princeton$69K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$69K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$70K in mid-market metros to ~$101K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap — metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara · $101K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont · $86K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $80K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara · $90K adj.
Boulder · $76K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $74K adj.
Most jobs
New York · 23.6M
Los Angeles · 15.6M
Chicago · 11.2M
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts — signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Accounting & Tax Services.

🚪
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Professional Services data
25%
Higher than average turnover. This could indicate challenging conditions, seasonal work, or abundant external opportunities.
3%vs. 22% all industries
🏢
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
98%
Small
<50
2%
Mid
50–249
0%
Large
250+
🏠
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Mostly on-site
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
📋
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
🤝
Union Presence
Based on all Professional Services data
~1%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
1%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS QCEW 2024 · O*NET Work Context · BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Accounting & Tax Services

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Business Operations · Consulting firms, law offices, and agencies need you to keep the machine running. Client-facing pressure, high standards, fast pace. You'll learn operational excellence.
15%
$72K median
Explore →
Admin & Office · Law firms, consulting, and agencies run on admin excellence. High expectations, fast pace, client visibility. You'll master systems and become indispensable.
15%
$69K median
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Finance · Accounting firms and financial consultancies. Client variety, busy seasons, path to CPA and partnership. Big 4 experience opens doors.
12%
$71K median
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Healthcare · Healthcare consulting, medical device sales support, and clinical research. Business side of healthcare with clinical background.
7%
$69K median
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Construction · Engineering and architecture firms hire construction professionals for project management and field coordination. Office-based with site visits.
6%
$72K median
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Sales · B2B sales roles selling consulting, legal, accounting, and business services to corporate clients with complex, relationship-driven sales cycles.
6%
$69K median
Explore →
Median salary for occupations employed within Accounting & Tax Services. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Accounting & Tax Services

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS QCEW 2024 · O*NET Work Context · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.