What is the best state to be a accountants and auditors?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a accountants and auditors: a BLS median of $111,530 is worth $95,472 after the 2025 state income tax ($6,605) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 116.4 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a accountants and auditors at $111,530, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 116.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a accountants and auditors salary go least far?

Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a accountants and auditors: a $74,500 BLS median is worth only $64,000 after tax and cost of living (index 78.0). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Accountants and Auditors

Best States to Be a Accountants and Auditors

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a accountants and auditors salary goes furthest in District of Columbia — a $111,530 BLS median worth $95,472 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 116.4).

Which US states are best for a accountants and auditors after cost of living and tax?

For a accountants and auditors, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks District of Columbia #1: a $111,530 BLS median becomes $95,472 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 116.4). Hawaii ranks last ($64,000, index 78.0). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

District of Columbia ranks #1 of 51 states for a accountants and auditors. Index 100 = the average state; 116.4 means pay goes 16.4% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

116.4

Accountants and Auditors — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	District of Columbia	$111,530	$6,605	109.9	$95,472	116.4
2	Rhode Island	$95,820	$2,993	102.3	$90,757	110.7
3	Colorado	$97,030	$3,609	103.1	$90,654	110.5
4	Connecticut	$97,550	$3,790	103.6	$90,493	110.3
5	New York	$102,640	$5,110	107.9	$90,372	110.2
6	Delaware	$95,020	$4,930	99.8	$90,263	110.1
7	Washington	$96,550	—	107.0	$90,223	110.0
8	Massachusetts	$99,460	$4,753	105.8	$89,552	109.2
9	South Dakota	$78,880	—	88.6	$89,043	108.6
10	New Jersey	$100,830	$4,233	108.8	$88,780	108.2
11	Virginia	$93,290	$4,564	101.1	$87,757	107.0
12	Oklahoma	$79,370	$3,232	87.8	$86,675	105.7
13	Iowa	$77,440	$2,903	87.8	$84,931	103.6
14	North Dakota	$75,730	$239	89.0	$84,860	103.5
15	Ohio	$79,320	$1,399	92.8	$83,990	102.4
16	North Carolina	$82,050	$2,945	94.3	$83,863	102.3
17	Wyoming	$77,620	—	92.7	$83,741	102.1
18	Kansas	$79,000	$3,609	90.1	$83,705	102.1
19	Tennessee	$76,840	—	91.9	$83,640	102.0
20	Texas	$80,920	—	97.1	$83,374	101.7
21	California	$97,050	$4,904	110.7	$83,225	101.5
22	New Mexico	$78,580	$2,579	92.2	$82,420	100.5
23	Nevada	$81,600	—	100.0	$81,617	99.5
24	Louisiana	$73,810	$1,839	88.2	$81,593	99.5
25	Alaska	$83,460	—	102.4	$81,537	99.4
26	Maryland	$89,370	$3,912	105.0	$81,420	99.3
27	Missouri	$76,590	$2,719	90.8	$81,341	99.2
28	Georgia	$81,900	$3,768	96.3	$81,140	98.9
29	Wisconsin	$79,400	$3,056	94.1	$81,135	98.9
30	Indiana	$77,720	$2,302	93.3	$80,809	98.5
31	Alabama	$74,880	$3,479	88.8	$80,386	98.0
32	Kentucky	$75,270	$2,880	90.2	$80,291	97.9
33	New Hampshire	$83,470	—	104.2	$80,132	97.7
34	West Virginia	$73,320	$2,599	89.5	$79,020	96.3
35	Michigan	$78,820	$3,103	96.2	$78,694	96.0
36	Minnesota	$81,600	$4,060	98.6	$78,624	95.9
37	Pennsylvania	$79,000	$2,425	97.6	$78,480	95.7
38	South Carolina	$76,560	$3,139	93.7	$78,316	95.5
39	Arizona	$79,970	$1,524	100.7	$77,918	95.0
40	Vermont	$78,890	$2,825	98.0	$77,651	94.7
41	Utah	$79,990	$3,640	98.9	$77,228	94.2
42	Nebraska	$72,080	$2,652	90.1	$77,054	94.0
43	Florida	$79,250	—	103.4	$76,634	93.4
44	Montana	$75,810	$3,335	94.6	$76,576	93.4
45	Oregon	$85,800	$6,704	103.4	$76,525	93.3
46	Illinois	$80,230	$3,830	100.0	$76,432	93.2
47	Maine	$77,480	$3,615	97.0	$76,110	92.8
48	Mississippi	$68,100	$2,191	87.0	$75,798	92.4
49	Idaho	$74,730	$3,135	95.5	$74,973	91.4
50	Arkansas	$66,330	$2,378	86.9	$73,561	89.7
51	Hawaii	$74,500	$4,132	110.0	$64,000	78.0

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In District of Columbia, a $111,530 salary is worth about $90,573 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $11,989 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $99,541 · BEA cost of living 109.9 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $125,900, a $35,327 gain over District of Columbia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$125,900	88.6
2	Arkansas	$123,285	86.9
3	Louisiana	$122,648	88.2
4	Mississippi	$122,621	87.0
5	Iowa	$122,253	87.8
6	North Dakota	$122,238	89.0
7	Tennessee	$121,400	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$120,934	87.8
9	Wyoming	$120,325	92.7
10	Alabama	$119,286	88.8
11	Kentucky	$118,756	90.2
12	West Virginia	$118,612	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Accountants and Auditors — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a accountants and auditors?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a accountants and auditors: a BLS median of $111,530 is worth $95,472 after the 2025 state income tax ($6,605) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 116.4 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a accountants and auditors at $111,530, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 116.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a accountants and auditors salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a accountants and auditors: a $74,500 BLS median is worth only $64,000 after tax and cost of living (index 78.0). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

Compare other occupations

Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS

BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.

Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a accountants and auditors is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.