What is the best state to be a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks: a BLS median of $65,180 is worth $56,704 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,862) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 112.2 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 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks at $65,180, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 112.2). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Best States to Be a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks salary goes furthest in District of Columbia — a $65,180 BLS median worth $56,704 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 112.2).

Which US states are best for a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks after cost of living and tax?

For a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks District of Columbia #1: a $65,180 BLS median becomes $56,704 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 112.2). Hawaii ranks last ($42,326, index 83.7). 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 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. Index 100 = the average state; 112.2 means pay goes 12.2% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

112.2

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	District of Columbia	$65,180	$2,862	109.9	$56,704	112.2
2	Connecticut	$59,970	$1,774	103.6	$56,169	111.1
3	North Dakota	$49,710	—	89.0	$55,880	110.5
4	Alaska	$56,430	—	102.4	$55,129	109.1
5	Washington	$58,620	—	107.0	$54,778	108.4
6	Vermont	$54,720	$1,414	98.0	$54,417	107.6
7	Massachusetts	$59,830	$2,772	105.8	$53,952	106.7
8	Minnesota	$54,600	$2,224	98.6	$53,108	105.1
9	Iowa	$48,180	$1,791	87.8	$52,858	104.6
10	Tennessee	$48,180	—	91.9	$52,444	103.7
11	South Dakota	$46,340	—	88.6	$52,311	103.5
12	New Jersey	$58,300	$1,673	108.8	$52,044	103.0
13	Ohio	$48,810	$560	92.8	$52,008	102.9
14	California	$59,230	$1,650	110.7	$52,005	102.9
15	Wisconsin	$50,340	$1,516	94.1	$51,888	102.6
16	Wyoming	$47,910	—	92.7	$51,688	102.3
17	New York	$58,160	$2,594	107.9	$51,488	101.9
18	Missouri	$47,990	$1,375	90.8	$51,329	101.5
19	New Mexico	$48,080	$1,147	92.2	$50,896	100.7
20	Nebraska	$47,110	$1,354	90.1	$50,782	100.5
21	Colorado	$54,000	$1,716	103.1	$50,736	100.4
22	Rhode Island	$53,280	$1,398	102.3	$50,725	100.3
23	Oklahoma	$46,180	$1,656	87.8	$50,686	100.3
24	Kansas	$47,290	$1,839	90.1	$50,463	99.8
25	Texas	$48,910	—	97.1	$50,393	99.7
26	Nevada	$50,380	—	100.0	$50,391	99.7
27	New Hampshire	$52,450	—	104.2	$50,353	99.6
28	Maine	$50,510	$1,795	97.0	$50,196	99.3
29	Louisiana	$44,890	$972	88.2	$49,790	98.5
30	Indiana	$47,820	$1,405	93.3	$49,733	98.4
31	Kentucky	$46,550	$1,731	90.2	$49,711	98.3
32	South Carolina	$47,940	$1,365	93.7	$49,681	98.3
33	Delaware	$51,780	$2,197	99.8	$49,678	98.3
34	Arizona	$50,590	$790	100.7	$49,465	97.9
35	North Carolina	$47,930	$1,495	94.3	$49,228	97.4
36	Georgia	$49,350	$2,013	96.3	$49,159	97.2
37	Michigan	$48,980	$1,835	96.2	$48,998	96.9
38	Virginia	$51,620	$2,168	101.1	$48,912	96.8
39	Maryland	$53,540	$2,210	105.0	$48,904	96.7
40	Idaho	$48,310	$1,631	95.5	$48,882	96.7
41	Oregon	$54,060	$3,926	103.4	$48,504	96.0
42	Montana	$47,270	$1,651	94.6	$48,200	95.4
43	Pennsylvania	$48,440	$1,487	97.6	$48,121	95.2
44	Alabama	$44,640	$1,967	88.8	$48,043	95.0
45	Mississippi	$42,840	$1,080	87.0	$48,026	95.0
46	Utah	$49,440	$2,250	98.9	$47,733	94.4
47	Florida	$49,330	—	103.4	$47,701	94.4
48	Arkansas	$42,840	$1,462	86.9	$47,595	94.2
49	Illinois	$49,560	$2,312	100.0	$47,268	93.5
50	West Virginia	$42,890	$1,205	89.5	$46,577	92.1
51	Hawaii	$48,730	$2,193	110.0	$42,326	83.7

"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 $65,180 salary is worth about $52,932 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $7,007 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $58,173 · BEA cost of living 109.9 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $73,578, a $20,646 gain over District of Columbia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$73,578	88.6
2	Arkansas	$72,050	86.9
3	Louisiana	$71,678	88.2
4	Mississippi	$71,662	87.0
5	Iowa	$71,447	87.8
6	North Dakota	$71,438	89.0
7	Tennessee	$70,948	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$70,676	87.8
9	Wyoming	$70,320	92.7
10	Alabama	$69,713	88.8
11	Kentucky	$69,403	90.2
12	West Virginia	$69,319	89.5

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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).

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks: a BLS median of $65,180 is worth $56,704 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,862) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 112.2 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 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks at $65,180, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 112.2). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks: a $48,730 BLS median is worth only $42,326 after tax and cost of living (index 83.7). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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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 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.