💡Quick Answer:Across Florida's 87 metropolitan areas, the average median accountant pay sits at $81,036/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 13-2011.Because Florida sits at BEA RPP 100.8 (1% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $80,393 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Naples ($84,570), West Palm Beach ($82,742), Sarasota ($82,293).
Florida accountant salary overview (2026)
$81,036
Avg Median Salary
$38.96
Avg Hourly Rate
85,098
Metro Employed
87
Cities
In 2026, the average median salary for accountants in Florida is projected to be $81,036, which is 5.6% lower than the national median of $85,864. The highest-paying city in the state is Naples, where accountants can expect to earn approximately $86,777. In contrast, Tallahassee ranks as the lowest paying city with a salary of $63,454, indicating a significant salary gap of $23,323 between these two locations. This disparity can be attributed to factors such as local demand for accounting services, the size of the business sector, and the cost of living in these areas.
Florida’s state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws dictate certain operational parameters for accountants, which can impact job opportunities and salaries in different regions. The job market shows a healthy annual growth rate of 2.61%, reflecting a steady demand for accounting professionals. The top five cities for accountant salaries in 2026 are Naples ($86,777), West Palm Beach ($84,902), Sarasota ($84,441), North Port ($83,206), and Hialeah ($83,186). Understanding these figures can help aspiring accountants make informed decisions about their career paths in Florida's evolving job market.
Florida Accountant Salary Range
Entry Level (10th %ile)
$51,501
avg across 87 cities
Median
$81,036
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$134,004
avg across 87 cities
Overall salary range in Florida: $43,342 (lowest entry-level) to $147,964 (highest top earner)
Florida vs National Average
Florida
$81,036
National Median
$85,864
Florida accountants earn 5.62% less than the national median ($-4,828/year difference).
Florida Accountant Salary Distribution (2026)
Accountant salaries in Florida range from $51,501 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $134,004 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $81,036. The Florida median is $4,828 below the US national median of $85,864. The average hourly rate is $38.96/hr. Approximately 85,098 accountants are employed across 87 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$63,283
2025 BLS Actual
$78,975
2026 Current Est.
$81,036
2019–2027 Growth
+31.4%
Salary Trajectory for Accountants in Florida (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.61% projection.
BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Year
Annual Salary
Status
2019
$63,283
Actual
2020
$65,288
Actual
2021
$63,754
Actual
2022
$73,195
Actual
2023
$75,645
Actual
2024
$77,756
Actual
2025
$78,975
Actual
2026(current)
$81,036
Estimated
2027
$83,151
Projected
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Florida metropolitan area, the median accountant salary grew 24.8% from $63,283 (2019) to $78,975 (2025). At a 2.61% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $83,151 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,868 (31.40%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Florida metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.61% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
The average median accountant salary in Florida is $81,036/year across 87 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $63,454 in Tallahassee to $86,777 in Naples. This makes Florida 5.62% below the national median of $85,864. The state employs approximately 85,098 accountants.
What is the highest paying city for accountants in Florida?
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Naples offers the highest accountant salary in Florida at $86,777/year ($41.72/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Naples ($86,777), West Palm Beach ($84,902), Sarasota ($84,441). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for accounting services, and competition among employers for licensed accountants.
How does Florida accountant pay compare to the national average?
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Florida's average accountant salary of $81,036 is 5.62% below the national median of $85,864 in 2026. The state employs approximately 85,098 accountants across 87 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.
What is the entry-level accountant salary in Florida?
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Entry-level accountants (10th percentile) in Florida earn approximately $51,501/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $43,342 in lower-paying areas to $57,605 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.
How many accountants are employed in Florida?
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Florida employs approximately 85,098 accountants across 87 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Florida one of the larger employers of accountants nationally. Demand continues to grow as the accounting field expands and the population ages.
Which Florida city offers the best value for accountants?
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When adjusted for cost of living, Wildwood offers the highest purchasing power for accountants in Florida, with an adjusted salary of $92,852 (nominal: $79,318, CoL index: 85.424). This means your dollar goes 17% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
Sofia Patel has over 10 years of experience in financial analysis. She specializes in tax preparation for small businesses. She has worked in both corporate and public accounting environments.
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.61% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 accountant compensation across Florida. State averages are employment-weighted across 87 metro areas — larger metro areas with more accountantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.61%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for accountants (SOC 13-2011).
