Accountant Salary in Lafayette, LA: $69,395 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time accountant in Lafayette, LA earns a median $69,395/year (≈ $33.37/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2011). Once you factor in Lafayette's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 87.2), that paycheck buys what $79,573 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.4% below the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lafayette, Louisiana, the projected median annual salary for accountants in 2026 is $69,395, which reflects a significant gap when compared to the national median of $85,864. The salary range for this role is diverse, with entry-level positions earning around $48,617 (P10) and experienced accountants reaching up to $105,781 (P90). These estimates are derived from official BLS OEWS surveys and highlight the realities of the job market in Lafayette. Chief among these realities is the structural divide in accounting roles, as responsibilities and compensation can vary dramatically depending on whether one is employed by a Big 4 firm, a mid-tier CPA firm, or in-house at a corporate entity.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,617 | $23.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,852 | $28.77 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $69,395 | $33.37 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $86,172 | $41.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $105,781 | $50.85 |
Median Salary Position
19.18% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lafayette
In Lafayette, LA, the accountant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $57,164 (2026 est.). At $69,395, the local median is 19.18% below the national median of $85,864.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lafayette: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lafayette Accountant Pay Compares
Lafayette median: $69,395/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lafayette Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $73,356 | -5.40% less |
| National Average | $85,864 | -19.18% less |
Accountants in Lafayette, LA earn a median of $69,395 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.18% lower than the national median of $85,864 and 5.40% below the Louisiana state average of $73,356.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lafayette has a cost of living 12.79% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lafayette, LA has a cost-of-living index of 87.209 (below the national average of 100). A accountant earning $69,395 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $79,573 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.67% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,390
2025 BLS Actual
$67,630
2026 Current Est.
$69,395
2019–2027 Growth
+14.1%
Salary Trajectory for Accountants in Lafayette (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.61% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,390 | Actual |
| 2020 | $59,910 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,020 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,000 | Actual |
| 2023 | $64,390 | Actual |
| 2024 | $66,330 | Actual |
| 2025 | $67,630 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $69,395 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71,206 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lafayette metropolitan area, the median accountant salary grew 8.4% from $62,390 (2019) to $67,630 (2025). At a 2.61% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $71,206 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,816 (14.13%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lafayette 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $48,617 – $59,852 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,852 – $69,395 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $69,395 – $86,172 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $86,172 – $105,781 |
CPA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual accountant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Accountant Job Market in Lafayette
A promising aspect of the local job market is the employment of approximately 1,100 accountants in Lafayette, providing ample opportunities despite salary limitations compared to national figures. With a cost of living index of 87.209, accounting professionals may find that their take-home pay stretches a bit further in Lafayette than in more expensive regions. The highest paying positions are typically found within Big 4 public accounting firms, which dominate the early career landscape, while regional CPA firms and industry roles follow closely behind. Factors contributing to the pay disparity include the CPA license, entry-level versus senior roles, the prestige associated with working at larger firms, and specialty positions within tax or forensic accounting. For those seeking to maximize their pay, focusing on certifications and exploring a transition into industry roles after gaining experience in public accounting can prove beneficial.
More salary data for Lafayette, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Sofia Patel, CPA
Career Analyst
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.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $67,630 for accountantsin the Lafayette metropolitan area. A 2.61% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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).
Compiled and verified by Sofia Patel, CPA, a licensed accountant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov