Salary

CPA Salary in Minnesota (2026)

Use current federal wage benchmarks to evaluate accounting pay in Minnesota. The figures cover accountants and auditors, not CPAs alone, so the page separates published data from career interpretation.

Quick answer

The May 2025 BLS benchmark for accountants and auditors in Minnesota is $94k in annual mean pay and $82k at the median. BLS does not publish a CPA-only state wage.

Published source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS state estimates for Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), reference period May 2025, released 2026-05-15. These are occupation-wide figures, not CPA-only, experience-level, employer, or industry estimates.

$94k

Annual Mean

BLS accountants and auditors

$82k

Annual Median

Minnesota

$68k

25th Percentile

lower-market benchmark

$105k

75th Percentile

upper-market benchmark

Minnesota accountant and auditor wage distribution

BLS percentiles describe the statewide occupation distribution. They do not map directly to years of experience or guarantee a CPA salary.

May 2025 BLS annual wage estimates

10th percentile
$58,280
25th percentile
$68,190
Median
$81,600
Annual mean
$94,060
75th percentile
$105,020
90th percentile
$138,960

Lower-end and higher-end salary benchmarks in Minnesota

Minnesota Accountants and Auditors, BLS OEWS May 2025
BLS benchmarkAnnual payHow to use it
10th percentile$58,280Lower end of the occupation distribution
25th percentile$68,190Lower-market comparison point
Median$81,600Half of reported wages fall above and half below
75th percentile$105,020Upper-market comparison point
90th percentile$138,960Upper end of the occupation distribution

Planning to earn the credential? Review the Minnesota CPA exam and license requirements.

How to read Minnesota CPA salary data

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports $94,060 in annual mean pay and $81,600 in annual median pay for accountants and auditors in Minnesota. The mean is influenced by higher-paid roles, while the median marks the midpoint of the published wage distribution.

These figures are the most defensible statewide benchmark available here, but they are not a CPA premium study. Use them to anchor an offer comparison, then account for certification, specialty, city, employer, responsibility, and experience.

Lower and upper pay benchmarks in Minnesota

The lower end of the BLS distribution runs from $58,280 at the 10th percentile to $68,190 at the 25th percentile. Because BLS does not classify wages by years of experience, this range should not be described as a guaranteed starting salary.

At the upper end, the 75th percentile is $105,020 and the 90th percentile is $138,960. Those values describe the occupation distribution, not a promised senior, manager, director, or partner salary.

What can change a CPA salary in Minnesota

CPA status can strengthen a candidate's position, but compensation still depends on the work performed. Public accounting, corporate reporting, tax, audit, advisory, government, and nonprofit roles can sit at different points in the statewide distribution.

Compare total compensation as well as base pay. Bonuses, retirement contributions, health coverage, overtime expectations, remote-work terms, and the local cost of housing can materially change the value of an offer.

Turn your Minnesota salary goal into a study plan

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average accountant salary in Minnesota?
The May 2025 BLS OEWS estimate lists annual mean pay of $94,060 for accountants and auditors in Minnesota. BLS released this dataset in May 2026 and does not publish a CPA-only state average.
What is a realistic starting salary benchmark in Minnesota?
BLS does not label wages by experience level. Its 10th-to-25th-percentile range for Minnesota accountants and auditors is $58,280 to $68,190. Treat that as a lower-end market benchmark, not a guaranteed CPA starting salary.
What do higher-paid accountants earn in Minnesota?
The BLS 75th-to-90th-percentile range is $105,020 to $138,960 for accountants and auditors in Minnesota. Certification, role, industry, city, responsibility, and experience can all affect an individual offer.
Does BLS report CPA salaries separately?
No. BLS occupation code 13-2011 combines accountants and auditors and does not identify CPA status. This guide uses those figures as a transparent market benchmark rather than presenting them as CPA-only wages.