CPA Salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
Use current federal wage benchmarks to evaluate accounting pay in Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania is $86k in annual mean pay and $79k 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.
$86k
Annual Mean
BLS accountants and auditors
$79k
Annual Median
Pennsylvania
$62k
25th Percentile
lower-market benchmark
$100k
75th Percentile
upper-market benchmark
Pennsylvania 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
Lower-end and higher-end salary benchmarks in Pennsylvania
| BLS benchmark | Annual pay | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,680 | Lower end of the occupation distribution |
| 25th percentile | $62,330 | Lower-market comparison point |
| Median | $79,000 | Half of reported wages fall above and half below |
| 75th percentile | $99,990 | Upper-market comparison point |
| 90th percentile | $130,270 | Upper end of the occupation distribution |
Planning to earn the credential? Review the Pennsylvania CPA exam and license requirements.
How to read Pennsylvania CPA salary data
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports $86,070 in annual mean pay and $79,000 in annual median pay for accountants and auditors in Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania
The lower end of the BLS distribution runs from $50,680 at the 10th percentile to $62,330 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 $99,990 and the 90th percentile is $130,270. Those values describe the occupation distribution, not a promised senior, manager, director, or partner salary.
What can change a CPA salary in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania salary goal into a study plan
Choose a CPA exam section, identify the question patterns holding you back, and focus each study session on the skills most likely to move your score.
Build my CPA study planFrequently Asked Questions
- What is the average accountant salary in Pennsylvania?
- The May 2025 BLS OEWS estimate lists annual mean pay of $86,070 for accountants and auditors in Pennsylvania. BLS released this dataset in May 2026 and does not publish a CPA-only state average.
- What is a realistic starting salary benchmark in Pennsylvania?
- BLS does not label wages by experience level. Its 10th-to-25th-percentile range for Pennsylvania accountants and auditors is $50,680 to $62,330. Treat that as a lower-end market benchmark, not a guaranteed CPA starting salary.
- What do higher-paid accountants earn in Pennsylvania?
- The BLS 75th-to-90th-percentile range is $99,990 to $130,270 for accountants and auditors in Pennsylvania. 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.