Tax Preparers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,700 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Washington earn between $43,530 and $70,480.
- $40K10th
- $44K25th
- $58KMedian
- $70K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,470 | $5,289 | $30.51 |
| Median | $57,890 | $4,824 | $27.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,530 | $3,628 | $20.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $70,480 | $5,873 | $33.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $63,470, a single filer in Washington takes home about $50,499 a year, or $4,208 a month and $1,942 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $51,160 | $4,263 |
| Working in DC | $50,499 | $4,208 |
| Working in MD | $50,375 | $4,198 |
| Working in VA | $50,343 | $4,195 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for tax preparers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $63,470 buys what about $58,291 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$56,150
- Richmond, VA$64,780
- Harrisburg, PA$60,600
- Lancaster, PA$61,510
- Dover, DE$48,880
- Vineland, NJ$41,930
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Tax Preparers salary in Washington: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Washington?
$30.51 an hour on average, and $27.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Washington?
About $50,499 a year ($4,208 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,470.
Do tax preparers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. metro average for this job ($63,965).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2082; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.