The last in our mini series of articles based on the Robert Half 2022 Accounting & Finance Salary Guide looks at public accounting starting salaries in eight low cost of living cities that have a Big 4 presence and a national accounting firm presence (i.e., RSM US, BDO USA, Grant Thornton).

Most of these cities are often mentioned in discussions on Reddit and Fishbowl about the best LCOL cities for accountants—and where they can get the most bang for their buck. I also used this study from SmartAsset and the cost of living tool on BestPlaces.net to narrow down the cities I wanted to include in this article.

The eight cities are:

BaltimoreCincinnatiDetroitIndianapolisLouisvilleMilwaukeeOklahoma CitySt. Louis

Using the salary guide’s location feature, we were able to see how public accounting starting salaries in each of these eight cities compared to the projected averages nationwide in 2022. There are 10 public accounting roles highlighted in Robert Half’s latest salary guide, each one having three salary percentiles.

25th percentile: New to the type of role, still acquiring relevant skills.50th percentile: Average experience, has most of the necessary skills.75th percentile: Above-average experience, has all needed skills.

The salary data below from Robert Half shows the national average -> the average for that city by percentile per position. According to the salary guide, only three of the eight cities are projected to have a public accounting starting salary that is higher than the national average next year.

Here are the starting salary comparisons for those eight LCOL cities:

1. Baltimore

Salaries in Baltimore are 3% higher than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $117,93550th percentile: $141,500 -> $145,74575th percentile: $170,000 -> $175,100

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $93,47350th percentile: $110,000 -> $113,30075th percentile: $128,000 -> $131,840

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $64,37550th percentile: $75,500 -> $77,76575th percentile: $87,500 -> $90,125

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $51,24350th percentile: $61,500 -> $63,34575th percentile: $70,750 -> $72,873

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $42,23050th percentile: $50,250 -> $51,75875th percentile: $59,500 -> $61,285

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $116,39050th percentile: $139,750 -> $143,94375th percentile: $162,000 -> $166,860

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $79,31050th percentile: $96,250 -> $99,13875th percentile: $110,250 -> $113,558

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $56,65050th percentile: $68,750 -> $70,81375th percentile: $78,750 -> $81,113

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $47,38050th percentile: $56,750 -> $58,45375th percentile: $64,500 -> $66,435

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $42,23050th percentile: $50,500 -> $52,01575th percentile: $58,000 -> $59,740

2. Cincinnati

Salaries in Cincinnati are 2.5% lower than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $111,63850th percentile: $141,500 -> $137,96375th percentile: $170,000 -> $165,750

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $88,48150th percentile: $110,000 -> $107,25075th percentile: $128,000 -> $124,800

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $60,93850th percentile: $75,500 -> $73,61375th percentile: $87,500 -> $85,313

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $48,50650th percentile: $61,500 -> $59,96375th percentile: $70,750 -> $68,981

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $39,97550th percentile: $50,250 -> $48,99475th percentile: $59,500 -> $58,013

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $110,17550th percentile: $139,750 -> $136,25675th percentile: $162,000 -> $157,950

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $75,07550th percentile: $96,250 -> $93,84475th percentile: $110,250 -> $107,494

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $53,62550th percentile: $68,750 -> $67,03175th percentile: $78,750 -> $76,781

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $44,85050th percentile: $56,750 -> $55,33175th percentile: $64,500 -> $62,888

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $39,97550th percentile: $50,500 -> $49,23875th percentile: $58,000 -> $56,550

3. Detroit

Salaries in Detroit are equal to the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,50050th percentile: $141,50075th percentile: $170,000

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,75050th percentile: $110,00075th percentile: $128,000

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,50050th percentile: $75,50075th percentile: $87,500

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,75050th percentile: $61,50075th percentile: $70,750

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,00050th percentile: $50,25075th percentile: $59,500

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,00050th percentile: $139,75075th percentile: $162,000

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,00050th percentile: $96,25075th percentile: $110,250

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,00050th percentile: $68,75075th percentile: $78,750

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,00050th percentile: $56,75075th percentile: $64,500

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,00050th percentile: $50,50075th percentile: $58,000

4. Indianapolis

Salaries in Indianapolis are 3% lower than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $111,06550th percentile: $141,500 -> $137,25575th percentile: $170,000 -> $164,900

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $88,02850th percentile: $110,000 -> $106,70075th percentile: $128,000 -> $124,160

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $60,62550th percentile: $75,500 -> $73,23575th percentile: $87,500 -> $84,875

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $48,25850th percentile: $61,500 -> $59,65575th percentile: $70,750 -> $68,628

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $39,77050th percentile: $50,250 -> $48,74375th percentile: $59,500 -> $57,715

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $109,61050th percentile: $139,750 -> $135,55875th percentile: $162,000 -> $157,140

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $74,69050th percentile: $96,250 -> $93,36375th percentile: $110,250 -> $106,943

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $53,35050th percentile: $68,750 -> $66,68875th percentile: $78,750 -> $76,388

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $44,62050th percentile: $56,750 -> $55,04875th percentile: $64,500 -> $62,565

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $39,77050th percentile: $50,500 -> $48,98575th percentile: $58,000 -> $56,260

5. Louisville

Salaries in Louisville are 8% lower than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $105,34050th percentile: $141,500 -> $130,18075th percentile: $170,000 -> $156,400

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $83,49050th percentile: $110,000 -> $101,20075th percentile: $128,000 -> $117,760

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $57,50050th percentile: $75,500 -> $69,46075th percentile: $87,500 -> $80,500

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $45,77050th percentile: $61,500 -> $56,58075th percentile: $70,750 -> $65,090

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $37,72050th percentile: $50,250 -> $46,23075th percentile: $59,500 -> $54,740

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $103,96050th percentile: $139,750 -> $128,57075th percentile: $162,000 -> $149,040

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $70,84050th percentile: $96,250 -> $88,55075th percentile: $110,250 -> $101,430

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $50,60050th percentile: $68,750 -> $63,25075th percentile: $78,750 -> $72,450

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $42,32050th percentile: $56,750 -> $52,21075th percentile: $64,500 -> $59,340

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $37,72050th percentile: $50,500 -> $46,46075th percentile: $58,000 -> $53,360

6. Milwaukee

Salaries in Milwaukee are 2% higher than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $116,79050th percentile: $141,500 -> $144,33075th percentile: $170,000 -> $173,400

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $92,56550th percentile: $110,000 -> $112,20075th percentile: $128,000 -> $130,560

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $63,75050th percentile: $75,500 -> $77,01075th percentile: $87,500 -> $89,250

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $50,74550th percentile: $61,500 -> $62,73075th percentile: $70,750 -> $72,165

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $41,82050th percentile: $50,250 -> $51,25575th percentile: $59,500 -> $60,690

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $115,26050th percentile: $139,750 -> $142,54575th percentile: $162,000 -> $165,240

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $78,54050th percentile: $96,250 -> $98,17575th percentile: $110,250 -> $112,455

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $56,10050th percentile: $68,750 -> $70,12575th percentile: $78,750 -> $80,325

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $46,92050th percentile: $56,750 -> $57,88575th percentile: $64,500 -> $65,790

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $41,82050th percentile: $50,500 -> $51,51075th percentile: $58,000 -> $59,160

7. Oklahoma City

Salaries in Oklahoma City are 7% lower than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $106,48550th percentile: $141,500 -> $131,59575th percentile: $170,000 -> $158,100

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $84,39850th percentile: $110,000 -> $102,30075th percentile: $128,000 -> $119,040

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $58,12550th percentile: $75,500 -> $70,21575th percentile: $87,500 -> $81,375

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $46,26850th percentile: $61,500 -> $57,19575th percentile: $70,750 -> $65,798

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $38,13050th percentile: $50,250 -> $46,73375th percentile: $59,500 -> $55,335

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $105,09050th percentile: $139,750 -> $129,96875th percentile: $162,000 -> $150,660

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $71,61050th percentile: $96,250 -> $89,51375th percentile: $110,250 -> $102,533

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $51,15050th percentile: $68,750 -> $63,93875th percentile: $78,750 -> $73,238

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $42,78050th percentile: $56,750 -> $52,77875th percentile: $64,500 -> $59,985

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $38,13050th percentile: $50,500 -> $46,96575th percentile: $58,000 -> $53,940

8. St. Louis

Salaries in St. Louis are 0.5% higher than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $115,07350th percentile: $141,500 -> $142,20875th percentile: $170,000 -> $170,850

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $91,20450th percentile: $110,000 -> $110,55075th percentile: $128,000 -> $128,640

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $62,81350th percentile: $75,500 -> $75,87875th percentile: $87,500 -> $87,938

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $49,99950th percentile: $61,500 -> $61,80875th percentile: $70,750 -> $71,104

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $41,20550th percentile: $50,250 -> $50,50175th percentile: $59,500 -> $59,798

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $113,56550th percentile: $139,750 -> $140,44975th percentile: $162,000 -> $162,810

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $77,38550th percentile: $96,250 -> $96,73175th percentile: $110,250 -> $110,801

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $55,27550th percentile: $68,750 -> $69,09475th percentile: $78,750 -> $79,144

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $46,23050th percentile: $56,750 -> $57,03475th percentile: $64,500 -> $64,823

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $41,20550th percentile: $50,500 -> $50,75375th percentile: $58,000 -> $58,290

Related articles:

How Are Public Accounting Salaries Stacking Up For 2022?

2022 Projected Public Accounting Salaries In Five HCOL Cities

2022 Projected Public Accounting Salaries In Eight MCOL Cities

The post 2022 Projected Public Accounting Salaries In Eight LCOL Cities appeared first on Going Concern.

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