Earlier this week we looked at public accounting starting salaries in five of the most expensive US cities to live in and how much higher they are than the projected national averages recently published in the Robert Half 2022 Accounting & Finance Salary Guide.

A discussion you often see among professionals on Fishbowl and Reddit is: Is such and such a city considered HCOL or MCOL? Or: Is such and such a city considered MCOL or LCOL? A lot of it is subjective. Let’s take Atlanta, for example. Would you consider Atlanta to have a high cost of living, a medium cost of living, or a low cost of living? It’s obviously cheaper to live in than New York City but more expensive than, say, Akron, OH.

From what I’ve seen discussed around the online water cooler, most people say Atlanta is a MCOL city. And according to this 2021 cost of living index, Atlanta is the 30th most expensive city when you factor in cost of living and rent. So because Atlanta is ranked lower than San Francisco, New York City, DC, Boston, and Seattle in that COL index, we’re going to consider the ATL as a MCOL.

Besides Atlanta, there are seven other big cities—ranked between 15th and 70th in the COL index—that we’re putting in the MCOL category for the purposes of this article. Each of these cities has a Big 4 presence and a national accounting firm presence (i.e., RSM US, BDO USA, Grant Thornton):

ChicagoDallasDenverPortland, ORMiamiPhiladelphiaPhoenix

How do public accounting starting salaries in these eight cities for 2022 compare to the projected averages nationwide? 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. Here are the starting salary comparisons for those eight MCOL cities:

1. Atlanta

Salaries in Atlanta are 7.5% higher than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $123,08850th percentile: $141,500 -> $152,11375th percentile: $170,000 -> $182,750

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $97,55650th percentile: $110,000 -> $118,25075th percentile: $128,000 -> $137,600

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $67,18850th percentile: $75,500 -> $81,16375th percentile: $87,500 -> $94,063

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $53,48150th percentile: $61,500 -> $66,11375th percentile: $70,750 -> $76,056

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $44,07550th percentile: $50,250 -> $54,01975th percentile: $59,500 -> $63,963

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $121,47550th percentile: $139,750 -> $150,23175th percentile: $162,000 -> $174,150

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $82,77550th percentile: $96,250 -> $103,46975th percentile: $110,250 -> $118,519

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $59,12550th percentile: $68,750 -> $73,90675th percentile: $78,750 -> $84,656

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $49,45050th percentile: $56,750 -> $61,00675th percentile: $64,500 -> $69,338

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $44,07550th percentile: $50,500 -> $54,28875th percentile: $58,000 -> $62,350

2. Chicago

Salaries in Chicago are 24% higher than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $141,98050th percentile: $141,500 -> $175,46075th percentile: $170,000 -> $210,800

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $112,53050th percentile: $110,000 -> $136,40075th percentile: $128,000 -> $158,720

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $77,50050th percentile: $75,500 -> $93,62075th percentile: $87,500 -> $108,500

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $61,69050th percentile: $61,500 -> $76,26075th percentile: $70,750 -> $87,730

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $50,84050th percentile: $50,250 -> $62,31075th percentile: $59,500 -> $73,780

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $140,12050th percentile: $139,750 -> $173,29075th percentile: $162,000 -> $200,880

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $95,48050th percentile: $96,250 -> $119,35075th percentile: $110,250 -> $136,710

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $68,20050th percentile: $68,750 -> $85,25075th percentile: $78,750 -> $97,650

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $57,04050th percentile: $56,750 -> $70,37075th percentile: $64,500 -> $79,980

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $50,84050th percentile: $50,500 -> $62,62075th percentile: $58,000 -> $71,920

3. Dallas

4. Denver

5. Portland, OR

Salaries in Dallas, Denver, and Portland, OR are 11% higher than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $127,09550th percentile: $141,500 -> $157,06575th percentile: $170,000 -> $188,700

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $100,73350th percentile: $110,000 -> $122,10075th percentile: $128,000 -> $142,080

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $69,37550th percentile: $75,500 -> $83,80575th percentile: $87,500 -> $97,125

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $55,22350th percentile: $61,500 -> $68,26575th percentile: $70,750 -> $78,533

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $45,51050th percentile: $50,250 -> $55,77875th percentile: $59,500 -> $66,045

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $125,43050th percentile: $139,750 -> $155,12375th percentile: $162,000 -> $179,820

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $85,47050th percentile: $96,250 -> $106,83875th percentile: $110,250 -> $122,378

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $61,05050th percentile: $68,750 -> $76,31375th percentile: $78,750 -> $87,413

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $51,06050th percentile: $56,750 -> $62,99375th percentile: $64,500 -> $71,595

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $45,51050th percentile: $50,500 -> $56,05575th percentile: $58,000 -> $64,380

6. Miami

Salaries in Miami are 10% higher than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $125,95050th percentile: $141,500 -> $155,65075th percentile: $170,000 -> $187,000

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $99,82550th percentile: $110,000 -> $121,00075th percentile: $128,000 -> $140,800

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $68,75050th percentile: $75,500 -> $83,05075th percentile: $87,500 -> $96,250

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $54,72550th percentile: $61,500 -> $67,65075th percentile: $70,750 -> $77,825

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $45,10050th percentile: $50,250 -> $55,27575th percentile: $59,500 -> $65,450

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $124,30050th percentile: $139,750 -> $153,72575th percentile: $162,000 -> $178,200

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $84,70050th percentile: $96,250 -> $105,87575th percentile: $110,250 -> $121,275

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $60,50050th percentile: $68,750 -> $75,62575th percentile: $78,750 -> $86,625

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $50,60050th percentile: $56,750 -> $62,42575th percentile: $64,500 -> $70,950

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $45,10050th percentile: $50,500 -> $55,55075th percentile: $58,000 -> $63,800

7. Philadelphia

Salaries in Philadelphia are 15% higher than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $131,67550th percentile: $141,500 -> $162,72575th percentile: $170,000 -> $195,500

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $104,36350th percentile: $110,000 -> $126,50075th percentile: $128,000 -> $147,200

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $71,87550th percentile: $75,500 -> $86,82575th percentile: $87,500 -> $100,625

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $57,21350th percentile: $61,500 -> $70,72575th percentile: $70,750 -> $81,363

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $47,15050th percentile: $50,250 -> $57,78875th percentile: $59,500 -> $68,425

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $129,95050th percentile: $139,750 -> $160,71375th percentile: $162,000 -> $186,300

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $88,55050th percentile: $96,250 -> $110,68875th percentile: $110,250 -> $126,788

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $63,25050th percentile: $68,750 -> $79,06375th percentile: $78,750 -> $90,563

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $52,90050th percentile: $56,750 -> $65,26375th percentile: $64,500 -> $74,175

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $47,15050th percentile: $50,500 -> $58,07575th percentile: $58,000 -> $66,700

8. Phoenix

Salaries in Phoenix are 18% higher than the national average.

Senior manager/director tax services

25th percentile: $114,500 -> $135,11050th percentile: $141,500 -> $166,97075th percentile: $170,000 -> $200,600

Manager of tax services

25th percentile: $90,750 -> $107,08550th percentile: $110,000 -> $129,80075th percentile: $128,000 -> $151,040

Senior tax accountant

25th percentile: $62,500 -> $73,75050th percentile: $75,500 -> $89,09075th percentile: $87,500 -> $103,250

Tax accountant, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $49,750 -> $58,70550th percentile: $61,500 -> $72,57075th percentile: $70,750 -> $83,485

Entry-level tax accountant

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $48,38050th percentile: $50,250 -> $59,29575th percentile: $59,500 -> $70,210

Senior manager/director audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $113,000 -> $133,34050th percentile: $139,750 -> $164,90575th percentile: $162,000 -> $191,160

Manager audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $77,000 -> $90,86050th percentile: $96,250 -> $113,57575th percentile: $110,250 -> $130,095

Senior audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $55,000 -> $64,90050th percentile: $68,750 -> $81,12575th percentile: $78,750 -> $92,925

udit and assurance services, 1-3 years’ experience

25th percentile: $46,000 -> $54,28050th percentile: $56,750 -> $66,96575th percentile: $64,500 -> $76,110

Entry-level audit and assurance services

25th percentile: $41,000 -> $48,38050th percentile: $50,500 -> $59,59075th percentile: $58,000 -> $68,440

We’ll take a look at 2022 starting salary expectations in public accounting for a handful of LCOL cities in the coming days.

Related articles:

How Are Public Accounting Salaries Stacking Up For 2022?

2022 Projected Public Accounting Salaries In Five HCOL Cities

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

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https://www.accounting4quickbooks.com/?p=258