Tax Preparer salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Tax Preparers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $44,320 a year ($21.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,730 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $54,920. Pay here is 24% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $58,520. There are 0.48 tax preparers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $54,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tax preparers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| 25th percentile | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Median | $44,320 | $21.31 |
| 75th percentile | $60,440 | $29.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,730 | $38.33 |
| Average (mean) | $54,340 | $26.13 |
Half of tax preparers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,693.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,846.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,704.62 |
| Weekly | $852.31 |
| Hourly | $21.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,320 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tax Preparer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $62,160 | 310 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $57,890 | 1,150 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $57,090 | 150 |
| Roanoke, VA | $53,630 | 50 |
| Wilmington, NC | $52,220 | 130 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $50,350 | 850 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $47,940 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $47,930 | 80 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $47,860 | 150 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,290 | n/a |
| Fayetteville, NC | $45,620 | 90 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $45,250 | 150 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $43,550 | 30 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $42,700 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for tax preparers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $71,850 |
| California | $70,030 |
| Utah | $66,720 |
| Montana | $63,080 |
| Missouri | $62,780 |
| Colorado | $62,620 |
| Alaska | $62,360 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 |
| Oregon | $61,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 |
See Tax Preparer pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,450 | $38.20 |
| Loan Officer | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $89,920 | $43.23 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $95,170 | $45.76 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| Budget Analyst | $90,020 | $43.28 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $58,460 | $28.11 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Credit Analyst | $79,050 | $38.00 |
| Credit Counselor | $51,880 | $24.94 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $94,220 | $45.30 |
| Financial Examiner | $71,270 | $34.26 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,530 | $42.08 |
| Management Analyst | $101,380 | $48.74 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2082. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for tax preparers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $44,320 a year, or $21.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tax preparers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of tax preparers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $79,730 a year. The top 25% earn $60,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for tax preparers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,270 a year, and a quarter of tax preparers earn $36,610 or less.
How many tax preparers work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 370 tax preparers are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.