Tax Preparer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Tax Preparers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $57,890 a year ($27.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,700 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $54,920. Pay here is 1% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $58,520. There are 0.37 tax preparers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $63,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tax preparers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| 25th percentile | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| Median | $57,890 | $27.83 |
| 75th percentile | $70,480 | $33.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,700 | $47.45 |
| Average (mean) | $63,470 | $30.51 |
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 | $4,824.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,412.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,226.54 |
| Weekly | $1,113.27 |
| Hourly | $27.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,890 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 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $62,010 | 1,150 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $56,160 | 660 |
| Roanoke, VA | $53,630 | 50 |
| Charleston, WV | $45,650 | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $44,320 | 370 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $42,700 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $35,100 | 60 |
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $102,140 | $49.11 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $108,330 | $52.08 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $120,580 | $57.97 |
| Loan Officer | $97,800 | $47.02 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $106,230 | $51.07 |
| Budget Analyst | $125,050 | $60.12 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $126,510 | $60.82 |
| Credit Analyst | $114,700 | $55.15 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $81,320 | $39.10 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $90,990 | $43.75 |
| Financial Examiner | $157,560 | $75.75 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $82,150 | $39.50 |
| Credit Counselor | $61,930 | $29.78 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $104,770 | $50.37 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for tax preparers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $57,890 a year, or $27.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tax preparers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of tax preparers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $98,700 a year. The top 25% earn $70,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for tax preparers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,640 a year, and a quarter of tax preparers earn $43,530 or less.
How many tax preparers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 1,150 tax preparers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.