Tax Preparers Salary
In Washington, tax preparers earn $45,370 at the median, or about $21.81 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $71K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $44,476 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 56.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Washington?
About tax preparers
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What this looks like in Washington
Pay for tax preparers in Washington runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $55K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 57% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for tax preparerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level tax preparers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $71K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Tax Preparers salary by metro in Washington
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $48K | +5% | 780 |
| Bellingham | $44K | -2% | 50 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $44K | -2% | 50 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $40K | -11% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track tax preparers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a tax preparer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 57% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for tax preparers in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tax preparers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,296/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 80% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tax preparer a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $45K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for tax preparers?
Washington pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do tax preparers make in Washington?
The median is $45,370 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,260, and experienced tax preparers can clear $71,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,208/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 57% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a tax preparers salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tax preparers salary is worth about $44,476 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tax preparers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.