Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018

13-2082 Tax Preparers

Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses. Excludes "Accountants and Auditors" (13-2011).


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
68,090 2.9 % $22.53 $46,860 1.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $9.88 $12.64 $18.94 $28.90 $39.29
Annual Wage (2) $20,550 $26,280 $39,390 $60,120 $81,720


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services 66,140 6.89 $22.47 $46,740
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 410 0.04 $29.31 $60,960
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 220 0.01 $33.83 $70,360
Nondepository Credit Intermediation 160 0.03 $16.02 $33,320
Management of Companies and Enterprises 120 0.01 $29.17 $60,680

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services 66,140 6.89 $22.47 $46,740
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 410 0.04 $29.31 $60,960
Nondepository Credit Intermediation 160 0.03 $16.02 $33,320
Management of Companies and Enterprises 120 0.01 $29.17 $60,680
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 220 0.01 $33.83 $70,360

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 30 (7) $41.82 $86,980
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 220 0.01 $33.83 $70,360
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 410 0.04 $29.31 $60,960
Management of Companies and Enterprises 120 0.01 $29.17 $60,680
Employment Services 110 (7) $24.35 $50,650


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 10,200 0.60 1.27 $27.42 $57,040
Texas 6,280 0.52 1.10 $23.92 $49,750
Florida 4,120 0.48 1.02 $18.76 $39,020
New York 4,070 0.43 0.92 $30.50 $63,440
Illinois 3,370 0.56 1.19 $14.52 $30,200




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oklahoma 1,460 0.92 1.95 $20.59 $42,820
South Dakota 380 0.90 1.91 $20.50 $42,650
Alaska 260 0.83 1.76 $26.81 $55,760
Tennessee 2,390 0.81 1.72 $22.44 $46,670
Vermont 230 0.75 1.58 $22.52 $46,830




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 250 0.35 0.73 $46.67 $97,070
Massachusetts 1,600 0.45 0.95 $31.57 $65,670
New York 4,070 0.43 0.92 $30.50 $63,440
Colorado 1,130 0.43 0.91 $27.72 $57,650
California 10,200 0.60 1.27 $27.42 $57,040





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,870 0.80 1.69 $26.76 $55,660
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 4,300 0.45 0.96 $30.39 $63,210
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 2,750 0.59 1.26 $14.39 $29,930
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,370 0.66 1.41 $23.44 $48,750
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,830 0.68 1.45 $21.29 $44,290
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,500 0.58 1.23 $16.64 $34,620
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,490 0.62 1.31 $34.10 $70,930
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,440 0.52 1.11 $32.03 $66,620
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,330 0.42 0.90 $26.54 $55,200
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 1,280 1.32 2.81 $23.64 $49,180




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Warner Robins, GA 170 2.40 5.09 $11.53 $23,990
Farmington, NM 100 2.06 4.38 $14.89 $30,970
San Angelo, TX 70 1.57 3.33 $22.17 $46,110
Grants Pass, OR 40 1.54 3.28 $14.87 $30,920
Victoria, TX 60 1.47 3.13 $24.27 $50,470
Johnson City, TN 100 1.36 2.89 $17.80 $37,030
Port St. Lucie, FL 190 1.32 2.82 $13.49 $28,060
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 1,280 1.32 2.81 $23.64 $49,180
Bowling Green, KY 90 1.27 2.69 $19.21 $39,950
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 690 1.25 2.66 $22.60 $47,010