The median pay for Tax Preparers is $54,920 a year ($26.40/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.7% through 2035, with about 9,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 13-2082
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Tax Preparer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $54,920a year, or $26.40/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $34KTop 10% $99K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.7%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9,40095,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202595.8K
- Projected 2035100.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 95.8K Projected 2035 100.3K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school38.1%
- Certificate23.8%
- Associate's14.3%
- Bachelor's23.8%
Highest education held by tax preparers Segment Value High school 38.1% Certificate 23.8% Associate's 14.3% Bachelor's 23.8%
Also advertised as: CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Enrolled Agent, Income Tax Preparer, Tax Accountant, Tax Advisor, Tax Associate.
Pay
How much do Tax Preparers make?
Every tax preparer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$54,920
Middle half earn $38,910 to $76,300
- 10th
- $33,760
- 25th
- $38,910
- 75th
- $76,300
- 90th
- $99,270
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $33,760 |
| 25th | $38,910 |
| Median | $54,920 |
| 75th | $76,300 |
| 90th | $99,270 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $54,920
- Median hourly wage
- $26.40/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $60,930
- People employed
- 76,480
Versus all US occupations
At $54,920, Tax Preparers earn 8% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,940 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 32% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $99,270 or more while the bottom 10% earn $33,760, a gap of 2.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 27% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
New York posts the highest raw median ($71,850), but once local prices are taken into account Missouri leads at $69,128 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Tax Preparers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $71,850 | $66,576 | 7,620 |
| 2California | $70,030 | $63,250 | 10,270 |
| 3Utah | $66,720 | $67,487 | 1,190 |
| 4Montana | $63,080 | $66,649 | 360 |
| 5Missouri | $62,780 | $69,128 | 1,330 |
| 6Colorado | $62,620 | $60,765 | 1,540 |
| 7Alaska | $62,360 | $60,923 | 70 |
| 8New Hampshire | $61,370 | $58,916 | 420 |
| 9Oregon | $61,370 | $59,374 | 1,590 |
| 10Pennsylvania | $61,270 | $62,795 | 2,010 |
Job outlook
Is Tax Preparer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Tax Preparers | +4.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Tax Preparers to change 4.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 4,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 9,400 openings are projected each year, 9.8% of the 95,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Tax Preparer
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as tax preparers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)38.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate23.8%
- Bachelor's Degree23.8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree14.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 38.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 23.8% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 23.8% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 14.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Tax Preparer do?
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
Day-to-day tasks
- Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
- Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
- Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
- Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
- Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
- Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Speaking3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Writing3.0
- Mathematics3.0
- Monitoring3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Time Management3.1
- Service Orientation3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Coordination2.8
- Instructing2.8
- Persuasion2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.8 |
| Instructing | 2.8 |
| Persuasion | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Tax preparation software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Billing and invoicing software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Compliance software
- Document management software
- Financial analysis software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Tax Preparer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Tax Preparer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 7 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional6.8
- Enterprising3.4
- Investigative2.4
- Social2.3
- Realistic2.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Tax Preparer
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
Tax Examiner and Collector, and Revenue Agent
$62,370median a year
Most earn $42K to $115K
−1.0%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Office and Administrative Support
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk
$50,670median a year
Most earn $36K to $75K
−5.6%Some college - Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with tax preparers highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
- Tax Preparer$54,920
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
| Tax Preparer | $54,920 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Tax Preparer appears on
Questions
Tax Preparer: frequently asked questions
How much do Tax Preparers make?
Tax Preparers earn a median of $54,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 8% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $26.40/hr. The middle half earn between $38,910 and $76,300. The top 10% earn $99,270 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Tax Preparer?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Tax Preparers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 38.1% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Tax Preparer a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.7% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 9,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Tax Preparer do?
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses. A core O*NET task: compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Tax Preparers the most?
The highest state medians for Tax Preparers are New York ($71,850), California ($70,030), Utah ($66,720) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Missouri moves to the top at $69,128.
What personality type suits a Tax Preparer?
O*NET scores Tax Preparers highest on the Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.