Sets and defends the prices multinational companies charge between their own subsidiaries in different countries, a major international tax issue. BLS does not publish separate figures for accountants and auditors; it counts them within accountant (SOC 13-2011), whose median pay is $83,680 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-2011
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Transfer Pricing Specialist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $83,680a year, or $40.23/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $56KTop 10% $144K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 115,3001,595,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.6M
- Projected 20351.7M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.6M Projected 2035 1.7M - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Transfer Pricing Analyst, Transfer Pricing Manager, Transfer Pricing Economist, International Tax Transfer Pricing Consultant, Transfer Pricing Director.
Pay
How much do Accountants and Auditors make?
Every transfer pricing specialist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$83,680
Middle half earn $67,020 to $109,810
- 10th
- $56,020
- 25th
- $67,020
- 75th
- $109,810
- 90th
- $144,090
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $56,020 |
| 25th | $67,020 |
| Median | $83,680 |
| 75th | $109,810 |
| 90th | $144,090 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $83,680
- Median hourly wage
- $40.23/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $94,750
- People employed
- 1,449,500
Versus all US occupations
At $83,680, Accountants and Auditors earn 64% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $32,700 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 4% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $144,090 or more while the bottom 10% earn $56,020, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 64% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $111,530, and still leads at $101,482 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Accountants and Auditors 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $111,530 | $101,482 | 9,810 |
| 2New York | $102,640 | $95,107 | 109,830 |
| 3New Jersey | $100,830 | $92,670 | 42,250 |
| 4Massachusetts | $99,460 | $94,046 | 46,230 |
| 5Connecticut | $97,550 | $94,151 | 16,770 |
| 6California | $97,050 | $87,654 | 175,360 |
| 7Colorado | $97,030 | $94,156 | 35,410 |
| 8Washington | $96,550 | $90,223 | 34,740 |
| 9Rhode Island | $95,820 | $93,684 | 6,570 |
| 10Delaware | $95,020 | $95,203 | 6,570 |
Job outlook
Is Transfer Pricing Specialist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | +5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Accountants and Auditors to change 5.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 79,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 115,300 openings are projected each year, 7.2% of the 1,595,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Transfer Pricing Specialist
Transfer pricing specialists usually hold a bachelor's degree in accounting, economics or finance, and many have a master's in economics, taxation or business. Some are CPAs, and senior economists may hold PhDs.
Most start at the transfer pricing practices of large accounting or economic consulting firms, then move in-house to multinational tax departments. Skills in financial analysis, economic benchmarking with commercial databases, and clear writing are essential. Knowledge of the IRS Advance Pricing and Mutual Agreement program and OECD guidance develops on the job.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Transfer Pricing Specialist do?
When a multinational's US subsidiary sells products, licenses technology, or provides services to its affiliate in another country, tax authorities expect those prices to match what unrelated companies would charge. Transfer pricing specialists set those prices and prove they are fair.
They analyze how the company creates value, benchmark comparable companies and transactions, and write documentation required under Section 482 of the Internal Revenue Code and the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines. They help defend positions during IRS and foreign tax audits, negotiate advance pricing agreements, and model how business restructurings affect global taxes.
Day-to-day tasks
- Analyze intercompany transactions and value chains
- Benchmark comparable companies and transactions
- Prepare transfer pricing documentation for tax filings
- Support IRS and foreign tax authority audits
- Help negotiate advance pricing agreements
- Model tax effects of business restructurings
- Advise on intercompany agreements and policies
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Transfer pricing specialists work in offices at accounting firms, consulting firms and corporate tax departments, often with hybrid schedules. Deadlines cluster around tax filing seasons and audits. Some travel to client sites and work with colleagues in other countries across time zones.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors 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 dayConflict 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 Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.5
- Writing3.5
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Speaking3.4
- Mathematics3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Monitoring3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Persuasion3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Negotiation2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
“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 Transfer Pricing Specialist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ICE) built on O*NET's Accountant profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Transfer Pricing Specialist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| 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 investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Conventional7.0
- Investigative4.6
- Enterprising4.5
- Social2.1
- Realistic1.1
- Artistic1.1
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 Transfer Pricing Specialist
O*NET related occupations
- 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
- Management
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with accountants and auditors highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Transfer Pricing Specialist$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
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Transfer Pricing Specialist | $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 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Transfer Pricing Specialist appears on
Questions
Transfer Pricing Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do Accountants and Auditors make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for accountants and auditors. It counts them within accountant, whose median pay is $83,680 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $67,020 and $109,810, and the top 10% earn $144,090 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Transfer Pricing Specialist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Accountants and Auditors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation.
Is Transfer Pricing Specialist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 115,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Transfer Pricing Specialist do?
When a multinational's US subsidiary sells products, licenses technology, or provides services to its affiliate in another country, tax authorities expect those prices to match what unrelated companies would charge. A typical task: analyze intercompany transactions and value chains. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Accountants and Auditors the most?
The highest state medians for Accountants and Auditors are District of Columbia ($111,530), New York ($102,640), New Jersey ($100,830) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Transfer Pricing Specialist?
O*NET scores Accountants and Auditors highest on the Conventional, Investigative and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.