Taxation Degree Programs in Pittsburgh, PA (2026)

Quick answer: The Pittsburgh metro employs about 10,430 accountants and auditors (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state board of accountancy for current requirements.

Compare taxation programs enrolling now:

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Tax practice sits under the accounting profession’s credentials. CPA licensure is state-regulated and the degree alone does not confer it; federal practitioner status has its own requirements, and a master’s in taxation is commonly used toward the education hours CPA candidacy asks for - the exact requirement varies by state.

See the Pennsylvania licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state board of accountancy for current requirements.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 2 schools within 247 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 2 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Villanova University

Villanova, PA 246.1 miles away BOC Score 77.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 92.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 174
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $104,228 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Widener University

Chester, PA 247.3 miles away BOC Score 65.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 65.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 200
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $80,946 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Accountants and Auditors Earn in Pittsburgh

Accountants and Auditors in the Pittsburgh area earn a median $76,940 per year, below the national median of $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Taxation Pay in Pittsburgh, PA

MetricPittsburgh metroPennsylvaniaNational
Median annual wage$76,940$79,000$83,680
10th percentile$51,040$50,680$56,020
25th percentile$60,550$62,330$67,020
75th percentile$97,760$99,990$109,810
90th percentile$124,880$130,270$144,090
Employment10,43054,2901,449,500
Location quotient1.0-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Pittsburgh median of $76,940 is below the national median of $83,680, and below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $79,000 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.0 means accountants and auditors are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Tax work concentrates where corporate headquarters and large accounting practices are, with a seasonal market everywhere.

Other Pennsylvania Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Philadelphia$85,99029,370
Harrisburg$76,5103,210
Allentown$78,4302,500
Lancaster$76,1101,990
Scranton$70,4801,640
York$75,1601,400
Reading$75,5501,230
Erie$70,000970

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do accountants and auditors make in Pittsburgh?

The median annual wage for accountants and auditors in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $76,940, below the national median of $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many accountants and auditors work in the Pittsburgh area?

The Pittsburgh, PA metro area employs about 10,430 accountants and auditors (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do accountants and auditors in Pittsburgh need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Tax practice sits under the accounting profession's credentials. CPA licensure is state-regulated and the degree alone does not confer it; federal practitioner status has its own requirements, and a master's in taxation is commonly used toward the education hours CPA candidacy asks for - the exact requirement varies by state. Confirm current requirements with your state board of accountancy for current requirements.

Can I study taxation online from Pittsburgh?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of accountancy for current requirements.

Is Pittsburgh a better market than the rest of Pennsylvania?

The Pittsburgh metro median is $76,940 against a statewide median of $79,000 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.