Quick answer: Washington employs about 34,740 accountants and auditors (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state board of accountancy for current requirements. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Compare taxation programs enrolling now:
Licensing and Credentials in Washington
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.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state board of accountancy for current requirements that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
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 187 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
2 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
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.
Accountants and Auditors in Washington earn a median $96,550 per year, above the national median of $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Taxation Pay and Employment in Washington at a Glance
Metric
Washington
National
Source
Median annual wage
$96,550
$83,680
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$66,330
$56,020
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$79,180
$67,020
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$122,480
$109,810
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$152,310
$144,090
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
34,740
1,449,500
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.05
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
4.6%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Washington Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Washington median of $96,550 sits above the national median of $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.05 puts Washington slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Tax work concentrates where corporate headquarters and large accounting practices are, with a seasonal market everywhere.
Accountants and Auditors Wages by Metro Area in Washington
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), accountants and auditors wages in Washington vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
41,470
$102,140
$113,640
$67,530
$170,980
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
22,100
$99,370
$106,970
$73,250
$160,640
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
10,100
$92,200
$98,010
$64,680
$136,730
Spokane-Spokane Valley
2,340
$86,350
$94,690
$61,760
$134,650
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
1,330
$94,470
$97,490
$66,660
$127,570
Kennewick-Richland
1,020
$93,280
$97,810
$62,800
$136,900
Bellingham
870
$85,450
$93,020
$60,880
$136,830
Yakima
600
$82,380
$90,380
$60,230
$128,000
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard
580
$88,250
$95,260
$64,150
$131,510
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee
410
$87,770
$93,350
$59,700
$135,850
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
400
$92,920
$98,260
$64,720
$139,390
Longview-Kelso
250
$93,130
$95,550
$61,570
$137,280
Walla Walla
170
$89,630
$94,080
$63,730
$132,230
Lewiston
150
$77,790
$81,800
$55,760
$115,090
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
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 Washington?
The median annual wage for accountants and auditors in Washington is $96,550, above the national median of $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $79,180 at the 25th percentile to $122,480 at the 75th.
How many accountants and auditors work in Washington?
Washington holds about 34,740 tax professional jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 1,449,500, and BLS projects about 124,200 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a tax professional in Washington?
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. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state board of accountancy for current requirements before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a taxation master's online while working in Washington?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of accountancy for current requirements.
What is the highest-paying area of Washington for accountants and auditors?
Among Washington metro areas with published data, Seattle reports the highest median at $99,370 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Washington a good state for accountants and auditors?
On pay, the state median of $96,550 sits above the national $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.05 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
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/.
