Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Accountant's pay go, state by state?
A Accountant's pay leaves the most room in New York — about $6,571/mo take-home against $1,621/mo typical rent — and the least in Hawaii.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $6,571/mo | $1,621/mo | 25% |
| New Jersey | $6,481/mo | $1,656/mo | 26% |
| District of Columbia | $6,626/mo | $1,900/mo | 29% |
| Rhode Island | $5,990/mo | $1,289/mo | 22% |
| Washington | $5,761/mo | $1,641/mo | 28% |
| North Carolina | $5,195/mo | $1,147/mo | 22% |
| California | $5,990/mo | $1,969/mo | 33% |
| Delaware | $5,333/mo | $1,321/mo | 25% |
| Massachusetts | $5,713/mo | $1,716/mo | 30% |
| South Dakota | $4,882/mo | $910/mo | 19% |
| Wisconsin | $4,973/mo | $1,033/mo | 21% |
| Oklahoma | $4,908/mo | $970/mo | 20% |
| Ohio | $4,911/mo | $986/mo | 20% |
| Kansas | $4,932/mo | $1,025/mo | 21% |
| Michigan | $4,952/mo | $1,072/mo | 22% |
| Maine | $4,983/mo | $1,104/mo | 22% |
| Wyoming | $4,853/mo | $979/mo | 20% |
| Minnesota | $5,084/mo | $1,230/mo | 24% |
| Illinois | $5,088/mo | $1,246/mo | 24% |
| Indiana | $4,848/mo | $1,022/mo | 21% |
| Connecticut | $5,301/mo | $1,483/mo | 28% |
| Colorado | $5,473/mo | $1,659/mo | 30% |
| Georgia | $5,133/mo | $1,320/mo | 26% |
| Texas | $5,129/mo | $1,328/mo | 26% |
| Virginia | $5,303/mo | $1,547/mo | 29% |
| Alaska | $5,108/mo | $1,361/mo | 27% |
| Pennsylvania | $4,899/mo | $1,176/mo | 24% |
| Maryland | $5,399/mo | $1,683/mo | 31% |
| Iowa | $4,644/mo | $932/mo | 20% |
| New Hampshire | $5,126/mo | $1,424/mo | 28% |
| Oregon | $5,097/mo | $1,431/mo | 28% |
| Arizona | $5,074/mo | $1,419/mo | 28% |
| Tennessee | $4,744/mo | $1,111/mo | 23% |
| Missouri | $4,607/mo | $997/mo | 22% |
| Vermont | $4,779/mo | $1,207/mo | 25% |
| West Virginia | $4,388/mo | $848/mo | 19% |
| New Mexico | $4,549/mo | $1,034/mo | 23% |
| Nebraska | $4,482/mo | $1,017/mo | 23% |
| Kentucky | $4,369/mo | $918/mo | 21% |
| Florida | $4,971/mo | $1,542/mo | 31% |
| Utah | $4,805/mo | $1,396/mo | 29% |
| North Dakota | $4,248/mo | $911/mo | 21% |
| Montana | $4,367/mo | $1,031/mo | 24% |
| Alabama | $4,285/mo | $967/mo | 23% |
| Nevada | $4,792/mo | $1,478/mo | 31% |
| Louisiana | $4,310/mo | $1,028/mo | 24% |
| South Carolina | $4,341/mo | $1,131/mo | 26% |
| Arkansas | $4,067/mo | $903/mo | 22% |
| Mississippi | $3,981/mo | $933/mo | 23% |
| Idaho | $4,070/mo | $1,163/mo | 29% |
| Hawaii | $4,517/mo | $1,927/mo | 43% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.