Tax Preparer salary in Wilmington, NC
Tax Preparers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $52,220 a year ($25.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,170 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $54,920. Pay here is 8% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $48,130. There are 0.69 tax preparers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $56,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tax preparers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| 25th percentile | $41,510 | $19.96 |
| Median | $52,220 | $25.11 |
| 75th percentile | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,170 | $38.54 |
| Average (mean) | $56,120 | $26.98 |
Half of tax preparers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,351.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,175.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,008.46 |
| Weekly | $1,004.23 |
| Hourly | $25.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Tax Preparer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $57,090 | 150 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $50,350 | 850 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $47,940 | 80 |
| Asheville, NC | $47,930 | 80 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $47,860 | 150 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,290 | n/a |
| Fayetteville, NC | $45,620 | 90 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $45,250 | 150 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $44,320 | 370 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $43,550 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for tax preparers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $71,850 |
| California | $70,030 |
| Utah | $66,720 |
| Montana | $63,080 |
| Missouri | $62,780 |
| Colorado | $62,620 |
| Alaska | $62,360 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 |
| Oregon | $61,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 |
See Tax Preparer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Loan Officer | $82,340 | $39.59 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $102,590 | $49.32 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $87,970 | $42.29 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,230 | $38.57 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $69,610 | $33.47 |
| Budget Analyst | $59,050 | $28.39 |
| Credit Analyst | $72,870 | $35.04 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $67,450 | $32.43 |
| Project Management Specialist | $89,120 | $42.85 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $72,640 | $34.92 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $69,480 | $33.40 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $64,440 | $30.98 |
| Management Analyst | $86,960 | $41.81 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2082. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make in Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for tax preparers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $52,220 a year, or $25.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tax preparers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of tax preparers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $80,170 a year. The top 25% earn $67,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for tax preparers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,730 a year, and a quarter of tax preparers earn $41,510 or less.
How many tax preparers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 130 tax preparers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.