Tax Preparers pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,170 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Wilmington earn between $41,510 and $67,890.
- $37K10th
- $42K25th
- $52KMedian
- $68K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,120 | $4,677 | $26.98 |
| Median | $52,220 | $4,352 | $25.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,510 | $3,459 | $19.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,890 | $5,658 | $32.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($57,820) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $56,120 | $52,220 | $36,730 | $80,170 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $57,820 | $48,130 | $35,480 | $97,720 | 2,710 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Wilmington
On the average salary of $56,120, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $45,542 a year, or $3,795 a month and $1,752 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for tax preparers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $56,120 buys what about $58,202 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 4th of 10 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($63,660).
- Charlotte$63,660
- Durham$61,570
- Asheville$57,430
- Wilmington$56,120
- Raleigh$55,450
- Fayetteville$55,320
- Greensboro$55,080
- Hickory$53,200
- Winston-Salem$53,040
- Jacksonville$49,710
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
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Tax Preparers salary in Wilmington: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Wilmington?
$26.98 an hour on average, and $25.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $45,542 a year ($3,795 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,120.
Do tax preparers earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2082; area Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.41, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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