Tax Preparer salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A tax preparer earns a median of $54,920 a year ($26.40 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $60,930. About 76,480 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $54,920
- Gross pay
- $2,112.31
- Federal income tax
- −$169.63
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$130.96
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$30.63
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,781.09
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $54,920
- Federal
- $4,410
- FICA
- $4,201
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $46,308
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
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BLS occupation: Tax Preparers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 13-2082). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $26.40; the average is $29.30.
What is the salary range for a tax preparer?
The bottom 10% earn under $33,760 and the top 10% earn over $99,270 a year.
How much is $54,920 after taxes?
About $46,308 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $44,260 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.