Tax Preparers
Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
Also called: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) · Enrolled Agent · Income Tax Preparer · Tax Accountant · Tax Advisor · Tax Associate
Median pay (national)
$50,560
$30,500–$96,240 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
73,570
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.5%
~10,400 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for tax preparers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $96,240 versus $30,500 at the bottom 10% — 3.2x. The median of $50,560 leaves roughly 90% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.5% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 10,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, Alaska pays the most for this role (median $77,010, +52% vs the national median), while West Virginia sits lowest at $30,470 — a 153% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Intuit TurboTax, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Tax compliance property tax management software as in-demand technologies for this role.
Tailor your resume to Tax Preparers
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Tax Preparers
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
- Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
- Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
- Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
- Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures.
- Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required.
- Schedule appointments with clients.
- Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
- Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
- Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
Tools & technology
- Intuit TurboTax
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Tax compliance property tax management software
- Tax software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- ACI TaskTracker
- ATX Total Accounting Office
- ATX Total Tax Office
- CCH ProSystem fx TAX
- Creative Solutions CPA Depreciation
- Creative Solutions UltraTax CS
- Datagroup ElectroFile 1040
- Datagroup ElectroFile ELF
- Datagroup ElectroFile ST
- Datair Employee Benefits Systems
Knowledge areas
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Administrative
- Education and Training