The average salary for a Accountant in Durham is 85,792 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 7,149 $ gross per month and 41.25 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 48,000 $ to 135,111 $. The analysis is based on 32 salary reports from workers and employers in Durham. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/01/2026 | Senior Accounting Manager | 44.0 h | 140,000 $ | 127,273 $ | 10,606 $ | 61.19 $ | I'm a senior accounting manager at a large organization overseeing multiple teams and complex reporting. I have over 15 years of experience and this is a demanding full-time leadership role. |
| 06/28/2026 | Independent Bookkeeper / Consultant | 34.0 h | 68,000 $ | 80,000 $ | 6,667 $ | 38.46 $ | I work as an independent bookkeeper and consultant for several small businesses. I average about 34 hours a week and handle bookkeeping, payroll, and quarterly filings. |
| 06/12/2026 | Startup Finance Lead | 40.0 h | 89,000 $ | 89,000 $ | 7,417 $ | 42.79 $ | I lead finance at an early-stage startup handling accounting, payroll, and financial planning. It's a full-time generalist role and I've been here two years. |
| 05/18/2026 | Tax Accountant (Remote Hybrid) | 37.5 h | 76,000 $ | 81,067 $ | 6,756 $ | 38.97 $ | I work hybrid full-time in tax compliance for a mid-sized firm. I've been here four years; duties include client return preparation and tax research. |
| 04/21/2026 | Senior Accountant - Revenue | 40.0 h | 102,500 $ | 102,500 $ | 8,542 $ | 49.28 $ | I am a senior revenue accountant at a subscription-based business. This is a full-time role focused on revenue recognition and complex contract accounting. |
| 03/07/2026 | Corporate Controller | 45.0 h | 152,000 $ | 135,111 $ | 11,259 $ | 64.96 $ | I'm the corporate controller at a growing regional company. I lead finance and accounting functions, manage multiple direct reports, and work extended hours during reporting cycles. |
| 01/11/2026 | Accounting Specialist (Part-Time) | 20.0 h | 36,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I'm a part-time accounting specialist handling invoicing and A/R for a small design firm. I prefer the reduced hours and have been in this role for three years. |
| 09/22/2025 | Senior Cost Accountant | 40.0 h | 98,000 $ | 98,000 $ | 8,167 $ | 47.12 $ | I work full-time as a senior cost accountant for a biotech company in the area. I handle product costing, margin analysis, and partner with operations on pricing decisions. |
| 06/30/2025 | Private Practice CPA (Self-Employed) | 35.0 h | 112,000 $ | 128,000 $ | 10,667 $ | 61.54 $ | I run a small private accounting practice and work as a self-employed CPA. My schedule is slightly below typical full-time hours but the role includes client advisory, tax services, and bookkeeping. |
| 04/14/2025 | External Auditor (Senior) | 42.0 h | 88,000 $ | 83,810 $ | 6,984 $ | 40.29 $ | I'm a senior auditor at a regional CPA firm. The role is full-time and I supervise field teams during audits; I travel locally and work longer hours during busy season. |
| 01/27/2025 | Senior Tax Consultant | 40.0 h | 128,000 $ | 128,000 $ | 10,667 $ | 61.54 $ | I work full-time as a senior tax consultant providing planning and compliance for corporate clients. I have extensive experience and occasionally manage small engagement teams. |
| 09/03/2024 | Controller (Nonprofit) | 40.0 h | 93,000 $ | 93,000 $ | 7,750 $ | 44.71 $ | I serve as controller for a mid-sized nonprofit. This full-time leadership role includes budgeting, audits, and supervising the accounting team. I've been in this position five years. |
| 05/19/2024 | Senior Financial Reporting Accountant | 40.0 h | 98,000 $ | 98,000 $ | 8,167 $ | 47.12 $ | I'm a senior financial reporting accountant at a public company. I handle consolidated reporting and disclosure tasks; it's a full-time role with significant technical responsibility. |
| 02/08/2024 | Tax Staff (Part-Time) | 28.0 h | 42,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I work part-time as a tax preparer for a boutique firm during tax season and year-round for advisory projects. I'm experienced but chose part-time hours to balance family obligations. |
| 10/12/2023 | Assistant Controller | 45.0 h | 135,000 $ | 120,000 $ | 10,000 $ | 57.69 $ | I'm the assistant controller in a fast-growing company. I work long hours and oversee month-end, reporting, and a small team. I have over 12 years of experience in accounting leadership. |
| 06/21/2023 | Staff Accountant (Startup) | 40.0 h | 66,500 $ | 66,500 $ | 5,542 $ | 31.97 $ | I'm a staff accountant at a tech startup; this full-time role includes corporate accounting, payroll, and equity reporting. I've been here three years and wear multiple hats. |
| 03/03/2023 | Cost Accounting Manager | 40.0 h | 118,500 $ | 118,500 $ | 9,875 $ | 56.97 $ | I manage cost accounting for a mid-sized manufacturing plant. I'm responsible for costing methodology, reporting, and I supervise two analysts in a full-time leadership role. |
| 11/29/2022 | Senior Accountant - Grants | 40.0 h | 78,000 $ | 78,000 $ | 6,500 $ | 37.50 $ | I manage grant accounting and reporting for a nonprofit. It's a full-time position with five years of experience in this specialty and some responsibility for mentoring junior staff. |
| 07/05/2022 | Tax Manager | 44.0 h | 125,000 $ | 113,636 $ | 9,470 $ | 54.63 $ | I'm a tax manager leading a small team at a regional practice. I have over 10 years of experience and I work extended hours during busy season; I oversee client tax strategy and compliance. |
| 02/15/2022 | Staff Accountant (Part-Time) | 25.0 h | 30,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I work part-time as a staff accountant for a nonprofit. I've been doing this for two years, handling donor accounting and monthly reconciliations on a 25-hour schedule. |
| 10/11/2021 | Accounting Manager | 43.0 h | 115,000 $ | 106,977 $ | 8,915 $ | 51.43 $ | I am the accounting manager overseeing a team of three. I work long hours during close periods and have seven years in management. The role is full-time and includes strategic responsibilities. |
| 05/27/2021 | Senior Financial Accountant | 40.0 h | 90,000 $ | 90,000 $ | 7,500 $ | 43.27 $ | I work full-time as a senior financial accountant for a larger corporation. I handle complex reconciliations and SOX tasks and have been in this position four years. |
| 11/18/2020 | Controller (Small Business) | 42.5 h | 98,000 $ | 92,235 $ | 7,686 $ | 44.34 $ | I'm the controller at a small privately held company. I oversee finance, month-end close, and a small accounting team. This is a leadership role and I've been here six years. |
| 04/02/2020 | Tax Senior | 42.0 h | 82,000 $ | 78,095 $ | 6,508 $ | 37.55 $ | I'm a senior tax accountant and often work longer hours during season. I manage client workstreams and review juniors at a regional firm; I've been in this role three years. |
| 09/10/2019 | Cost Accountant | 40.0 h | 64,000 $ | 64,000 $ | 5,333 $ | 30.77 $ | I'm a cost accountant for a medium-sized manufacturing company with six years experience. My role is full-time and involves inventory costing and variance analysis. |
| 03/21/2019 | Payroll Accountant | 36.0 h | 51,000 $ | 56,667 $ | 4,722 $ | 27.24 $ | I work full-time in payroll for a small manufacturing business. I've been here four years and manage weekly payroll, taxes, and reporting. |
| 10/30/2018 | Senior Accountant | 40.0 h | 72,500 $ | 72,500 $ | 6,042 $ | 34.86 $ | I'm a senior accountant at a large tech company in the area. I have seven years of experience and lead close processes for several entities, but I don't have direct reports. |
| 06/14/2018 | Staff Accountant II | 40.0 h | 60,500 $ | 60,500 $ | 5,042 $ | 29.09 $ | I've been a mid-level staff accountant at a regional healthcare organization for five years. This is a full-time position and I handle general ledger, fixed assets, and assist with month-end close. |
| 11/08/2017 | Junior Accountant | 37.5 h | 45,500 $ | 48,533 $ | 4,044 $ | 23.33 $ | I'm a junior accountant in a nonprofit and have been here 1.5 years. It's full-time but with flexible hours; my responsibilities include grant tracking and monthly reporting. |
| 05/23/2017 | Tax Accountant | 38.0 h | 56,000 $ | 58,947 $ | 4,912 $ | 28.34 $ | I'm a tax accountant at a mid-sized firm with four years of experience. I work full-time during the year and longer hours during tax season; I don't supervise staff. |
| 12/02/2016 | Bookkeeper / Accountant | 30.0 h | 36,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I work part-time handling bookkeeping and payroll for a family-owned business. I've been in this role three years and am responsible for day-to-day transactions and payroll processing. |
| 09/12/2016 | Staff Accountant | 40.0 h | 48,500 $ | 48,500 $ | 4,042 $ | 23.32 $ | I'm an entry-level staff accountant and I have been here two years in a full-time role at a small local firm. I handle month-end reconciliations and A/P. Hours are steady and I don't manage others. |
Durham, North Carolina sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, a diversified economy anchored by higher education, healthcare, life sciences, technology, and financial services. That mix creates steady, year-round demand for accountants at every level. Employers in and around Durham often seek professionals who can navigate U.S. GAAP, support audit readiness, manage grants and contracts, and help organizations adopt or optimize modern ERP systems. The region’s growth, combined with ongoing regulatory and reporting needs, generally supports a positive outlook for accountants who bring strong technical skills and business acumen.
Accountants in Durham typically find opportunities across corporate finance teams, public accounting firms, nonprofit and university finance offices, and local government agencies. Many roles are hybrid, with month-end close, audit fieldwork, or inventory observations sometimes requiring time on-site. Busy-season dynamics are common in public accounting and corporate reporting environments, while research institutions and nonprofits may have funding cycle peaks tied to grants and fiscal year ends.
The Durham–Chapel Hill metro area, closely linked with Raleigh through Research Triangle Park (much of which lies in Durham County), has a deep bench of employers that rely on accounting talent. Hiring demand often concentrates in these areas:
Employers commonly prefer candidates with a CPA or progress toward the designation for financial reporting and audit-related roles. CMA and CIA credentials can be beneficial for cost accounting and internal audit. Tools most frequently cited in local postings include advanced Excel, Power BI or similar analytics, and ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, and NetSuite. Contract and project-based roles are also prevalent during audit prep, system implementations, and year-end close periods.
Durham hosts a mix of large institutions, public companies, and research organizations that regularly hire accountants:
Early-career accountants in Durham can start as staff accountants, AP/AR specialists, or grant accounting coordinators in universities, nonprofits, and growing private companies. Public accounting firms serving Triangle clients frequently recruit from area universities, and many professionals begin in audit or tax before moving into corporate roles.
Mid-career paths commonly include senior accountant, cost accountant, revenue accountant, financial analyst, and internal auditor. With experience, professionals can progress to accounting manager, controller, or director of accounting. In Durham’s research and healthcare ecosystem, specialization in grant compliance, clinical trial accounting, or healthcare reimbursement can be an advantage. For publicly traded or rapidly scaling companies, expertise in SOX, SEC reporting, and technical accounting is often valued.
Networking through the North Carolina Association of CPAs and Triangle-based professional groups can help candidates learn about unposted openings and project work. Overall, Durham’s diverse economy, strong institutional base, and active innovation corridor generally provide robust and varied opportunities for accountants seeking stable roles or high-growth environments.
The average salary for a Accountant in Durham is 85,792 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 7,149 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Accountant and the city overview for Durham. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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