The average salary for a Accountant in Norfolk is 77,339 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 6,445 $ gross per month and 37.18 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 41,429 $ to 126,667 $. The analysis is based on 32 salary reports from workers and employers in Norfolk. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/10/2026 | Senior Accounting Manager | 44.0 h | 128,000 $ | 116,364 $ | 9,697 $ | 55.94 $ | I am a senior accounting manager at a large regional employer overseeing multiple accounting teams and the close process. The role requires extended hours, averaging about 44 per week. |
| 12/15/2025 | Accounting Clerk (part-time) | 28.0 h | 29,000 $ | 41,429 $ | 3,452 $ | 19.92 $ | I work as a part-time accounting clerk (28 hours/week) doing data entry, vendor invoices, and month-end support for a small shop. This is my total annual gross for that schedule. |
| 08/01/2025 | Accounting Consultant (self-employed) | 30.0 h | 95,000 $ | 126,667 $ | 10,556 $ | 60.90 $ | I run my own accounting consultancy and provide fractional controller and tax advisory services. I work about 30 hours per week and this is my yearly gross from the practice. |
| 02/14/2025 | Tax Senior | 40.0 h | 95,000 $ | 95,000 $ | 7,917 $ | 45.67 $ | I work as a tax senior at a national firm location here in Norfolk. I prepare complex returns and handle client communications; I'm full-time and this is my reported compensation after tax season bonuses. |
| 10/20/2024 | Controller (large organization) | 45.0 h | 130,000 $ | 115,556 $ | 9,630 $ | 55.56 $ | I am the controller at a large regional organization and manage all accounting functions. The scope requires extended hours (about 45/week) during quarter and year-end close. |
| 05/05/2024 | Senior Accountant | 40.0 h | 89,000 $ | 89,000 $ | 7,417 $ | 42.79 $ | I'm a senior accountant focusing on financial close and supporting audits at a mid-sized organization. I've been promoted recently and now lead some reporting projects on a standard 40-hour schedule. |
| 01/11/2024 | Private Practice Accountant (sole proprietor) | 35.0 h | 110,000 $ | 125,714 $ | 10,476 $ | 60.44 $ | I run a private accounting practice providing tax and bookkeeping services to small businesses. I work about 35 hours per week and reported this as my annual gross from the practice. |
| 11/16/2023 | Staff Accountant | 37.5 h | 63,000 $ | 67,200 $ | 5,600 $ | 32.31 $ | I'm a staff accountant at a regional healthcare provider. I work 37.5 hours a week and handle A/P, A/R, and some grant accounting. |
| 07/22/2023 | Junior Accountant | 36.0 h | 54,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I'm a junior accountant at a small manufacturing company working 36 hours a week. I handle A/P, assist with inventory counts, and support month-end processes. |
| 03/01/2023 | Financial Reporting Manager | 42.0 h | 115,000 $ | 109,524 $ | 9,127 $ | 52.66 $ | I work as a financial reporting manager at a public company, overseeing external reporting and SEC filings. This is a management role and I average about 42 hours per week, more in busy seasons. |
| 12/05/2022 | Controller (nonprofit) | 40.0 h | 92,000 $ | 92,000 $ | 7,667 $ | 44.23 $ | I serve as controller for a mid-sized nonprofit. Compensation is slightly below corporate market but stable; I work a standard 40-hour week managing financials and reporting. |
| 09/30/2022 | Corporate Accountant | 40.0 h | 77,500 $ | 77,500 $ | 6,458 $ | 37.26 $ | I work as a corporate accountant in the finance department of a larger regional company. I've been here three years, focusing on account reconciliations and internal reporting on a 40-hour schedule. |
| 04/14/2022 | Payroll Accountant | 38.0 h | 58,000 $ | 61,053 $ | 5,088 $ | 29.35 $ | I'm a payroll accountant for a nonprofit and work full-time processing payroll for multiple entities. The role can be seasonal but my usual schedule is 38 hours/week. |
| 12/22/2021 | Controller (small business) | 45.0 h | 105,000 $ | 93,333 $ | 7,778 $ | 44.87 $ | I serve as the controller for a small but growing private company. I manage accounting, reporting, and a team of four; because of the broad scope I average about 45 hours a week. |
| 06/05/2021 | Senior Tax Analyst | 40.0 h | 85,000 $ | 85,000 $ | 7,083 $ | 40.87 $ | I am a senior tax analyst at a mid-sized corporation, responsible for quarterly provisions and tax planning. I've been here five years and work a standard 40-hour week. |
| 04/08/2021 | Senior Auditor | 40.0 h | 79,000 $ | 79,000 $ | 6,583 $ | 37.98 $ | I am a senior auditor at a regional firm, leading fieldwork and client deliverables. The role is full-time and this was my reported salary after receiving my senior designation. |
| 11/10/2020 | Staff Accountant (part-time) | 20.0 h | 35,000 $ | 70,000 $ | 5,833 $ | 33.65 $ | I work part-time as a staff accountant (20 hours/week) handling invoicing and reconciliations while finishing my CPA exams. My reported salary reflects the part-time arrangement. |
| 07/20/2020 | Tax Accountant | 38.0 h | 68,000 $ | 71,579 $ | 5,965 $ | 34.41 $ | I'm a tax accountant at a small CPA firm. I work full-time and focus on individual and small-business tax returns; this was my reported salary during a quieter year before promotions. |
| 02/14/2020 | Accounting Analyst | 38.0 h | 62,000 $ | 65,263 $ | 5,439 $ | 31.38 $ | I work as an accounting analyst supporting budgeting and forecasting for a mid-sized business. I'm full-time at 38 hours per week and this reflects post-raise pay in 2020. |
| 10/10/2019 | Accounting Supervisor | 42.0 h | 82,000 $ | 78,095 $ | 6,508 $ | 37.55 $ | I supervise a small accounting team and handle month-end close responsibilities. I'm full-time in a supervisory role and typically do closer to 42 hours weekly during reporting periods. |
| 06/03/2019 | Senior Cost Accountant | 40.0 h | 78,500 $ | 78,500 $ | 6,542 $ | 37.74 $ | I work as a senior cost accountant for a manufacturing firm and focus on standard costing and product margin analysis. I'm full-time and this was my compensation during a steady growth period. |
| 03/15/2019 | Accounting Manager | 42.0 h | 92,000 $ | 87,619 $ | 7,302 $ | 42.12 $ | I'm an accounting manager overseeing a small team of three. I've been in management for three years and typically work extra hours during close, so I'm often at 42 hours a week. |
| 01/28/2019 | Payroll Manager | 42.0 h | 88,500 $ | 84,286 $ | 7,024 $ | 40.52 $ | I'm the payroll manager overseeing payroll for multiple entities. I supervise two payroll specialists and typically work about 42 hours a week, especially around payroll close. |
| 11/02/2018 | Senior Accountant | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I work as a senior accountant at a regional employer. I've been in this role four years and handle month-end close and mentor two junior staff; I'm full-time. |
| 06/17/2018 | Tax Accountant (small firm) | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I work full-time as a tax accountant at a small local tax practice preparing individual and small business returns; growth has been steady and compensation reflects firm size. |
| 02/26/2018 | Cost Accountant | 40.0 h | 65,500 $ | 65,500 $ | 5,458 $ | 31.49 $ | I'm a cost accountant in manufacturing, responsible for inventory costing and variance analysis. I've been at this mid-level role for three years, working 40 hours per week. |
| 11/30/2017 | Entry Level Accountant | 40.0 h | 45,000 $ | 45,000 $ | 3,750 $ | 21.63 $ | I started as an entry-level accountant in a small office handling basic reconciliations and data entry. This was my first-year full-time salary. |
| 08/09/2017 | Audit Senior | 40.0 h | 74,000 $ | 74,000 $ | 6,167 $ | 35.58 $ | I'm an audit senior at a regional accounting firm. I lead small engagements and review staff work; this salary reflects the year when I had several busy audits but no manager title yet. |
| 05/23/2017 | Junior Accountant | 37.5 h | 43,500 $ | 46,400 $ | 3,867 $ | 22.31 $ | I'm a junior accountant doing payroll and accounts payable in a mid-sized company. I'm full-time and have been here just over a year, still learning tax season work. |
| 12/01/2016 | Bookkeeper (part-time) | 25.0 h | 28,800 $ | 46,080 $ | 3,840 $ | 22.15 $ | I work part-time as a bookkeeper for a small retail business, about 25 hours per week, handling daily bookkeeping and monthly reconciliations. This is my full reported income from that job. |
| 09/12/2016 | Staff Accountant | 40.0 h | 48,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I was hired as an entry-level staff accountant and have been full-time here for about two years at a small local firm. I handle month-end journal entries, reconciliations, and assist with preparing financial statements. |
| 07/20/2016 | Staff Accountant | 40.0 h | 50,200 $ | 50,200 $ | 4,183 $ | 24.13 $ | I am a staff accountant at a local nonprofit. I have been with the organization two years and handle reconciliations and grant tracking on a 40-hour schedule. |
Norfolk sits at the heart of the Hampton Roads economy, a maritime and defense hub that includes Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, and Hampton. For accountants, this translates into steady, year-round opportunities across government, healthcare, higher education, shipbuilding and repair, logistics, and professional services. Employers in the region often seek talent with a mix of technical accounting skills and familiarity with regulated environments.
The local outlook is generally favorable. National forecasts point to consistent demand for accountants and auditors, and Norfolk’s industry mix reinforces that trend. The presence of major naval operations, a busy port complex, and a significant nonprofit and public sector footprint means ongoing needs in financial reporting, compliance, grants management, and audit support. Many employers prefer candidates who can navigate government rules, work with large ERP systems, and communicate effectively with operations teams.
Norfolk’s labor market for accountants is shaped by three anchors: defense, ports and logistics, and healthcare/education. Defense and government-related work involves cost accounting, indirect rate management, contract compliance, and audit readiness tied to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), and Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) reviews. Port and logistics employers often seek professionals familiar with revenue recognition, inventory/cost control, capital projects, and international trade complexity. Healthcare and universities typically hire for grants accounting, financial reporting, revenue cycle support, and internal audit.
Hiring tends to be brisk during public accounting busy seasons and around fiscal year-ends (federal year-end on September 30, and June 30 for many governments and schools). Hybrid work can be available, but roles tied to defense or sensitive data may require on-site presence and, in some cases, eligibility for a security clearance. Software proficiency in Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, and advanced Excel is frequently valued.
Accountants in Norfolk, Virginia, can find opportunities with a range of well-known organizations that regularly recruit for staff, senior, and managerial roles:
Entry-level candidates typically start as staff accountants, accounts payable/receivable specialists, payroll analysts, or junior auditors. From there, professionals can move into senior accountant, cost accountant, grants or project accountant, revenue accountant, or internal auditor roles. Defense contractors frequently value experience with job-costing and project accounting, while universities and healthcare providers prioritize grants management and regulatory reporting.
Mid-career moves often include accounting manager, controller, compliance manager, or roles that blend accounting and analytics. Many Norfolk employers encourage or prefer credentials such as CPA, CMA, or CGFM, particularly for public sector and compliance-heavy positions. Experience with government audits (Uniform Guidance), GASB standards for governments, and ASC standards for corporate entities can set candidates apart.
Networking can help. Local chapters of professional associations—such as the Virginia Society of CPAs and the Institute of Management Accountants—often host events in the broader Hampton Roads area, and the Association of Government Accountants has a regional presence. Universities like Old Dominion and Norfolk State University, along with Tidewater Community College, provide internship pipelines and continuing education that feed the local talent pool.
Because the region’s economy is interconnected, job seekers in Norfolk often widen searches to nearby Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and the Peninsula. With ongoing defense spending, active port operations, and a large healthcare and education sector, the Norfolk area typically offers a stable platform for accountants to build long-term careers in audit, financial reporting, compliance, and leadership.
The average salary for a Accountant in Norfolk is 77,339 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 6,445 $ 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 Norfolk. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
Compare all cities for Accountant · Alle Jobs in Norfolk vergleichen
