Financial Analysts vs Tax Preparers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Analysts professionals earn $50,790 more per year than Tax Preparers professionals — that's 100.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Financial Analysts earns $180,550 compared to $96,240 for Tax Preparers.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Analysts$62,410 – $180,550
Tax Preparers$30,500 – $96,240
$30,500$180,550
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Analysts | Tax Preparers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $62,410 | $30,500 | +$31,910 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,300 | $37,750 | +$40,550 |
| Median (50th) | $101,350 | $50,560 | +$50,790 |
| 75th Percentile | $132,050 | $75,590 | +$56,460 |
| 90th Percentile | $180,550 | $96,240 | +$84,310 |
| Mean (Average) | $116,490 | $58,860 | +$57,630 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Analysts
340,580
employed nationwide
Tax Preparers
73,570
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Analysts
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $134,470 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $128,490 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $128,470 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,410 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $110,450 |
Best Cities for Tax Preparers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $83,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $83,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $71,990 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $68,160 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Financial Analysts or Tax Preparers?
Financial Analysts professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $50,790 (100.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Analysts?
Financial Analysts salaries range from $62,410 (10th percentile) to $180,550 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,350.
What is the salary range for Tax Preparers?
Tax Preparers salaries range from $30,500 (10th percentile) to $96,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $50,560.
How many Financial Analysts and Tax Preparers jobs are there?
There are approximately 340,580 Financial Analysts positions and 73,570 Tax Preparers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Tax Preparers to Financial Analysts?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Analysts has a median salary of $101,350 while Tax Preparers earns $50,560. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS