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2026 Salary Guides 

Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert’s 2026 Salary Guides for Accounting and Finance, IT and HR are now available. Get updated salary benchmarks by company size and region, plus insights on hybrid work, ERP hiring, pay transparency and skills-based recruiting.

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Salary and Hiring Trends for Smarter Talent Decisions Nationwide

Today’s job market keeps changing, and so do the expectations of talented professionals. Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert’s 2026 U.S. Salary Guides cut through the noise with real-world compensation data and practical insights for accounting and finance (A&F), IT and HR teams. We’ve added new cities this year — including Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Louisville, Raleigh and Washington, DC — so you get insights that matter where you hire.

Whether you're filling a key finance role, scaling your IT team or strengthening HR operations, these guides support smarter, faster decisions in today’s fast-moving market.

What’s Inside the 2026 Salary Guides?

  • Salary ranges by company size (small, medium, large)
  • Market-specific hiring trends and labor insights
  • Actionable strategies for attracting and retaining top talent

Download the 2026 Salary Guides for Your Industry

Explore Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert’s latest salary guides for A&F, IT and HR — each designed to help employers navigate compensation, retention and hiring in a rapidly-changing world. These guides offer localized benchmarks, national trends, and strategic recommendations tailored to the unique challenges of each function. Our data-driven insights will help you plan with confidence. 

2026 Accounting & Finance Salary Guide

Navigate compensation and retention challenges with confidence. Our guide delivers salary benchmarks and strategic insights tailored to today’s evolving finance landscape.

Highlights:

  • Salary ranges by company size and region
  • Trends in hybrid work, pay transparency and retention
  • Strategies for employer branding and mentorship
Download the 2026 Accounting & Finance Salary Guide

2026 IT Salary Guide

Build resilient tech teams in a hybrid-first world. This guide covers salary benchmarks and hiring trends across cybersecurity, ERP and AI-driven roles.

Highlights:

  • Salary ranges for infrastructure, ERP and data roles
  • ERP platform-specific hiring insights
  • Skills-based hiring and flexible work strategies
Download the 2026 IT Salary Guide

2026 HR Salary Guide

Lead with empathy and innovation. Our HR guide explores how AI, hybrid work and evolving employee expectations are reshaping the HR function.

Highlights:

  • Salary benchmarks for HR roles across markets
  • Trends in DEI, mental health and strategic HR leadership
  • Recommendations for building inclusive, future-ready teams
Download the 2026 HR Salary Guide

2026 Accounting & Finance Salary Guide

Navigate compensation and retention challenges with confidence. Our guide delivers salary benchmarks and strategic insights tailored to today’s evolving finance landscape.

Highlights:

  • Salary ranges by company size and region
  • Trends in hybrid work, pay transparency and retention
  • Strategies for employer branding and mentorship
Download the 2026 Accounting & Finance Salary Guide

2026 IT Salary Guide

Build resilient tech teams in a hybrid-first world. This guide covers salary benchmarks and hiring trends across cybersecurity, ERP and AI-driven roles.

Highlights:

  • Salary ranges for infrastructure, ERP and data roles
  • ERP platform-specific hiring insights
  • Skills-based hiring and flexible work strategies
Download the 2026 IT Salary Guide

2026 HR Salary Guide

Lead with empathy and innovation. Our HR guide explores how AI, hybrid work and evolving employee expectations are reshaping the HR function.

Highlights:

  • Salary benchmarks for HR roles across markets
  • Trends in DEI, mental health and strategic HR leadership
  • Recommendations for building inclusive, future-ready teams
Download the 2026 HR Salary Guide

2026 Regional Workforce Insights by Market

Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert’s 2026 Salary Guides include compensation data and workforce trends across seven key U.S. cities where we have a strong presence. Here’s a snapshot of what employers are navigating in each region:

  • Atlanta

    Momentum meets opportunity in a fast-moving talent market. Tap into growth

  • Austin

    Innovation is booming, and so is the demand for agile talent. Hire with speed.

  • Government building icon

    Charlotte

    Growth is strong, and smart hiring is driving performance. Build for impact.

  • Chicago

    A deep talent pool ready to meet evolving business needs. Close the gaps.

  • Louisville

    Workforce shifts are creating space for strategic hiring. Reshape your team.

  • Raleigh

    Tech and research energy fueling fresh talent pipelines. Source smarter.

  • Washington, DC

    Policy shifts and specialized demand are reshaping the hiring landscape. Staff with precision.

“These guides offer a clear, data-driven view of today’s hiring landscape. With insights into compensation shifts and evolving workforce expectations, we want to help employers make smarter decisions and stay ahead in a competitive market.”
Ryan Delaney
Partner | Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert

2026 U.S. Salary Guide by Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert FAQs

The 2026 Salary Guides by Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert are three comprehensive resources designed to help professionals and employers navigate compensation trends across key markets and industries. It combines real-time data from our own staffing and consulting engagements with broader market research to deliver accurate, actionable salary benchmarks.
Whether you're hiring, job hunting, or evaluating your current compensation, the guide offers clarity in a shifting labor landscape.

The guides are built for jobseekers, working professionals, and hiring teams alike, across accounting, finance, IT, and HR professions. Jobseekers and professionals can use them to assess fair compensation for their roles and negotiate with confidence. Employers and hiring managers gain insights into competitive pay ranges, helping them attract and retain top talent in a tight labor market. 

Our salary guides are a great starting point. They break down compensation by role, experience level, and location, making it easy to compare your current salary against market benchmarks. If you're unsure where you stand, reviewing the guides can help you identify gaps and opportunities, whether you're negotiating a raise or exploring new roles.

One of the most consistent themes across the 2026 reports is the shift toward personalized benefits — from flexible work arrangements to tailored health and wellness packages. Employers are increasingly customizing offerings to meet employee expectations and improve retention.
Another key insight: benefits now account for roughly 30% of total compensation, underscoring their growing importance in salary negotiations. For more detailed breakdowns and trends, download the full guides.

According to our research, salaries are projected to increase by approximately 4.1% in 2026, continuing the upward trend seen in recent years. This reflects ongoing competition for skilled talent and inflationary pressures in certain sectors.

To explore how this increase varies by role, industry, and region, download the full guides for tailored projections and analysis.

Contact Our Recruiting and Staffing Consultants Today