2026 Accounting and Finance Salary Guide
Download Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert’s 2026 Accounting and Finance Salary Guide for salary benchmarks across key U.S. cities. Explore trends in hybrid work, pay transparency and retention strategies.
Uncover 2026 Accounting and Finance Salary Insights
In 2026, accounting and finance leaders face rising retention challenges, evolving hybrid work preferences and a growing demand for performance-based pay. Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert’s guide delivers salary benchmarks across company sizes and key markets — including Chicago, Austin, Charlotte, Atlanta, Raleigh, Louisville and Washington, DC — to help you stay competitive.
Inside the Guide:
- Salary ranges for accounting, finance and leadership roles
- Regional hiring trends and skill demand shifts
- Strategic recommendations for retention, onboarding and employer branding
Stay Competitive With Regional Salary Rates
Explore compensation benchmarks for more than 30 accounting and finance positions across various regions and organizational sizes. Utilize these insights to adjust pay structures according to local market conditions, helping you attract top talent.
Explore 2026 Accounting and Finance Salary Ranges by Role
The 2026 Accounting and Finance Salary Guide delivers detailed compensation benchmarks for over 30 roles across multiple departments, helping employers make informed decisions in a competitive hiring landscape. The guide includes salary ranges segmented by company size and location, offering actionable insights for organizations seeking to attract and retain top talent in accounting and finance.
Departments included in the report:
- Corporate Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Transactional Accounting
- Tax
- Audit
- Public Accounting
2026 Accounting and Finance National Hiring Trends
Hiring challenges remain front and center in 2026, with 42% of firms struggling to attract talent and 40% facing retention issues. Salary increase budgets are projected to average 3.5%, staying above historical norms as employers compete for skilled professionals. These trends underscore the need for proactive strategies in compensation planning and talent engagement.
42% struggle to attract talent
40% face retention issues
3.5% projected salary increase
2026 Accounting and Finance Hiring Insights by Region
Regional labor markets are facing distinct pressures in 2026. Tech hubs are seeing wage inflation and demand for hybrid skill sets, while financial centers contend with retention challenges and evolving skill requirements. Other areas are grappling with aging workforces and limited applicant pools, reflecting how local economic conditions shape hiring dynamics nationwide.
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Atlanta
The economy in Atlanta is on the rise, buoyed by robust tech and logistics sectors. However, the high turnover rates in administrative finance roles highlight persistent career development gaps that need addressing.
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Austin
Driven by its burgeoning tech scene, Austin is experiencing wage inflation and a rapid increase in demand for finance professionals adept in cloud computing and automation technologies.
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Charlotte
Charlotte’s banking hub faces mounting workload pressures and retention challenges as firms navigate a high-growth financial ecosystem.
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Chicago
Chicago's stable and diverse economy faces challenges in filling mid-level finance roles due to the rising demand for data analytics and ERP skills.
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Louisville
An aging workforce coupled with low applicant volume in Louisville is creating an urgent need for workforce development and reskilling initiatives.
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Raleigh
The innovation corridor of Raleigh is experiencing shortages in STEM talent, particularly in financial systems and data analytics, amid fierce competition from tech firms.
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Washington, DC
Although federal hiring constraints shape DC’s market, there's still strong demand for roles in compliance, grants management and finance-related cybersecurity areas.
Compensation Insights for a Changing Landscape
Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert’s 2026 Salary Guides offer expanded, market-specific insights to help hiring teams stay competitive and confident through shifting compensation trends, retention challenges and evolving skill demands.
“In a market where burnout dims potential and retention tests resilience, true leadership invests in people — through mentorship, flexibility and fair compensation. Knowing what talent values isn’t just smart — it’s how impactful hires are made and futures are built.”
Download the 2026 Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance Professionals Today
Download the guide to align your compensation strategy with today’s workforce realities.
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