Tax Preparers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Business and Financial Operations · SOC 13-2082 · O*NET 13-2082.00
Tax Preparers fall under the Business and Financial Operations category in the U.S. occupational classification. Tax Preparers earn a median salary of $54,920 per year, ranking in the top 60% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.7% job growth through 2035, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do tax preparers earn?
The median annual wage for tax preparers is $54,920. That puts tax preparers at #492 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is tax preparers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for tax preparers is +4.7%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 95K positions in 2024 to 100K in 2034, a net change of 5K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What education does my child need to become tax preparer?
The standard path into tax preparers begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about tax preparers
What is the median salary for tax preparers?
The median annual salary for tax preparers is $54,920 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is tax preparers a growing career?
BLS projects +4.7% growth for tax preparers from 2025 through 2035, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become tax preparer?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to tax preparers?
Related occupations within the Business and Financial Operations category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.