Tax Preparers
Also called: CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Enrolled Agent, Tax Advisor, Tax PreparerPrepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on all 12 of its tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 4.7% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 8.3% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 98% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $33,280 | $25,080 to $36,540 | 290 |
| Alaska | $62,360 | $40,430 to $116,170 | 70 |
| Arizona | $44,770 | $41,690 to $77,320 | 2,240 |
| Arkansas | $35,040 | $29,530 to $41,600 | 550 |
| California | $70,030 | $47,420 to $84,890 | 10,270 |
| Colorado | $62,620 | $43,380 to $75,260 | 1,540 |
| Connecticut | $41,130 | $36,840 to $60,660 | 700 |
| Delaware | $51,960 | $39,320 to $58,470 | 240 |
| Florida | $49,020 | $35,770 to $63,490 | not published |
| Georgia | $49,330 | $37,050 to $63,800 | 1,670 |
| Hawaii | $34,720 | $29,990 to $44,710 | not published |
| Illinois | $54,480 | $38,120 to $62,910 | 1,310 |
| Indiana | $45,710 | $38,250 to $61,660 | 1,820 |
| Iowa | $53,660 | $38,970 to $73,660 | 780 |
| Kansas | $47,300 | $35,950 to $66,710 | 450 |
| Kentucky | $36,620 | $27,900 to $61,240 | 1,080 |
| Louisiana | $38,740 | $28,210 to $56,300 | 650 |
| Maine | $47,150 | $44,190 to $52,370 | 250 |
| Maryland | $47,020 | $42,190 to $61,570 | 1,240 |
| Massachusetts | $58,400 | $38,730 to $68,710 | 1,500 |
| Michigan | $46,400 | $40,220 to $61,660 | 1,660 |
| Minnesota | $59,200 | $44,250 to $76,870 | 1,040 |
| Mississippi | $50,670 | $34,360 to $76,670 | 580 |
| Missouri | $62,780 | $35,580 to $98,630 | 1,330 |
| Montana | $63,080 | $47,470 to $82,850 | 360 |
| Nebraska | $43,010 | $37,040 to $51,310 | 420 |
| Nevada | $60,000 | $46,630 to $99,500 | 1,410 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 | $43,520 to $80,230 | 420 |
| New Jersey | $43,420 | $37,790 to $63,050 | 3,220 |
| New Mexico | $38,060 | $28,900 to $46,450 | 340 |
| New York | $71,850 | $57,030 to $101,070 | 7,620 |
| North Carolina | $48,130 | $43,820 to $72,840 | 2,710 |
| North Dakota | $57,060 | $43,870 to $78,460 | 220 |
| Ohio | $49,020 | $37,930 to $57,180 | 1,590 |
| Oklahoma | $42,700 | $29,530 to $50,840 | 1,300 |
| Oregon | $61,370 | $48,830 to $78,090 | 1,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 | $39,020 to $81,450 | 2,010 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,730 | $31,380 to $61,100 | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $57,680 | $52,000 to $59,790 | not published |
| South Carolina | $39,220 | $30,930 to $71,810 | 1,360 |
| South Dakota | $52,530 | $44,100 to $63,850 | 280 |
| Tennessee | $36,600 | $29,500 to $59,120 | 1,260 |
| Texas | $47,460 | $35,440 to $74,060 | 6,010 |
| Utah | $66,720 | $48,210 to $80,550 | 1,190 |
| Virginia | $58,520 | $40,960 to $70,480 | 1,960 |
| Washington | $45,370 | $41,590 to $48,830 | 1,360 |
| West Virginia | $35,880 | $29,840 to $40,240 | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $44,340 | $36,260 to $55,660 | 1,550 |
| Wyoming | $57,990 | $47,470 to $87,240 | 90 |
Nationally: $54,920. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on all 12 of its tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables. | Not published |
| AI + software | Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum. | Not published |
| AI alone | Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion. | 0.04% |
| AI + software | Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns. | Not published |
See all 12 tasks
| AI alone | Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies. | 0.02% |
| AI alone | Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns. | Not published |
| AI + software | Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required. | Not published |
| AI + software | Schedule appointments with clients. | under 0.01% |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 5 of the 12 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 12 tasks fall under 10 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #3 Respond to customer problems or inquiries
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #12 Explain regulations, policies, or procedures
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculate financial data | |||
| Respond to customer problems or inquiries | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Explain regulations, policies, or procedures | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Advise others on financial matters | |||
| Interview people to obtain information | |||
| Schedule appointments |
Show all 10 activities
| Examine financial activities, operations, or systems | |||
| Develop financial or business plans |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An explanation or answer40%
- Advice or a recommendation12%
- A document or report11%
- An analysis or summary9%
- Data or a spreadsheet7%
How they worked with Claude
37% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for tax preparers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 56,941 moves out
- 1 Accountants and Auditors Very high +5.0% 7%
- 2 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Very high -5.6% 7%
- 3 Financial Managers Very high +9.7% 5%
- 4 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Very high +0.1% 4%
- 5 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 77,654 moves in
- 1 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Very high -5.6% 8%
- 2 Accountants and Auditors Very high +5.0% 6%
- 3 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 5%
- 4 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 5%
- 5 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Very high +0.1% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 38% high school
- 24% postsecondary certificate
- 14% associate's
- 24% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 21 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 3% less than high school
- 10% high school
- 20% some college
- 11% associate's
- 34% bachelor's
- 17% master's
- 4% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 1,220 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
3 programs: Accounting, Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping and Taxation.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (Enrolled Agent Tax Consultant). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Tax Preparers” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/13-2082.00