Hiring Tax Preparers

What do tax preparers do?

• Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
• Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
• Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
• Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
• Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
• Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 13-2082.00.

What does it take to become one?

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

O*NET Job Zone 3, SVP (6.0 to < 7.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Intuit TurboTax, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Tax compliance property tax management software, Tax software for this role.

What do tax preparers get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for tax preparers in 79 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $34,860 to $84,240 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $50,220. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 13-2082.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for tax preparers in this build is $84,240. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $16,848 to $25,272 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a tax preparers search fill?

23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.