Chief Accounting Officer.
Salt Lake City.
$262,000
median salary, 3% below the national average
$205,000 to $341,000. Last updated July 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Salt Lake City is 2% cheaper than the national average. For Chief Accounting Officers, that shakes out to a median of $262,000, with the full range spanning $205,000 to $341,000. Chief Accounting Officer compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $236,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$170,000
to $210,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$223,000
to $275,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$288,000
to $341,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$328,000
to $406,000
Salary trend.
+5% YoYTotal compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $162,000 to the total package.
Base
$262,000
Equity
$86,000
Bonus
$55,000
Signing
$21,000
Estimated total: $424,000
How Salt Lake City compares.
Salt Lake City, UT
$262,000
Cost of living: 2% below average
National Average
$270,000
Salt Lake City is $8,000 below
Chief Accounting Officer salary by city.
Salary by role in Salt Lake City.
What you should know.
Here is what the Chief Accounting Officer market actually looks like in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City anchors the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, home to companies like Qualtrics, Pluralsight, and Domo. The region has attracted significant venture investment and tech relocations. Utah's business friendly environment, young educated workforce, and outdoor lifestyle make it a rising destination for tech professionals seeking affordability without sacrificing career growth. Chief Accounting Officer compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent. Equity is a major component at roughly 45% of base — candidates should weight stock grants as heavily as salary when comparing offers. Within finance and business operations, licensure (CFA, CPA, FP&A) and industry (tech, banking, consulting) shift the compensation band by 20–40%.
Chief Accounting Officers progress Analyst → Manager → Senior Manager → Director → VP over 10 to 15 years in corporate finance, or Associate → VP → Director → MD in investment banking. Certifications (MBA, CFA) unlock specific transitions. For Chief Accounting Officers specifically, the seniority anchor means roughly 12+ years of experience and demonstrated P&L or strategic leadership. In Salt Lake City, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation for Chief Accounting Officers runs roughly $490K at median when factoring base + equity (45% of base annually) + bonus (25% of base). Equity is the single largest non-base component — candidates should model vesting schedules (typically 4-year with 1-year cliff) and compare grant values across offers carefully. In corporate finance and banking, bonus is a major component and can double the base in top-performing years (investment banking) or add 20–40% (corporate finance). And on the tax side: utah has a flat 4.65% state income tax. Salt Lake City imposes no additional city income tax. The moderate rate combined with affordable living costs results in strong net compensation. When someone quotes you $262,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference Silicon Slopes growth when negotiating. Local employers are increasingly matching 85 to 95% of Seattle or Bay Area salaries to compete for tech talent. The range for Chief Accounting Officers in Salt Lake City runs from $205,000 to $341,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL), state pay-transparency job postings, and community submissions. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A General Counsel in Salt Lake City earns $263,000 (0% more)
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Common questions.
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