Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Tax Preparers in West Virginia

Find Schools Near


Tax Preparers in West Virginia

Want to work as a Tax Preparers in West Virginia? Below are the key facts. Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses. Excludes “Accountants and Auditors” (13-2011).

What do Tax Preparers Make in West Virginia?

For tax preparers working in West Virginia, wages run about $30,470 per year (or roughly $14.65/hour).Annual wages span from $20,630 at the 10th percentile to $76,320 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $20,630 $9.92
25th percentile $21,930 $10.54
Median (50th) $30,470 $14.65
75th percentile $58,570 $28.16
90th percentile $76,320 $36.69
Salary ranges for Tax Preparers in West Virginia

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in West Virginia nationwide is 0.95.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, tax preparers earn a median of $67,542 per year ($32.47/hour), lower than the West Virginia median.

Tax Preparers earnings in West Virginia vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 188,739 tax preparers in the U.S.. In West Virginia alone, around 320 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 870 tax preparers.

Tax Preparers in West Virginia vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Tax Preparers

Top West Virginia Metros for Tax Preparers

These are the West Virginia metros with the most tax preparers in West Virginia.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Charleston, WV 80 $30,940
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH 40 $30,410

Top States for Tax Preparers Employment

View the states that employ the most tax preparers work.

State Number Employed
California 10,700
New York 6,880
Texas 5,930
Florida 3,490
North Carolina 2,550
Pennsylvania 2,480
Arizona 2,480
New Jersey 2,460
Colorado 2,420
Virginia 2,200
Michigan 2,010
Georgia 1,940
Massachusetts 1,800
Oklahoma 1,690
Indiana 1,660
South Carolina 1,490
Oregon 1,480
Utah 1,470
Washington 1,350
Minnesota 1,330

Highest-Paying States for Tax Preparers

The highest-paying states for tax preparers.

State Annual Median Salary
Alaska $77,010
New York $73,230
California $73,210
Montana $71,370
Minnesota $65,530
Colorado $62,860
Texas $61,510
Wyoming $60,340
Virginia $59,220
North Dakota $59,130

Skills

Top tax preparers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.9 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.5 / 5
0
5
Active Learning  3.1 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.1 / 5
0
5
Time Management  3.1 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Economics and Accounting  3.9 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.8 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  3.7 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  3.6 / 5
0
5
Law and Government  3.6 / 5
0
5
Computers and Electronics  3.5 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for tax preparers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  3.9 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  3.9 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.8 / 5
0
5
Information Ordering  3.2 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, tax preparers typically:

  • Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
  • Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
  • Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.
  • Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
  • Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
  • Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
  • Check data input or verify totals on forms prepared by others to detect errors in arithmetic, data entry, or procedures.
  • Explain federal and state tax laws to individuals and companies.
  • Answer questions and provide future tax planning to clients.
  • Consult tax law handbooks or bulletins to determine procedures for preparation of atypical returns.
  • Calculate form preparation fees according to return complexity and processing time required.
  • Schedule appointments with clients.

Work Activities

  • Working with Computers
  • Getting Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Processing Information
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Intuit QuickBooks In-demand technologies: Intuit TurboTax

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

  • Accounting
  • Taxation

Related occupations to tax preparers include:

Also Known As

CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Corporate Tax Preparer, Credentialed Tax Expert, Credentialed Tax Professional, Enrolled Agent, Income Tax Advisor, Income Tax Consultant, Income Tax Expert, Income Tax Preparer, Licensed Tax Consultant, Preseason Tax Professional, State and Local Tax Associate (SALT Associate), Tax Accountant, Tax Advisor, Tax Associate.

References

Find Business Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited business colleges across the U.S.