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Boston Career Explorer

Business and Financial Operations

Tax Preparers

Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.

Also called: CPA (Certified Public Accountant), Enrolled Agent, Income Tax Preparer, Tax Accountant, Tax Advisor, Tax Associate

Median pay in Greater Boston
$59,630
$28.67/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,110
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−2.9%
220 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$37,690$38,730$59,630$76,990$87,820

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure87 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 86
  • Language-model AIOE 80
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 95

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

Tax preparation has higher AI exposure, with some observed AI use so far. AI tools can help with computing taxes, filling in forms, and finding deductions. Interviewing clients and explaining their choices still rely on people. Massachusetts job growth is projected at -2.9%, so exploring other options may be wise.

Likely to change

  • Computing taxes and filling in forms
  • Finding deductions and credits

Still relies on people

  • Interviewing clients about their situations
  • Explaining tax choices in plain language

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

33 programs near Boston (plus 17 graduate)

Related occupations

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