Accounting Degree in Renton, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Renton, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$76K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$110K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Renton
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Renton, WA Overview
While Renton has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Accounting students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,923/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Renton is approximately $75,950.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,923/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,424/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
64%
Accounting Salary in Renton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Renton's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Renton adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Renton
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Renton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Renton avg aid: $15,424/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$33,075
vs HS diploma in Renton
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Renton
$807,858
Lifetime earnings premium ($918,750) minus total education cost ($110,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Renton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Renton for Accounting
Renton State University
public
$11,303/yr
$45,212 total
University of Renton
public
$13,258/yr
$53,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Renton Community College
$5,805/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Renton
Renton offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Renton Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$74K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$75K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$70K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$67K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$111K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$72K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$73K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$76K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Renton
Business Analytics
$96K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$86K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$80K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$61K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$71K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Renton — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Accounting ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Renton.