Accounting Degree in Silver Spring, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Silver Spring, MD. 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 yrs
in Silver Spring
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Silver Spring, MD Overview
While Silver Spring has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Accounting students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,215/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 Silver Spring is approximately $75,950.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,800/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,215/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,816/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
75%
Accounting Salary in Silver Spring (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Silver Spring'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.Silver Spring adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Silver Spring
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Silver Spring tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,800 | Private avg: $42,000
Silver Spring avg aid: $10,816/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,060
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$33,075
vs HS diploma in Silver Spring
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Silver Spring
$818,690
Lifetime earnings premium ($918,750) minus total education cost ($100,060)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Silver Spring
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Silver Spring for Accounting
Silver Spring State University
public
$10,864/yr
$43,456 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Silver Spring Community College
$5,576/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Silver Spring
Silver Spring offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Silver Spring Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Maryland Cities
Baltimore, MD
$81K starting · COL 130
22 colleges
Columbia, MD
$79K starting · COL 127.2
4 colleges
Frederick, MD
$70K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Waldorf, MD
$75K starting · COL 120.7
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$71K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$67K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$80K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$72K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Silver Spring
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 Silver Spring — 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 Silver Spring.