Accountant in Orem, UT

The Salary Picture: Where Orem Stands

As an accountant looking at Orem, you’re looking at a market that’s stable, affordable, and deeply integrated with the Provo-Orem metro’s tech and healthcare ecosystem. Let’s get straight to the numbers, because they tell the story better than any brochure.

The median salary for an accountant in Orem is $84,788/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.76/hour. This is slightly below the national average of $86,080/year, but the cost of living differential more than makes up for it. With a Cost of Living Index of 95.0 (US avg = 100), your paycheck stretches about 5% further here than it would in an average American city.

Here’s how that median salary typically breaks down by experience level in the Orem market:

Experience Level	Typical Years	Salary Range (Annual)	Key Notes for Orem
Entry-Level	0-2	$55,000 - $70,000	Often in staff accountant roles at local firms or in AP/AR for manufacturing companies. Strong demand for QuickBooks and Excel proficiency.
Mid-Level	3-7	$70,000 - $85,000	The sweet spot for many. You'll find roles like Senior Accountant, GL Accountant, or Tax Associate at mid-sized firms. This range aligns closely with the $84,788 median.
Senior-Level	8-15	$85,000 - $110,000	Positions like Controller (for private companies), Tax Manager, or Audit Manager. At this level, CPA licensure is almost always expected and valued.
Expert/Managerial	15+	$110,000 - $140,000+	Director of Finance, Partner at a CPA firm, or CFO for a mid-sized local company. These often come with bonuses and profit-sharing, especially in the private sector.

Insider Tip: The 4% 10-year job growth for the metro area is modest but steady. It’s not explosive like in some tech hubs, but it’s resilient. The real opportunity here isn’t just in the number of jobs (191 in the metro), but in the type of jobs. Orem’s economy is a hybrid: it has the stability of healthcare and education (BYU, Intermountain), the growth of tech startups (many in the “Silicon Slopes” corridor), and the unique needs of the local manufacturing and wholesale trade sectors. This diversity means a skilled accountant can pivot between industries without leaving the area.

Compared to other Utah cities, Orem offers a compelling middle ground:

• Salt Lake City: Higher salaries (median ~$88,000), but significantly higher cost of living (especially housing) and more intense competition.
• Provo: Very similar to Orem, as they share the same metro area. Salaries are nearly identical, but Provo’s housing market is slightly more competitive due to its downtown and university core.
• St. George: Lower median salary (~$76,000) but a much lower cost of living and a different economic base (tourism, retirement services). Less corporate accounting opportunity.

Orem’s position is unique: you get access to the job density of the Provo-Orem metro (one of the fastest-growing in the nation) while living in a community with a more suburban, family-friendly feel and lower housing costs than its immediate neighbor, Provo.

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The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s ground this in reality. What does a median salary of $84,788 actually look like in your monthly budget?

For a single filer in 2023-2024, after federal income tax (using standard deduction), FICA taxes, and Utah state tax (5% on taxable income), your take-home pay would be approximately $63,500/year, or about $5,292/month.

Now, let’s layer in the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Orem: $1,093/month.

Monthly Budget Breakdown (Accountant, Median Salary):

Category	Estimated Monthly Cost	Notes
Take-Home Pay	$5,292	After taxes (approx.)
Rent (1BR)	$1,093	20.6% of take-home pay – very healthy.
Utilities (Elec, Gas, Water, Internet)	$250	Average for a small apartment.
Groceries	$400	Orem has competitive grocery options (Harmons, Walmart, WinCo).
Car Payment/Insurance/Gas	$500	Essential in Orem. Public transit (UTA) is present but not comprehensive.
Health Insurance (Employee Share)	$300	Varies by employer, but a common estimate.
Retirement Savings (401k, 5%)	$353	5% of gross salary.
Personal & Discretionary	$1,396	Covers eating out, entertainment, clothing, etc.

This leaves a very comfortable cushion. The rent burden is well below the recommended 30% threshold, which is a significant advantage of the Orem market. You have genuine room to save aggressively or pay down student loans faster than you could in a more expensive city.

Can they afford to buy a home?
Yes, absolutely. This is where Orem truly shines for professionals. The median home price in Orem is around $475,000 (as of 2023-2024). With the take-home pay calculated above, and assuming a 20% down payment ($95,000), a monthly mortgage payment (with taxes and insurance) would be roughly $2,200 - $2,400. This is a jump from rent, but at ~45% of take-home pay, it’s manageable for a dual-income household or a high-earning single professional. For a single accountant at the median salary, it’s tight but possible with careful budgeting and a strong down payment. The key is that homeownership is a tangible goal here, unlike in markets where the median home price requires a salary 2-3 times the median income.

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Where the Jobs Are: Orem's Major Employers

The job market for accountants in Orem is defined by its major employers, which span healthcare, education, tech, and manufacturing. Here’s a look at the landscape.

1. Intermountain Health: A giant in Orem. Their Orem Community Hospital is a major employer, and their corporate back-office functions (billing, revenue cycle, finance) are massive. Accountant roles here are often in healthcare-specific accounting, requiring understanding of revenue recognition and compliance. They value stability and offer excellent benefits.
2. Brigham Young University (BYU): As the largest private employer in Utah, BYU is a constant source of accounting jobs. They need accountants for university finance, endowment management, and departmental budgets. The work environment is stable and mission-driven. Jobs are posted on the BYU employment website.
3. Nu Skin Enterprises: A global multi-level marketing and personal care company headquartered in Provo with a significant presence in the area. They have complex international accounting needs. Roles here often involve consolidations, transfer pricing, and tax. This is a great spot for an accountant looking to get experience in a global, public company (NYSE: NUS).
4. Sundance Mountain Resort: While not a typical corporate giant, Sundance (founded by Robert Redford) is a major year-round employer in the area. They need accountants for resort operations, retail, and real estate ventures. The work can be seasonal, but it’s a unique, creative environment.
5. Local CPA Firms (e.g., Eide Bailly, Gregory & Associates): Orem has a strong network of local and regional accounting firms that serve the small to mid-sized business community. These firms offer a classic public accounting path: tax, audit, and consulting. They are often the best places to gain broad experience and get your CPA hours signed off. Hiring trends show steady demand, especially during tax season (Jan-Apr).
6. Manufacturing & Wholesale Trade: Orem is part of a larger manufacturing corridor. Companies like Canyon Snow (snow plow manufacturing) or Larson Packaging (custom packaging) need internal accountants to manage job costing, inventory, and cost accounting. This is a less glamorous but vital sector with strong, stable demand for accounting talent.

Insider Tip: Hiring is often cyclical. You’ll see more postings from January to April (post-tax season) and again in late summer (budget planning for the next fiscal year). The tech sector in nearby Lehi (Silicon Slopes) also pulls from Orem’s talent pool, and many Orem-based accountants commute to Lehi for higher-salary tech roles.

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Getting Licensed in UT

If you’re not already a CPA, Utah’s requirements are straightforward but require meticulous planning. The Utah State Board of Accountancy (USBA) administers the licensure.

Requirements for CPA Licensure:

1. Education: 150 semester hours of college credit, including 30 hours in upper-division accounting courses (beyond the introductory level) and 24 hours in business courses. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum.
2. Exam: Pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Exam (AUD, BEC, FAR, REG).
3. Experience: One year (1,800 hours) of qualifying work experience under a licensed CPA. This experience must involve the use of accounting, attestation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills.
4. Ethics Exam: Pass the AICPA Professional Ethics Exam (must score 90% or higher).

Timeline & Costs:

• Education: If you have a standard 4-year degree, you may need to take additional courses (often at a community college like UVU or a graduate program) to hit the 150-hour mark. This can add 6-12 months and $3,000 - $10,000 in tuition.
• Exam: There is a $1,000 fee to apply for the exam (covers all four sections). Each section has a separate fee (approx. $200-$300 per section). A good review course (e.g., Becker, Roger) is highly recommended and costs $1,500 - $3,000. You have 18 months to pass all four sections after your first one.
• Experience & Ethics: The time and cost here are variable. The ethics exam is a one-time fee of around $150 - $200.

Total Estimated Cost (excluding tuition): $3,500 - $5,500.
Total Timeline (from start to license): 12-24 months, depending on your starting education point.

Insider Tip: Utah is a two-tier state. You can be a “CPA” (licensed) or a “CPA Candidate” (has passed the exam but not met experience). Many employers in Orem will hire CPA Candidates and provide the mentoring needed to get the experience requirement signed off.

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Best Neighborhoods for Accountants

Where you live in Orem directly impacts your commute to major employers, your lifestyle, and your housing costs. Orem is divided by I-15, but the best neighborhoods are generally on the east side (closer to the mountains) or near the university.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Typical 1BR Rent / Home Price	Why It's Good for Accountants
East Orem / Sundance Area	Family-friendly, scenic, quieter. 10-15 min to most employers (BYU, Intermountain, Nu Skin). Access to hiking/biking trails.	1BR: $1,100-$1,300 Home: $500k-$600k	The best blend of lifestyle and commute. You can easily reach Provo, Lehi, or central Orem. Great for professionals with families or who value outdoor access.
South Orem / University Pkwy	More suburban, near shopping (University Place mall). 10-20 min commute. Slightly longer drive to Provo downtown.	1BR: $1,000-$1,200 Home: $450k-$550k	More affordable housing options. Close to the freeway for an easy commute to Lehi’s tech corridor. Quiet and convenient for daily errands.
Central Orem / Downtown	Urban vibe, walkable, near the historic 5th South corridor. 5-10 min to most Orem employers. Can be noisier.	1BR: $950-$1,200 Home: $400k-$500k	For those who want to avoid driving. Close to local coffee shops, restaurants, and UTA buses. Less common for single-family homes.
North Orem / Scenic Park	Older, established neighborhood with character. 15-25 min commute to Provo, 10-15 min to central Orem.	1BR: $900-$1,100 Home: $350k-$450k	The most affordable neighborhood for homeownership. Older housing stock, but a strong sense of community. You’ll need to be comfortable with a commute.

Insider Tip: Traffic on I-15 and I-84 can be congested during rush hour. If you work in Provo or Lehi, living in East Orem or South Orem gives you the easiest commute. For jobs in central Orem or at Intermountain Hospital, Central Orem or Scenic Park are perfectly fine.

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The Long Game: Career Growth

Staying in Orem for the long haul has its pros and cons. The career trajectory here is often less about rapid corporate ladder-climbing (common in New York or Chicago) and more about deep specialization or entrepreneurship.

Specialty Premiums:

• CPA Credential: This is the single biggest salary booster. In Orem, a CPA can expect a 15-25% salary premium over a non-CPA accountant with similar experience. A mid-level CPA can easily clear $95,000 - $100,000.
• Tech/Software Proficiency: Expertise in systems like NetSuite, SAP, or advanced data analytics (Power BI, Tableau) is increasingly valuable. The tech companies in Silicon Slopes are willing to pay a premium for accountants who can integrate financial systems with operational data.
• Niche Specialization: Becoming a go-to expert in a specific industry (e.g., healthcare revenue cycle, manufacturing cost accounting, or nonprofit accounting for the many religious and educational institutions) can lead to higher pay and job security.

Advancement Paths:

1. Public to Private: A common path is to start at a local CPA firm (like Eide Bailly) to get your license and broad experience, then move into a private company as a Controller or Senior Accountant for better work-life balance and higher pay.
2. Vertical in a Large Company: Starting at Intermountain or Nu Skin in a staff role and moving up to a manager or director position. This path offers stability and good benefits.
3. Entrepreneurship: Orem has a thriving small business community. Experienced accountants often leave to start their own bookkeeping or tax preparation firms, catering to the local small business market. This is a viable and potentially lucrative path.

10-Year Outlook (4% Growth):
The 4% job growth projection signals a stable, not explosive, market. In 10 years, the core industries—healthcare, education, and manufacturing—will still be here. The tech sector may expand, but Orem will likely remain a support hub for the larger Provo-Lehi-Sandy corridor. For an accountant, this means:

• Security: Accounting is a recession-resilient profession, and Orem’s diversified economy protects against single-industry downturns.
• Opportunity: Growth will come from new small businesses and the expansion of existing mid-sized companies. Your best bet for significant salary increases is to develop a specialty or move into a management role.
• Risk: If you want to work in a cutting-edge, global finance role (e.g., investment banking, major international public accounting), you may eventually need to relocate to Salt Lake City or beyond. Orem’s market is for those who value stability, community, and a balanced life.

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The Verdict: Is Orem Right for You?

Orem isn’t for every accountant. It’s for the professional who wants a high quality of life without sacrificing career viability. It’s for someone who values a short commute, access to outdoor activities, and a strong sense of community over the frenetic energy of a major coastal city.

Pros	Cons
Excellent Cost of Living: Your salary stretches further, making homeownership achievable.	Modest Salary Growth: The median salary is slightly below the national average, and the path to six figures is longer.
Diverse & Stable Job Market: You’re not tied to one industry.	Limited High-Finance Roles: If you dream of Wall Street, this isn’t the base.
Short Commutes: Easy to navigate, even during rush hour.	Cultural Homogeneity: Orem is predominantly white and conservative; diversity is growing but not as pronounced as in major metros.
Outdoor Access: Unbeatable for hiking, skiing, and biking.	Religious Influence: The LDS (Mormon) culture is pervasive. While welcoming, it can influence