More Accountants Worked Past Age 65 in Recent Decade
Financial workers are increasingly staying on the job, with specific metro areas seeing the highest shares of older professionals.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Retirement Planning
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A new study by Sam's List reveals that 8.4% of accountants and auditors in the U.S. are now aged 65 or older. This trend reflects a broader pattern of continued employment among older Americans, with 11,566,481 workers in this age bracket currently active in the workforce.
Why it matters
The shift highlights how labor participation rates are evolving for retirees, as 18.9% of all Americans 65 and older remain employed. Understanding these figures is essential for households assessing retirement timelines, income needs, and the shifting workforce landscape in major cities.
Approximately 13.5% of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are aged 65 or older, with 169,000 workers in that specific role. Regionally, the share of older clerks reaches as high as 24.4% in San Francisco and as low as 12.1% in Dallas-Fort Worth.
The players
Sam's List
An organization that analyzes labor market trends and workforce statistics.
U.S. Census Bureau
The federal agency responsible for producing demographic and economic data through the American Community Survey.
The details
Sam's List analyzed U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates covering 2014 through 2024 to determine employment concentrations across the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. While Miami shows the highest concentration of older accountants and auditors at 11.1%, Chicago reports the lowest share at 6.1%. This geographic variation suggests that local labor demand and cost-of-living factors may influence how long these financial professionals choose to remain active in their careers.
Timeline
2014 marked the start of the Census data period analyzed by researchers.
2024 served as the final year for the decade-long labor study.
Money Landscape
The rise in older financial workers follows the broader national trend of a 18.9% labor force participation rate for Americans aged 65 and older. This data underscores that extending a career well into one's 60s is becoming a standard feature of the modern retirement planning cycle.
If you are planning for retirement, consider how these labor trends might influence your own projected income and the timing of your Social Security withdrawals. Review your career trajectory with a qualified financial professional to determine if working longer aligns with your personal savings goals.
The takeaway
The data confirms that the workforce is aging, with millions of older Americans continuing to contribute to the accounting and auditing sectors. Households should review their long-term retirement budgets and discuss the impact of career duration on their financial stability with a qualified professional.
Further reading
For more on managing long-term financial goals, visit our Retirement Planning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CPA Practice Advisor.
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