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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Tax Preparers

Part of Finance, in the Business Finance pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 13-2082.00

What the work is

Prepare tax returns for individuals or small businesses.

On a typical day

  • Compute taxes owed or overpaid, using adding machines or personal computers, and complete entries on forms, following tax form instructions and tax tables.
  • Prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
  • Use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
  • Interview clients to obtain additional information on taxable income and deductible expenses and allowances.
  • Review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
  • Furnish taxpayers with sufficient information and advice to ensure correct tax form completion.

What it pays

$47,460
Median pay per year, Texas (no San Antonio figure published)
New workers start near $31,110
Experienced workers reach $86,950
  1. $31k10th
  2. $35k25th
  3. $47kMedian
  4. $74k75th
  5. $87k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $31,110, 25th $35,440, Median $47,460, 75th $74,060, 90th $86,950

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+20.6%

employment change in the Alamo region, 501 to 604 jobs · U.S. +5%

69

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 10,400

501

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 90,600

Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Reading Comprehension4.0
  2. Active Listening4.0
  3. Critical Thinking3.6
  4. Speaking3.5
  5. Mathematics3.3
  6. Active Learning3.1
  7. Monitoring3.0
  8. Service Orientation3.1

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less36%
  2. Certificate14%
  3. Some college18%
  4. Bachelor's degree32%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northwest Vista
  • Palo Alto
  • St. Philip's
  • San Antonio
  1. Accounting

    Transfer pre-major · Business & Entrepreneurship

  2. Accounting

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Public Service

  3. Bookkeeping Specialist

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Business & Entrepreneurship

  4. Accounting Technology

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Business & Entrepreneurship

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