SAO’s audit billing rates for 2023

For planning and budgeting purposes, we recently notified our clients that SAO's hourly billing rates as of Jan. 1, 2023, will be as follows:

The hourly rate for auditors in travel status will remain at 75 percent of the applicable hourly rate.

SAO evaluates billing rates each summer, planning for the coming calendar year and accounting for legislative changes and other factors. The rate adjustment for 2023 is related to increased costs of both salaries and benefits. This includes legislatively-approved cost-of-living increases for all state employees beginning July 1, and salary increases for our auditors, one of several classification increases initiated by the state Office of Financial Management specifically intended to improve recruitment and retention.

If you have any questions, please contact Director of Local Audit Kelly Collins, CPA, CFE, at (564) 999-0807 or at Kelly.Collins@sao.wa.gov.