Okay, let’s tackle this. So Marie Zimny has a CPA designation and skills in financial analysis, accounting, and process improvement. She’s based in the Greater Chicago Area, which has a relatively low cost of living. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Division typically earn between $50,000 and $80,000 per year. Considering her skills and experience, I’d estimate her hourly rate to be on the lower side of this range, likely around $75 per hour, given the lower cost of living in the area.