What Do Accounting Positions Pay?
A career in accounting provides individuals with a competitive entry-level salary and long-term growth potential – particularly those who have earned CPA certification.
According to the 2010 Robert Half Salary Guide,
Public accounting salaries ranged from:
- In public accounting (audit, tax, and management services): $45,750 - $56,750 (small firm) to $50,500 - $62,750 (medium firm) to $56,500 – $69,500 (large firm) for individuals with one to three years of experience. Individuals with graduate degrees and/or professional certifications, such as the CPA certification, generally earn 10 percent more.
- As for long-term growth potential, managers/directors can expect salaries of $84,250 - $113,250 (small firms) to $91,500 - $135,500 (medium firms) to $103,000 - $160,750 (large firms).
- Starting partners in public accounting firms can average about $150,000 - $200,000 with the potential to earn much more over time.
Business and industry accounting salaries ranged from:
- In business and industry (general, tax, and cost accountants): $38,000- $48,750 (small company) to $44,500 - $61,500 (large company) for individuals with one to three years of experience.
- Auditors (Internal, IT): $48,000 - $72,000 (mid-sized company) to $51,750 - $78,750 (large company) for individuals with one to three years of experience.
- Financial, budget, treasury, and cost analysts earn $44,500 – $58,750 (mid-size company) to $48,250 - $64,000 (large company) with one to three years of experience. Those with graduate degrees and professional certifications can generally earn 10 percent more as well.
- In business and industry, chief financial officers, managers, directors, controllers, VPs, and treasurers can expect salaries ranging from $65,250 - $127,000 (in a company with up to $50 million in sales) to $129,250 - $387,000 (in a company with more than $500 million in sales). At this level, bonuses and incentives reflect an increasingly large part of overall pay.
Government accounting salaries ranged from:
Also, according to NACE's Class of 2008 Salary Survey, the average starting offer to accounting graduates was $48,020.
For more information on accounting salaries, click here.
*The salaries offered represent the national average. Salaries can vary according to geographical location.
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