Recent graduates with bachelor’s degrees in accounting typically begin their careers in positions such as staff accountant, junior auditor, or accounting clerk roles. For example, accountants and auditors who work in accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services earned an average annual salary what is business accounting of $93,060 in 2023, according to the BLS. By contrast, professionals who work in local government — excluding schools and hospitals — earned an average annual salary of $79,220 in 2023, per the BLS.
- However, many employers prefer to hire accountants with a master’s degree, which often also leads to a higher salary.
- However, government accountants often complete the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) from the Association of Government Accountants or certifications from the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) board.
- Learn more about the salary you can expect once you graduate with a business degree, and the factors that can influence whether you make more.
- The first step to becoming an accounting information systems professional is to earn a bachelor’s degree.
- Most accounting jobs will generally require at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field.
- To qualify for the exam you’ll need three years of related work experience, two of which can be substituted with college credit.
Average Salary
However, how much you can earn as an accountant depends on several factors, such as experience, location, and employer. BestColleges.com is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.
Popular Companies for Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Accounting Degrees
Financial examiners review balance sheets, income/expense accounts, and loan documents. They train and supervise newer financial examiners, and keep up to date with new regulations and laws to adapt existing organizational policies and procedures. Some financial examiners may be involved in training and supervising other examiners. In addition, examiners are tasked with reviewing new regulations and laws, and establishing guidelines for procedures and policies. For example, states with major financial centers (New York, California) or energy sectors (Texas, Alaska) typically offer higher compensation to attract skilled professionals. Learn about the salaries you may be able to Remote Bookkeeping earn with a business degree, and the factors that can further elevate that salary.
Accountant Salary and CPA Outlook by State
This type of accounting tends to offer excellent job security and benefits that are often very competitive. As an accountant, you can specialize in different areas of accounting, each with its unique accounting career path, certification requirements, and average salary. If you normal balance enjoy working with numbers, you might find that one of the accounting fields below is right for you.
Management accountants produce financial reports that help managers decide how to run their business. They use their accounting, finance, and economics skills to provide insights into capital, margin and constraint analysis, inventory levels, and costs. In addition, management accountants may also be involved in planning and budgeting, risk management, decision analysis, and performance measurement. Not only do CPAs typically draw a higher salary than other accountants they also stand out, both to clients and potential employers, as professionals at the top of their field. Many CPAs have a master’s degree in accounting or a master’s in business administration (MBA) with a focus on accounting. You typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, or a related field to work as an accountant.
To become a public accountant, you’ll typically need to become a CPA and have a four-year degree in accounting from an accredited college or university. In addition to passing the CPA exam, public accountants must also meet continuing education requirements set by state boards of accountancy. Accounting information systems roles are typically well-compensated, in high demand, and have a high degree of job security.
Gain Additional Certifications
Often, employers will adjust salaries to reflect your local cost of living. Places where the cost of living is high, such as in a major city, tend to reflect higher salaries than places where the cost of living is lower, such as a less expensive suburb. Additionally, employer demand for specific roles may be higher in some areas than others, increasing the average salary. The specific certifications required for government accounting positions vary depending on the position level and the jurisdiction in which it is located. However, government accountants often complete the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) from the Association of Government Accountants or certifications from the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) board.
- Candidates with master’s degrees in accounting or related fields typically earn 10-15% more than those with bachelor’s degrees alone.
- On this page, you will find further information about the factors that impact accountant salaries as well as a table outlining the best states for accountants.
- Enrolled Agents are federally-authorized tax professionals who are authorized by the U.S.
- Jobs in accounting will grow by 5.8% through 2033, faster than the rate for jobs overall, according to the BLS.
- Software vendors, such as Microsoft and Oracle, also offer various certifications focusing on their respective accounting software products.
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Permanent, temporary and contract salary data for a range of Accounting & Finance roles, as well as insights and advice to guide your talent strategies. Your access to up-to-date Permanent salaries for a range of Accounting & Finance roles based in the UK; allowing you to accurately benchmark what you pay your teams. May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data for Accountants and Auditors reflect state and national data, not school-specific information.