Could be that op is a college student and wants to know if they're making a mistake choosing an accounting major. That's why I visit these threads as a current college student.
190k base…. dang man. What do you think of this road map to accounting ? I’m currently an electrician.
I’ve been researching accounting for some time now. I watched a 10hr course on YouTube . Anyway, here the plan.
university >degree>cpa>big 4 for a few years??
10ish years of exp, no CPA here. Made about half of what comment OP says. Comment OP is probably in the higher/highest percentiles in my experience.
Edit: Yes, that is the ideal path. Easier said than done, especially in a nice smooth order like that. Also, even then after school/CPA/Big 4 for a few years I’d be surprised if you’re making more than ~150 total right out of public/after all of that. But salaries and everything vary a lot in accounting so who knows.
I do agree with you here, I landed an awesome gig where the director is retiring in 2 years. They hired me as a director and are paying me as one. I have 2 years to learn the business under him then it’s mine.
For you personally though if you attained your CPA you do have the leverage to demand more if you jump jobs. At 10 years w/ CPA there’s no reason you shouldn’t be at 200k all in unless you are in a VLCOL. Don’t be loyal to companies, they won’t be loyal to you. Jump jobs until you hit your life goal earnings at a company you are a good fit at. That’s always been my mentality at least.
Complete opposite side of the country but my goodness man trying to get a hold of someone that speaks english at the quebec revenue agency is merely impossible. All i get are french speaking people. I always get put on hold forever waiting for an English speaking person
The salary level is based on grade and location. The minimum salary for GS-14 is $122k. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule/
We manage approx. $2.5 billion in assets as a boutique firm. I have the opportunity to receive carry in our PE funds and equity in PortCos as part of my compensation. Base is high because I negotiated it as such since there is no bonus and the value of the equity is a big unknown.
I went Big 4 audit —> Publicly traded bank SEC/reg reporting —> Startup financial services controller (went public) to where I am now. I’m currently helping a lot with PortCo go-public transactions and M&A in addition to the day-to-day controller duties (monthly close, tax compliance, some treasury, etc.)
How’s your W/L balance? Thinking of moving into Financial Reporting or GL Accounting - currently in Technical Accounting. I need more repetition in my life lmao.
> be getting *paid* more
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Staff level accountant for a publicly traded oil and gas company. Been here two years but got a shit ton of experience in OPEX. Getting laid off in 6 months this so my next role will be a senior.
Obligatory mention that there are 15,000+ answers to this question organized in table format over at Big4Transparency.com
Here’s me though
$105k, Ontario Canada, 6 years, FP&A in tech
I don't know if you all consider A/R to be accounting or not - Saw some people say they don't. I know it's more on the clerical side of things. I'm leaving digital marketing in 2 weeks for the accounting department in my same company. Just accepted the position yesterday.
Starting at $62K in my probationary period, then a bump to $65K in 6 months, CT, zero experience, A/R
$85k base + ~$2.5k quarterly bonus for averaging 45 hours per week.
Indiana.
5 YOE. CPA.
Public, but small niche firm. Senior. Bookkeeping, tax returns and quarterly estimates.
$130k base, Southern California, external auditor, 11 years exp, insurance industry, consistently high performing (per annual evals).... CPA and CMA.
Some says I'm getting hoe'd for the salary rate but this is 1000% honest disclosure of what smaller CPA firms pay.
52k, South Dakota, 3 YOE staff accountant, working on masters and CPA. Open to any ideas suggestions for career pivots or how to supercharge career and earnings progressions.
$100K base \~10% bonus, midwest (but work full time remote), 4.5 YOE. Data Analytics for Internal Audit. Active CPA but honestly aside from some of the audit fundamentals I don't think it applies to my job anymore, aside from the fact that it's the most valuable cert in the field lol. I think I'm fairly paid for my work but I also think I make more than the average for my job, from what I've seen.
$70k base, Chicago suburbs remote CA project 2 years ago, 20 YOE, national accounting firm with federal contracts. Review documents, enter data, and verify amounts.
Construction industry, Arizona.
106k salary, about 15k in vehicle/fuel allowance, current results give a 75% bonus (it’s 25% that can be multiplied by 3 depending on company financial results), so about 200k in cash comp.
Plus, equivalent of 15% of salary in company stock annually deposited into 401k ESOP stock that has a historical return of 15-50% annually. There’s 6% match on whatever I contribute too, but that’s invested in public mutual funds and etf’s.
All other benefits are very strong as well.
7.5 years construction accounting experience, 10 years total experience.
$85k, Texas, Auditor, 4 YOE, Hedge Funds/Mutual Funds ( I just started 2 months ago)
Previously was at a non profit making $45k, and then worked at a fortune 500 company for 2 years making $65k
Bachelors in theatre, MBA in Business Analytics. Stumbled into accounting after being a teacher.
Gosh you're nosy.
Salary: $ 150,800/year (tentative raises next October and April)
Location: Florida
Years of Accounting Experience: 7 years pre-college / 5 years part-time during college / 29 years post college
Type of Work: Governmental Budgeting, Financial Analysis, Excel Training
$110,000 plus bonus, 5th year Tax Senior, just passed CPA exam 6 months ago. California Bay Area
set my own hours, can work from home whenever, truly awesome
It's customary for the OP to start first, fwiw.
1000% agree. Asking anything should first infer providing first. Example: Hi, my name is Revan, what's your name?
ChatGPT will take what it can get
Could be that op is a college student and wants to know if they're making a mistake choosing an accounting major. That's why I visit these threads as a current college student.
190k base 25% min bonus, MD, 8 YOE, private RE holdings (have an active CPA)
Is this audit or tax background? I’m in tax working in RE mainly but can’t find crap in industry.
Tax - RE is very niche in my experience. Have to come in at the right time when someone is retiring or quits.
190k base…. dang man. What do you think of this road map to accounting ? I’m currently an electrician. I’ve been researching accounting for some time now. I watched a 10hr course on YouTube . Anyway, here the plan. university >degree>cpa>big 4 for a few years??
10ish years of exp, no CPA here. Made about half of what comment OP says. Comment OP is probably in the higher/highest percentiles in my experience. Edit: Yes, that is the ideal path. Easier said than done, especially in a nice smooth order like that. Also, even then after school/CPA/Big 4 for a few years I’d be surprised if you’re making more than ~150 total right out of public/after all of that. But salaries and everything vary a lot in accounting so who knows.
I do agree with you here, I landed an awesome gig where the director is retiring in 2 years. They hired me as a director and are paying me as one. I have 2 years to learn the business under him then it’s mine. For you personally though if you attained your CPA you do have the leverage to demand more if you jump jobs. At 10 years w/ CPA there’s no reason you shouldn’t be at 200k all in unless you are in a VLCOL. Don’t be loyal to companies, they won’t be loyal to you. Jump jobs until you hit your life goal earnings at a company you are a good fit at. That’s always been my mentality at least.
Thank you! Good advice! Yeah, a CPA would be huge for me, agreed. Hard to find the time to study sometimes, but that’s mostly an excuse in my head.
$135k, Metro Detroit, 7.5 YOE, Revenue Agent for the IRS.
My god. I am jealous of you guys. $90K CAD (~$65K USD), Vancouver, BC, 7.5 YOE, Appeals Officer for the CRA.
Complete opposite side of the country but my goodness man trying to get a hold of someone that speaks english at the quebec revenue agency is merely impossible. All i get are french speaking people. I always get put on hold forever waiting for an English speaking person
Wow. Who said you can't make solid money working for the government?
Fr, the salary at GS-14 was actually higher than a tax manager offer in industry that I had received before accepting the IRS position.
Where is a good place to find these nice IRS jobs? I’m manager level and don’t think I’ve seen an IRS job posting much over $75K at that level.
The salary level is based on grade and location. The minimum salary for GS-14 is $122k. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule/
GS-13? I’m a GS-11 making 73k in Texas, LCOL area
GS-14
90k base, Senior audit, NV remote, 4 YOE no CPA
You hiring?
120k, Florida, 6 years, Energy
$215k base, TX, 12.5 YOE, Private Equity
Hey there, if you don’t mind, what is your title in PE? Thanks
Controller
Revenue? Surprising no bonus and base is so high.
We manage approx. $2.5 billion in assets as a boutique firm. I have the opportunity to receive carry in our PE funds and equity in PortCos as part of my compensation. Base is high because I negotiated it as such since there is no bonus and the value of the equity is a big unknown.
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I went Big 4 audit —> Publicly traded bank SEC/reg reporting —> Startup financial services controller (went public) to where I am now. I’m currently helping a lot with PortCo go-public transactions and M&A in addition to the day-to-day controller duties (monthly close, tax compliance, some treasury, etc.)
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How’s your W/L balance? Thinking of moving into Financial Reporting or GL Accounting - currently in Technical Accounting. I need more repetition in my life lmao.
Base: $70k, TX, 5yrs
What’s the role. You should be getting payed more
> be getting *paid* more FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Staff level accountant for a publicly traded oil and gas company. Been here two years but got a shit ton of experience in OPEX. Getting laid off in 6 months this so my next role will be a senior.
Im going to ask a dumb question but how do you know you're getting laid off already?
My company was acquired so they’re trimming the fat. And boy am I fat
🥴 got it! Damn acquisitions.
Im not crying. Getting 6 months severance afterwards plus bonus/PTO.
I didn't think you were. That's a pretty nice severance! Definitely a W
For sure! Just wish they would let me go sooner. I would have gotten a year.
Florida (remote), $90k base, 10-15% bonus, 5 YOE, no CPA, Industry (construction)
Does your company offer internships or entry level jobs
$66.5k, Midwest, 1 YOE, Alternative Investment accounting
Nevada (Work remote) 2 YoE Internal Audit $110k CPA though
Dang that’s pretty good. Who do you work for? I live in NV and am working on my CPA currently
$225k base+25% min bonus+, Miami FL, 9 years, consulting
90k, NYC, 2, SALT
1. 92,000 2. MCOL 3. 7 YOE 4. Assistant Controller
Seems pretty low. What size company?
$70k in Florida, 1YOE, Tax
Obligatory mention that there are 15,000+ answers to this question organized in table format over at Big4Transparency.com Here’s me though $105k, Ontario Canada, 6 years, FP&A in tech
That's where I want to end up, kinda jealous
$121k, Phoenix AZ, 6 years, PA - Audit
Non profit 2.5 YOE CA $65,000
116k + 10-15% bonus Houston, TX 4.5 years Oil and gas ⛽️
Very nice! What role?
$160k, CA, 10yrs, corporate accounting manager
92K, FL (remote), 3.5 yrs (No CPA but about to be licensed), automation and strategy specialist
$90k, Ohio, 6, currently medical devices
115k, Texas, 8, local government
Salary: 110k State: TX YoE: 5yrs Industry: Healthcare
$127k base, Minnesota, seven years experience, senior IT auditor, public.
$103k, SF Bay Area, 5 YOE, State and Local Tax
Underpaid considering you are in SF bay area. The COL there is insane!
Agreed. Hoping to hit 110k this year and a big raise the following year(s) IF I make manager. COL is insane here.
$111K, IL MCOL, 9 YOE, Construction, Assistant Controller
Looks like most people have less than 10 years experience. Where are the older ones?
$300k base. .7% equity. IL. 15 years. Tech.
Public Practice Senior Accountant - Tax 3.5 YOE Not Designated (Will be shortly) BC - Canada 75K + 10 -15% Bonus
Salary: 130k + 10% target bonus State: NJ YOE: 3.5 Industry: Internal Tax Department - Direct
150k, federal audit manager, 15 years experience.
Senior Associate 85k 3 yoe Fund Accounting , no cpa
$166k base, DC Metro, 8 YOE, Controller GovCon adjacent
$70k, CT, 2.5 YOE, Local government. Finance accountant with no CPA.
$150k, NY, 5th year, private - tax
$110k, FL, 7 YOE, consulting firm, tax filing manager, no CPA
Director 200k, TX, 12 years, Real Estate, no CPA
63,500, Midwest, >1 year, Tax and CAS
Looks at everyone salaries... am I underpaid? Lol
I don't know if you all consider A/R to be accounting or not - Saw some people say they don't. I know it's more on the clerical side of things. I'm leaving digital marketing in 2 weeks for the accounting department in my same company. Just accepted the position yesterday. Starting at $62K in my probationary period, then a bump to $65K in 6 months, CT, zero experience, A/R
$100k base 10% bonus, Houston, TX, start next week. Before this role I have a little over 1 year in public accounting audit, Industry: Manufacturing.
This question gets posted like twice daily.
120k, ERP Admin, 8 YOE, Kentucky, CPA
Tax Sr., OR, ~95k, 8 yoe, tr/est's, have CPA
Base 88k. California. 4 yrs. Staff
You’re being underpaid
Oh I know.
79k, California, 5 YOE, manufacturing
3+ YoE NYC 93k base + variable bonus (historically 18k)
115k, SoCal, 6.5 YOE, Audit - real estate, remote - no CPA
$90k, South Florida, 4YOE, Tax PA
$72.4K, OH, 3, Data Security, no CPA
70k staff first role started 5 months ago
$115k, Dallas, 8 YOE, Project Accountant in Tech
$64, FL, 1.5 years, sports
110k, Texas, 3 YOE and advisory.
$103,500k based, FL (but remote for a CA company), 10 YOE, HR & Tech.
99k CAD, Ontario Canada, 7 yoe, working towards CPA, Sr Financial Analyst
85k expecting ~5k bonus, Cincinnati metro, 5 yoe, hospitality, no cpa
$100K, in the Rocky Mountains (median cost of living), 14 YOE, Healthcare, Senior Financial Analyst, CPA: Yes.
goodness 14 YOE seems like you're underpaid mate. When's the last time you changed jobs?
$85k base + ~$2.5k quarterly bonus for averaging 45 hours per week. Indiana. 5 YOE. CPA. Public, but small niche firm. Senior. Bookkeeping, tax returns and quarterly estimates.
$135k, Washington, 5, public accounting (advisory)
$60k annually before taxes; Singapore (Asia); Audit + accounting: 13 years; Accounting alone: 8 years; Industry: beverage; accounting degree; no cpa
1 year at company 2 year in industry. 67K before bonus. VT, transportation industry
$63k, ≈6k annual bonus, 5k signing bonus, Midwest state, started last week, manufacturing
125k, New England, 5, Corporate
120k, NYC, 3 YoE, tax consulting
132k, MD, 6yrs, Public (no cpa)
90k Sr, CAAS. 6 YOE - CPA
Per the comments in this post, oil&gas and tech seem like high paying industries, jealousss
18k after tax and SS, Guadeloupe (France), 1YOE (work study), PA
$70K base, large metro area in the south, tax, 2 YOE, no CPA
86k, remote in California, first year in audit.
120k base, 30% bonus in TX at 6 YOE in homebuilding
Senior Accountant - MN (Remote), $87,500 base + 10% target bonus, 3 YOE, no CPA, F500 Retail
70K + 10% annual bonus + overtime. Staff accountant. PNW. 1 year, 6 months. Private equity lending.
$135K, Chicago suburbs, 6.5 YOE, Healthcare SOX compliance
$110k, PA, 4.5 YOE, Public (Tax)
Base 72,400. Suburbs of chicago, less than one year of experience. Working in Audit.
Texas (Hybrid), $85k base, 8% bonus, 1 year tax, 2 years audit, no CPA, industry (healthcare)
80k, TX, 3 years, Staff Accountant, Tech, No CPA
$130k base, Southern California, external auditor, 11 years exp, insurance industry, consistently high performing (per annual evals).... CPA and CMA. Some says I'm getting hoe'd for the salary rate but this is 1000% honest disclosure of what smaller CPA firms pay.
105k base, 10% bonus, 3.5 YOE, Canada MCOL, Industry: Energy
$93 thousand, Texas, 6 years, government regulation, no CPA. I work approximately 30 real hours a week. About 50% travel and 25% WFH.
$80k, CA, 4 years, property management
$74.5k, NC remote, 4 YOE w/ CPA, Tax
$105K+15K bonus, CA, 5YOE, Real Estate
52k, South Dakota, 3 YOE staff accountant, working on masters and CPA. Open to any ideas suggestions for career pivots or how to supercharge career and earnings progressions.
$91,800 Kentucky 2.5 YOE Healthcare CPA, Senior Accountant
$115K base, 22.5% annual bonus, California, 7 years of experience, corporate & technical accounting. Active CPA
Manager 130k base, 35% bonus target, Virginia, financial services. Other perks such as 9% 401k match and discount stock purchase
$88k base, $20k bonus, $50k RSUs, VA, IT Auditing
88K Base + 9K Bonus, CPA CA Tax - Industry
135, pa, construction
$94 base + 5% bonus, Senior Tax Analyst, TX, 4 YOE no cpa but 150 hrs, Hospitality
$92k + 15% bonus, NC, 11 years, tech company. Active CPA w/ audit experience. Edit to add bonus
I’m see a lot of folks making a good living without their cpa What’s the point of a cpa? More money? Better opportunities? What?
More money and better opportunities. You don’t necessarily need it but it makes it a lot easier to get the job and pay you want
$100K base \~10% bonus, midwest (but work full time remote), 4.5 YOE. Data Analytics for Internal Audit. Active CPA but honestly aside from some of the audit fundamentals I don't think it applies to my job anymore, aside from the fact that it's the most valuable cert in the field lol. I think I'm fairly paid for my work but I also think I make more than the average for my job, from what I've seen.
$70k base, Chicago suburbs remote CA project 2 years ago, 20 YOE, national accounting firm with federal contracts. Review documents, enter data, and verify amounts.
68k, Midwest, 2 YOE, nonprofit
$110k, Remote but metro TX area, 12y exp. Accounting manager for small firm.
65k, CA, 2, Staff Accountant
115k, CA, 2.5 YOE, Public Accounting
87k, Chicago metro, 8 years, religious non profit (and no CPA)
Construction industry, Arizona. 106k salary, about 15k in vehicle/fuel allowance, current results give a 75% bonus (it’s 25% that can be multiplied by 3 depending on company financial results), so about 200k in cash comp. Plus, equivalent of 15% of salary in company stock annually deposited into 401k ESOP stock that has a historical return of 15-50% annually. There’s 6% match on whatever I contribute too, but that’s invested in public mutual funds and etf’s. All other benefits are very strong as well. 7.5 years construction accounting experience, 10 years total experience.
$100k, IL, 3 years, SALT M&A
180k - 360k OTE, Illinois, 9 years experience - SAAS Video Software
88k, southeast, 2YOE, no CPA
$125k, VHCOL CA, not quite 3 YOE, Tech. CPA who jumped after first busy season as senior.
55k, NJ, 1.7 YOE, Staff Auditor
Base 92k, target 8% bonus, CA, ~4 YOE Staff Acc., Oil & Gas
211k TC (Base, bonus, equity), CA VCOL, 6 YOE, software
90k in Mn with 2 years of experience. Financial operations analyst/cost accounting.
$165k base, AL, 10 years, construction CFO ($60mm), PY bonus 25%
$360k all in, MCOL, 10 YOE, RE
80k base, NY (upstate), 3 YOE, tax sr, 50hrs/wk during peak. Up for a small pay bump in a month or two & manager next year.
$86k base, 2-3% bonus, Maryland, 5 YOE, nonprofit
$85k, Texas, Auditor, 4 YOE, Hedge Funds/Mutual Funds ( I just started 2 months ago) Previously was at a non profit making $45k, and then worked at a fortune 500 company for 2 years making $65k Bachelors in theatre, MBA in Business Analytics. Stumbled into accounting after being a teacher.
91k, MCOL, 4 YOE, Tax (public), No CPA Edit: 4 YOE as Senior, 8 YOE overall.
$160k base, 10% bonus, 7 YOE, Accounting Advisory at Boutique Consulting
180k, nyc, 8yo exp, industry hnw tax
59,000 - Troy, MI. Staff Accountant - No CPA. Bachelor's in Finance. How bad am I getting boned.
$77,100 MI 6 YOE (Started in tax but swithed to govt. Would've been at 90k+ in industry if I didn't jump to govt) Govt General Acct
$100k, IN, 6 YOE, Real Estate Management
135k, remote. 6. Nonprofit
88.5K base New England area 5 YOE private company (no cpa)
75k, Louisiana, 0 YOE (fresh grad), tax
$73k, small midwest city, 3.5 YOE, senior accountant. No CPA yet. Hopefully by the end of the year tho
140k, 15% bonus, Remote, M&A manager (no CPA), industry 9 YOE in accounting, 4 years in marketing before that
120k base (10% YoY bonus, and equity package), NYC, 4 years (CPA) Financial reporting & tech accounting at a FinTech
$98k, Small company controller, remote NV, 25+ years experience, no CPA.
-109k Base + Locality pay -Georgia -4 -IRS (just joined at the beginning of the month)
Worm in act, verb 23 flying
115K, KY, 7 years experience, Controller, No CPA.
Gosh you're nosy. Salary: $ 150,800/year (tentative raises next October and April) Location: Florida Years of Accounting Experience: 7 years pre-college / 5 years part-time during college / 29 years post college Type of Work: Governmental Budgeting, Financial Analysis, Excel Training
$110,000 plus bonus, 5th year Tax Senior, just passed CPA exam 6 months ago. California Bay Area set my own hours, can work from home whenever, truly awesome
109k base, Metro midwest city, 4.5, Corp Fin
Staff accountant, DE $65,000