US Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Salary

Entry-Level

A Certified Public Accountant’s starting salary can range anywhere from $51,000 to $74,000 depending on where you live and work. As you gain experience, your roles and skills will determine your income. Most states require at least two years of public accounting experience to be eligible to become a CPA. You may already be certified or be in the process of becoming certified as a junior accountant (1-3 years).

Senior-Level

After 4-6 years of experience, you become a senior accountant. You should anticipate increasing responsibilities and obligations as you grow professionally. At this point in your career, you will have begun to develop areas of focus and expertise, and your employment title will most likely reflect your specialization. Salaries in this phase of your professional development might range from $74,750 to $102,000.

Manager or Director

After a few years in a senior position, your accomplishments and areas of expertise become more important than the number of years you've worked. To advance to positions of leadership, you must stand out. The top spot on the ladder is not available to everyone. This category contains applicants with greater experience, competence, and/or certifications. Salaries for senior-level roles average about $109,750.

How Does Industry Affect CPA Salary?

The first major decision for a new accountant is whether to pursue a career in public or private accounting. Accountants in both the public and private sectors are well compensated. Public accountants, on the other hand, earn slightly more than their private counterparts in similar roles.

Public accountant salary

One of the best ways to develop your accounting career is to work in public accounting, but it is also one of the most demanding jobs. An entry-level public accountant may expect to earn around $55,000 - $65,000 per year. There are several ways to specialize as a public accountant. You may find, from the list of job roles, the ideal fit for your desired lifestyle. Here are four career specialties offered in public accounting:

• Auditing/Assurance
• Tax Compliance and Planning
• Advisory and Consulting

Private accountant salary

There are various roles open to you when working for private companies. An entry-level private accountant may expect to earn around $55,000 per year. For many students, starting a career in the private sector after completing college is a great choice. A career in private accounting can provide industry expertise and, in some cases, a better work-life balance than careers in public accounting.

Here are a few examples of accounting jobs in the private sector, from entry-level to senior management:

• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Internal Auditor
• Financial Analyst
• Controller
• CFO
• Corporate Accountant
• Tax Accountant

How Does Company Size Affect the CPA Salary?

In some cases, large organizations offer more perks and amenities to their employees, like gyms, cafeterias, and daycare centers, than smaller companies. On the other hand, people have more say over the perks and benefits they get because smaller businesses can be more flexible and listen to their needs.

Some large organizations are willing and able to compensate well in order to attract better talent. The more staff, assets, or clients a company has, the more complicated certain accounting responsibilities become, and an accountant's compensation does reflect this. The Big 4 accounting firms are good examples of public accounting organizations where an entry-level CPA may expect to earn more than the average beginning pay.

What companies hire CPAs?

CPAs can work for a variety of companies because almost every company in the world needs financial services. Therefore, the possibilities for landing your ideal career are endless. The following are just a few of the industries where you may work as a CPA:

Certified Public Accountant Salaries

Below is a chart of average public accounting salaries based on title/experience. It’s clear to see how your CPA license will provide a significant salary boost early on in your career.

Big 4 Accounting Firm CPA Salaries

The average salaries of CPA candidates in the Big 4 accounting firms are:

1. Deloitte - Average Certified Public Accountant Salary: $123,640 per year.Deloitte is a multinational professional services network. Many of the world's most respected brands rely on Deloitte for industry-leading audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services.
2. PwC - Average Certified Public Accountant Salary: $132,063 per year. PricewaterhouseCoopers is a multinational professional services network headquartered in London. With a global network of over 200,000 employees, it is the second-largest professional services firm in the world.
3. EY - Average Certified Public Accountant Salary: $124,787 per year. Ernst & Young is a multinational professional services firm headquartered in London. They provide consulting, assurance, tax, and transaction services.
4. KPMG - Average Certified Public Accountant ​Salary:$130,744 per year. KPMG is the 4th largest professional services company in the world.