The CPA license provides many advantages in the accounting profession. One of the most desirable advantages is an increased salary. To determine just how much a CPA license can impact your career, we’ve compiled this at-a-glance guide to show the main contributing factors of salary differences.
How Much Do Accountants Make? Average CPA Salaries
The annual salary of a CPA accountant is approximately $119,000 per year, excluding bonuses. Newly qualified CPAs with less than one year of experience earn an average salary of $70,000 per year, and CPAs with more than 20 years of experience average $150,000 per year in salary.”
| Average Accountant Salary | Average CPA Salary |
|---|---|
| $50,129* per year (excluding bonuses) | $119,000* per year (excluding bonuses) |
| Average CPA Salary by Percentile |
|---|
| Average CPA Salary by Percentile |
|---|
Factors That Determine CPA Salary
Years' Experience
Earning your accounting degree allows you to jump into the profession in a variety of industries with a solid accountant starting salary . But did you know that obtaining your CPA license can open up the door to more promotions, managerial opportunities, and a higher cpa salary? On average, CPAs earn 5-10% more than their uncertified counterparts.
Company Size
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, states that employment of accountants and auditors is expected to increase by 4percent from 2019 to 2029, which is faster than the average for all other occupations. BLS attributes the positive employment outlook to the continued demand for qualified professionals who are able to prepare and examine financial records during economic growth.
CPA Salary Outlook
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Job Demand - It’s a Good Day to be a CPA
Certified Public Accountant Salaries
Below is a chart of average public accounting salaries based on percentile and title/experience. See how having your CPA license gives you a major increase in salary right off the bat.
| Licensed CPA Salaries | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title / Experience | Percentile | ||||
| 25th | 50th | 75% | 95% | ||
| Tax Services | |||||
| Senior Manager / Director | $114.250 | $137,500 | $165,000 | $217,000 | |
| Manager | $88,500 | $107,000 | $127,000 | $167,750 | |
| Senior | $62,000 | $73,250 | $87,250 | $115,500 | |
| 1 to 3 Years | $49,000 | $59,750 | $70,500 | $93,500 | |
| Up to 1 Year | $40,500 | $49,000 | $57,250 | $75,750 | |
| Audit/Assurance Services | |||||
| Senior Manager / Director | $112,500 | $134,750 | $161,000 | $212,000 | |
| Manager | $76,250 | $93,500 | $110,000 | $145,250 | |
| Senior | $54,250 | $66,750 | $78,500 | $103,500 | |
| 1 to 3 Years | $45,000 | $54,500 | $64,250 | $82,250 | |
| Up to 1 Year | $40,500 | $49,000 | $57,750 | $76,500 | |
Big 4 Accounting Firm CPA Salaries
Deloitte
Average Public Accountant Salary: $73,000
PwC
Average Public Accountant Salary: $74,000
EY
Average Public Accountant Salary: $76,000
KPMG
KPMG is a professional service company and one of the Big Four auditors. KPMG is the 4th largest professional services firm in the world.
Average Public Accountant Salary: $70,000
Top 10 Cities to be an Accountant: Highest CPA Salaries
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CPA Salaries Q&A FAQ
The average salary of an accountant is just over $50k. There is a substantial difference in salary if one moves from being an accountant to a CPA, which has an average salary of $119k.
The two major factors that contribute to a CPA’s yearly salary are the employee’s Years’ of experience and the size of the company.
