A tax job is another way to earn an accountant salary.

Because of their abilities with numbers and money, accountants can find many other types of jobs in the financial and business world. Though all these positions require a minimum bachelor’s degree, they do not necessarily have to be in accounting. Several have pay that is higher than the average accountant salary and CPA salary. All data is as of 2011.

Budget Analysts

Budget analysts develop budgets by researching the current and future needs of organizations. They work with department managers to create individual budgets and combine the figures into a recommendation for private or public institutions. They often work with chief financial officers, chief executive officers or other top executives, to prepare annual reports and budget requests. They make a mean $34.35 per hour or $71,450 per year.

College Teachers

College teachers instruct students at the post-secondary level. Those in accounting may cover basic spreadsheet use at junior colleges or PhD coursework at major universities. A major goal of college teachers is to reach tenure. This prevents their positions from being terminated without cause, and offers the freedom to teach controversial subjects. Those in business departments get $86,620 per year while those in economics get $94,450 annually.

Financial Analysts

Financial analysts help individuals and organizations with their investment decisions by studying economic trends and business data. Those on the buy side recommend stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other financial instruments that investors can purchase for themselves. Those on the sales side help financial sales agents pick the right investments to sell to clients. They average $42.18 per hour or $87,740 per year.

Financial Examiners

Financial examiners review balance sheets and other monetary reports to ensure that institutions comply with relevant regulations from the local up to the federal level. They typically work for financial institutions and government agencies. They can determine the health of an organization or protect consumers for questionable business practices. They get $40.20 hourly or $83,620 annually.

Personal Financial Advisers

Personal financial advisers help individuals with money decisions such as budgets, investments, insurance, retirement and taxes. They are typically self-employed or work with financial and insurance institutions. They may meet clients at their own homes during evenings and weekends, since these are the most convenient times for individuals. Some work on commissions of sales from financial products while others perform their task for a flat fee. They receive $43.70 per hour or $90,900 per year.

Tax Revenue Agents

Tax revenue agents ensure that people and businesses pay their taxes. They normally work for federal, state and local governments to collect taxes, review returns, determine amounts due, impose penalties, and audit individuals or organizations. They can specialize in areas such as multinational businesses or collecting revenue. They make $26.67 hourly or $55,480 yearly.

References

U.S. Department of Labor: Accountants

Source: Squeaky Marmot

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts accounting prospects to be better than average for all jobs from 2010 to 2010.

Reasons

This forecast is due to an increasing population and growing economy, both of which will produce more businesses. The growth requires more accounting experts to manage books, ensure compliance with government regulations, pay taxes and increase profitability.

Recent revelations of corporate malfeasance, particularly in monetary services, have sounded the call for greater transparency, accountability and control of large company finances. Specialists in auditing are needed to answer the call.

Finally, businesses and other organizations are moving toward International Financial Reporting Standards, which uses principle-based standards to judge accounting methods and reports, and to determine the market value of assets and liabilities. These complex rules require the expertise of higher-level accountants.

Numbers

The following numbers summarize the future of the profession.

• Employment for accountants is expected to grow by 15.7 percent from 1.216 million to 1.407 million. The best accounting prospects will be for those individuals who can manage corporations with their MBAs, and who can audit financial dealings with their CPA licenses.
• Jobs for accounting, bookkeeping and auditing clerks will increase by 13.6 percent from 1.898 million to 2.157 million. Those who can handle a larger range of accounting tasks, such as bookkeepers, will have the best demand.
• Good accounting prospects put these positions among the top 30 occupations for growth during the decade.
• In comparison, the civilian labor force will grow by 14.3 percent for the decade.
• The biggest industry growth is expected to be in health care and social services, professional and business services, and construction. Thus, the best accounting prospects will be among these businesses.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants and Auditors
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Economic and Employment Projections

Not all jobs in accounting require a bachelor’s degree or better. With only a high school diploma, accounting, bookkeeping and auditing clerks gather and maintain financial records. Additional training is available through certificates and associate degrees from junior colleges and trade schools.

This clerical category also includes bookkeepers, who maintain all the books of a company, and more specialized positions in larger companies such as accounts receivable clerks, who are responsible for one set of data.

Wages

The March 27, 2012 data release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average accounting clerk salary at $17.37 per hour or $36,120 per year for over 1.6 million workers in 2011. You can compare this to the standard accountant salary and the CPA salary.

• This wage is under the average $21.74 annually or $45,230 yearly earned by all 128 million workers in the USA and far under the $33.15 per hour or $68,960 per year made by accountants.
• But the amount is more than the $16.40 per hour or $34,120 per year made by all 21.3 million workers in office and administrative support occupations.

Industries

The industries with the best accounting clerk salary are the following:

1. U.S. Postal Service with mean wages at $27.68 per hour or $57,570 per year for 700 clerks.
2. Motion pictures and video where 3,770 make $21.84 per hour or $45,420 per year.
3. Securities and commodities brokers at $21.32 per hour or $44,340 per year.

Locations

The following are the states with highest accounting clerk salary:

1. Connecticut, where 19,730 workers make mean wages of $19.89 hourly and $41,380 yearly.
2. Alaska, with a high cost of living that pushes averages to $19.77 per hour or $41,110 for 4,590.
3. California at $19.65 hourly or $40,860 yearly for 41,020 clerks.

As for metro areas, the following California locales top the list for compensation:

1. San Francisco, San Mateo and Redwood show accounting clerk salaries of $23.01 per hour or $47.860 per year for 12,090. The cost of living in this area is extremely high.
2. San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara is the heart of the high-tech Silicon Valley. Pay for 9,100 here runs $22.09 per hour or $45,960 per year.
3. Napa also has a high cost of living averaging salaries of $21.81 per hour or $45.360 per year for 870 employees.

References
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

The qualifications for becoming a Certified Public Accountant, with its higher salaries and greater employment demand, differ from state to state and are defined by state accountancy boards. For more information on these salaries, see CPA Salary, which you can compare with the numbers in Accountant Salary.

Sample Qualifications

Source: Ken Tiergarten

The following requirements for California are typical.

• A minimum bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance from an accredited institution. Your education must consist of at least 150 semester units. At least 24 units must be in accounting-related subjects such as auditing, taxation or financial reporting. Another 24 must be in business related-subjects such as business law, marketing and business management. Foreign CPAs must have their academic qualifications examined by an academic service agency approved by the California Board of Accountancy.
• At least one year of accounting work experience while under the supervision of a CPA with an active license. Work from foreign CPAs may count for this requirement, if documented according to Board of Accountancy rules.
• Passing the Uniform CPA exam, which consists of four sections and lasts 14 hours total, according to the American Institute of CPAs. All states mandate this exam for their CPA licenses and recognize its results.
• Passing the professional ethics exam, which takes about 16 hours. You need a score of 90 or better and have three tries. The results are valid for two years according to the California CPA Education Foundation.

Mobility

Some states allow a CPA with a license from one state to provide services in another without informing state accountancy boards and without paying a fee. However, CPAs must always follow the laws of the state in which they practice. An exception to this is an audit service, which may require registration with the state accountancy board.

Renewals

Licenses generally expire every two years and must be renewed with the payment of a fee and the documentation of continuing professional education (CPE). In California, CPAs need at least 80 hours of qualifying CPE credits taken in the two years immediately before the license expiration. A minimum of 40 hours must be in technical subjects with an additional four hours in ethics.

References

PayScale Report: Salary for CPA Jobs
American Institute of CPAs: The Uniform CPA Examination
California CPA Foundation: Professional Ethics Exam
California Board of Accountancy: CPA Licensing Applicant Handbook
California CPA Foundation: How to Become a CPA in California if You Are a CPA From Another Country
American Institute of CPAs: Salary and Demand
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants

Source: 401K

Certified Public Accountants are accountants who have passed the Uniform CPA Examination and have also satisfied state requirements for education and experience. For more information, see CPA Requirements.

Though CPAs can perform all accounting functions, their primary expertise is in auditing finances to ensure that individuals and businesses meet business and legal standards. In addition, only CPAs can prepare certain reports such as those submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Experience

According to the PayScale Report as of March 2012, CPA salary varies by experience as follows.

• New professionals earn $30,536 to $60,366 annually.
• At one to four years of work, they make $37,796 to $64,856.
• Five to nine years grants $43,963 to $83,135.
• At 10 to 19 years, they earn $48,215 to $110,229.
• And at 20 years or more, CPAs receive $48,613 to $148,131.

The following table compares the upper range of CPA salary with that of accountant salary to reveal how much the former is greater than the latter. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants asserts that the difference in pay averages from 10 to 15 percent. However, the table shows a far higher disparity especially with greater experience, when CPAs occupy upper management positions such as chief financial officer or treasurer.

Locations

The mean CPA salary differs by location as follows:

• For states, CPAs earn $42,053 to $102,092 in New York; $41,549 to $99,549 in California and $37,757 to $93,923 in Texas.
• For cities, the highest CPA salary runs $45,174 to $154,637 in Providence, Rhode Island; $58,793 to $147,949 in Stamford, Connecticut; and $42,282 to $129,128 in Rockville, Maryland.
• Salaries in the largest cities are $45,511 to $118,519 in New York City; $40,828 to $101,372 in Los Angeles; and $45,926 to $99,682 in Chicago.

Reference

PayScale Report: Salary for CPA Jobs
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants: Salary and Demand

Source: Creative Tools

The areas with the most accountant work are not necessarily the ones with the highest accountant salary.  The former depends on large populations that increase the demand for business and financial transactions. The latter depends on the cost-of-living as well as supply and demand. (You can check on the standard accountant salary and CPA salary.)

States

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the following states have the most accountant work. Note how even in these high-employment areas, accountants still earn more than the average worker.

1. California has 121.590 accountants earning a mean $36.02 per hour or $74,910 per year.
   This compares to the average state wage of $24.96 hourly or $51,910 annually.
   For more information, see California Accountant Salary.
2. New York is the third most populous state with over 19.4 million inhabitants.
   The state has over 8.4 million workers making a mean $25.39 hourly or $52,810 yearly.
   The 92,630 accountants here average $40.90 per hour or $85,070 per year.
3. Texas is the second most populous state with over 25.1 million people.
   Over 10 million workers make mean salaries of $20.72 per hour or $43,090 per year.
   Wages run a mean $33.71 hourly or $70,120 yearly for 83,560 accountants.

For a complete table of accountant work by state, see Accountant Salary by State.

Cities

The most populous cities in the U.S. also have the most accountant work. Accountants make more than the average population.

1. New York City is the most populous urban area in the U.S. with 11.7 million people.
   It shows over five million workers averaging $28.13 hourly or $58,500 yearly.
   The city has 64,450 accountants earning a mean $43.13 hourly or $89,720 yearly.
2. Los Angeles is the second city with mean pay at $35.72 per hour or $74,290 per year for 33.880 accountants. For more information, see California Accountant Salary.
3. Washington DC has 5.5 million people.
   It has over 2.3 million employed making mean wages of $30.64 per hour or $63,720 per year.
   The city shows 30,190 accountants making mean salaries of $40.35 per hour or $83,930 per year.

For a table of accountant work in selected large cities, see Accountant Salary by City.

Industries

The following industries show the most accountant work in the country. Accountants also earn more than the average worker in these businesses.

1. Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services employ 284,070 accountants with mean pay of $36.09 hourly or $75,060 yearly.
   This compares to more than 830,000 workers in these industries averaging $28.10 per hour or $58,450 per year.
2. Companies that take over the management of other companies hire 78,040 accountants at mean wages of $33.72 per hour or $70,150 per year.
   Average pay for these companies is $34.45 hourly or $71,650 yearly for 1.9 million individuals.
3. Local government, such as in cities and towns, average $29.03 per hour or $60,380 annually for 40,240 accounting professionals.
   Over 5.5 million local employees make mean wages of $22.47 per hour and $46,730 annually.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants

Soruce:Sam

(Updated March 27, 2012) With 37.6 million people, California is the most populous state.  Out of over 14 million workers, it contains 118,500 accountants, the highest number of any state, .

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of 2011, the average California accountant salary is $36.02 per hour or $74,910 per year. (Compare this to the standard accountant salary and CPA salary.)
• This is higher than the average wage of $24.96 per hour or $51.910 per year for all workers in the state.
• The amount is close to the state mean for all 754,430 professionals in business and financial operations who make $36.13 per hour or $75.160 per year.

Cities

The metropolitan areas with the highest salaries are in Silicon Valley, one of the world hubs for high technology, and the Bay Area, where the cost of living is very high.

1. San Francisco, San Mateo and Redwood City average an accountant salary of $41.46 per hour or $86,230 per year for 13,010 professionals.
2. San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara show 8,800 accountants making a mean $41.15 per hour or $85,600 per year.
3. Salinas shows wages of $39.61 per hour or $82,390 per year for 620 accountants.

The Los Angeles, Long Beach and Glendale area is the largest city in California and the second largest city in the USA. It contains the second-most number of accountants of any U.S. city at 35,840. Average wages for the profession here runs $35.72 per hour or $74,290 per year.

City List

The following shows the mean California accountant salary for all cities as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can sort and page through the results by using the options.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: California
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants

As with any other job, salaries for accountants vary by position because this defines a person’s responsibilities and tasks. Professionals who manage other employees receive more pay than those who only handle only the technical and informational side of accounting.

Highest Income

The following jobs have the highest accountant salary according to the Robert Half International 2012 Salary Guide. All are top-level positions in companies with sales of half-a-billion U.S. dollars or more. Figures do not includes bonuses or other incentives that can push total annual compensation to seven or more figures. You can compare it to the standard accountant salary and CPA salary.

1. Chief Financial Officer. Together with the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Chief Operating Officer, the CFO is responsible for the monetary health of his company. His stratospheric compensation is justified by his strategic management of finances involving thousands of employees, customers and suppliers, and hundreds of millions of dollars. The average annual accountant salary for a CFO is $275,000 at the low end and $411,000 at the high end.
2. Treasurer. This position receives and handles company funds, and is more concerned with the technical aspects of accounting rather than management. Treasurers may behave as CFOs but are more likely report to them or directly to the board of directors. They earn $273,000 to $407,250 yearly.
3. Vice President of Finance. This position may share many of the tasks of a CFO in managing accountants and other staff to ensure the financial stability of a corporation. But it is usually not involved with the financial direction of the company. Instead, treasurers offers information about corporate finances so that officers above them can determine strategic direction. They make from $215,500 to $340,750 per year.

Lowest Pay

The lowest average accountant salary belongs to those who handle financial operations at more basic levels, typically for a small company or for a few individuals. These professionals may be starting out on their accounting careers. The positions exclude those working at a clerical level and bookkeepers who do not have accounting degrees. (For information on accounting clerks, see Accounting Clerk Salary.)

1. Cost Accountant for Mid-Size Companies. These professionals collect and analyze information about how much it costs to run a business with $25 to $250 million in sales. They may examine the cost of goods, employee salaries and manufacturing expenses. They often compare actual spending with established standards to ensure that costs are not out of line. With up to one year of experience, they make $40,000 to $49,000 yearly.
2. Cost/Financial Analyst for Small Companies. These are two separate positions that have the same average accountant salary when working for establishments with up to $25 million in sales. Cost analysts improve company efficiency by analyzing production and operational expenses, and creating reports for decision-makers. Financial analysts help companies with the investments that they buy or sell. Both receive $38,000 to $45,750 per year when starting out.
3. General Accountants. These employees handle accounting responsibilities without managing other individuals. They may work by themselves and report directly to upper management, or be part of accounting departments under the supervision of a manager. With up to one year of experience, they earn from $35,250 to $42,750 annually.

References

Robert Half International: Accounting and Finance

Source: Ray Tsang

All industries need accountants to manage financial information according to business and government standards. These professionals ensure that their clients follow applicable rules and regulations, pay obligations on time,  and avoid any transaction irregularities.

Highest Pay

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the following industries as having the highest average accountant salary as of 2011. (Compare this to the standard accountant salary and CPA salary.) Except in securities and commodities, accountants earn more than the average for the industry.

1. Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services. Average wages for over 300,000 workers in this industry run $12.54 per hour or $26,090 per year.
   The average accountant salary is $43.88 hourly or $91,260 yearly.
   
2. Federal Government. This industry includes all branches and departments of the U.S. government such as the Treasury Department, Congress and the U.S. Postal Service.
   Over two million federal workers make a mean $36.29 per hour or $75,480 per year.
   The mean accountant salary is $43.24 per hour or $89,930 per year for 23,700 professionals.
3. Independent Artists, Writers and Performers.  This industry includes authors, actors and singers who work for themselves.
   The 47,760 working in this area average #29.63 per hour or $61,640 per year.
   Averages for the 480 accountants in this area run $42.45 per hour or $88,290 per year.
4. Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage. This industry includes stockbrokers and security exchanges.
   Mean pay for this industry is $43.67 per hour or $90,830 per year for over 462,720 workers.
   The 7,730 accountants average $41.07 hourly or $85,420 annually.

Lowest Pay

The following industries pay the lowest mean accountant salary. Accountants earn better wages than average except in psychiatric and substance-abuse hospitals owned by state governments.

• Technical and Trade Schools Owned by State Government. This industry includes technical schools run by state governments.
  Average salaries run $21.60 hourly or $44,920 yearly for 14,350 workers.
  The 110 accountants here make a mean $22.45 per hour or $46,700 per year.
• Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals Owned by State Government. This industry covers state-run hospitals for the treatment of psychiatric or drug-abuse problems.
  Over 125,000 workers average an hourly wage of $23.43 and a yearly salary of $48,730.
  Mean wages run $22.52 per hour or $46,850 per year for 290 accountants.
• Casino Hotels. This industry covers accommodations that devote a large part of their public spaces to gambling, such as those in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
  The 252,000 employees here make mean wages of $14.52 per hour or $30,200 per year.
  Casino hotels offer the lowest mean accountant salary of $22.30 per hour or $46,390 per year for 860 professionals.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants and Auditors

Source: Alphaundomikron

Because larger cities have more people and businesses, they produce more financial transactions that require accounting expertise. They thus have a higher average accounting salary than smaller cities and towns.

Highest Salaries

The U.S. Department of Labor states that the following metropolitan areas have the best mean accountant salary as of 2011.  (Compare them to the standard accountant salary and CPA salary.) Note that all accounting salaries are far higher than the average wage for all workers in that location.

1. New York Metro Area, including White Plains and Wayne, New Jersey. With over 11.7 million people, this is the largest urban area of the country.
   Average wages here run $28.13 per hour or $58,500 per year for over five million workers.
   The mean salary here for 64,450 accountants is $43.13 per hour or $89,720 per year.
2. Newark, New Jersey and Union, Pennsylvania, show a population of over 2.1 million.
   The 949,000 workers here average $26.03 per hour or $54,140 per year.
   About 10,100 professionals average an accountant salary of $41.88 hourly or $87,120 yearly.
3. Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York, have a combined population of 2.8 million.
   Average income is $24.92 per hour or $51,830 per year for 1.2 million workers.
   Wages average $41.67 per hour or $86,670 per year for 12,500 accountants.

Lowest Wages

The following three urban areas have the lowest mean accountant salary. Though accountants make more than the average worker, the hourly difference between the pay of both is far smaller than in cities with the highest salaries.

1. Jefferson City, Missouri has a population of almost 150,000.
   Over 71,410 workers make a mean $18.04 per hour or $37,520 per year.
   The average accountant salary is $23.25 hourly or $48,350 yearly for 880 professionals.
2. Owensborough, Kentucky, has a population of over 114,000.
   Mean wages for the 47,480 workers here are $16.91 per hour or $35,180 per year.
   With only 240 accountants, this city has the lowest mean accountant salary at $22.81 hourly or $47,440 annually.
3. Cape Girardeau, Montana to Jackson, Illinois,  has a population of over 96,000.
   The 43,950 workers here average $17.53 per hour or $36.460 per year.
   The 330 accountants here get a mean #22.75 per hour or $47,330 per year.

Selected Cities

The following table shows the employment and salaries for selected large metropolitan areas in the country. The columns show the name of the area, number of accountants, and their mean hourly and yearly pay.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants and Auditors