How much does an Accountant make?

The average salary for an Accountant is $66,284 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 49796 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an Accountant employees in United States.

The highest salary for an Accountant in United States is $79,783 per year.

The lowest salary for an Accountant in United States is $55,282 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming an Accountant or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of an Accountant.

Accountants earn salaries similar to other corporate operations professionals including compliance and financial analysts. Accountants generally earn similar pay whether they work for finance and insurance firms, management companies or enterprises, the government or private accounting firms. Full-time hours are common, with longer hours around tax season or the end of a fiscal quarter. Accountants who earn the designation of Certified Public Accountants (CPA) generally earn the highest pay.

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Anonymous Glassdoor ratings indicate that 69% of accountants are satisfied with their salary. Typically, accountants hold a bachelor's degree in accounting or a finance-related field. Having a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential or an advanced degree and years of experience can provide a higher base pay and lead to a good salary.

Accountants have a wide total pay range between $46,986.29 and $94,138.36, depending on experience, with an estimated total pay of $66,283.89. Following the average career path in the accounting field and building up years of relevant experience can increase an accountant's salary. Some contributing factors to earning more are having an advanced degree in accounting or a CPA credential.

If you're looking to further your career as an accountant, earning an advanced degree is necessary. A master's degree in accounting or business administration with a specialty in accounting can lead to specialized paths in the field such as auditing, forensic accounting, and public accounting, which all have the potential to increase an accountant's salary. You also may not be qualified to take the CPA exam without a master's degree.

Passing the CPA examination equips you with the skills and knowledge to file securities and exchange commission reports as well as represent clients regarding income taxes before the IRS. You must have 2 years of accounting management experience to attain the certification, which is why earning an advanced degree is even more crucial.

If you receive a job offer with a salary you aren't satisfied with, you can ask your employer if that number is flexible. This is an effective way to open the conversation for a higher accountant salary. You can also negotiate salary in your current position by looking at accountant jobs nearby to see if there are any paying accountants more and bring it to your boss's attention. Using the phrase "based on my research" sends the message that you know what you're talking about. Asking for between 10 and 20% more is a good rule of thumb and shows that you know your value.

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About 69.40% of Accountant professionals feel satisfied with their salary, according to anonymous Glassdoor ratings. An additional $3,810 in potential pay per year, among other factors, can qualify the annual pay of an Accountant in United States as a good salary.

Accountant professionals in United States have a wide total pay range, between $46,986 and $94,138 depending on experience, with an estimated total pay of $66,284 following the average career path of an Accountant.