How much do accountants make?
Pay in accounting is unusually predictable: role, credential and city explain most of it. Below are the ranges we see quoted across public firms and industry, plus what actually moves them.
Base salary by role
| Role | Entry | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | $42,000 | $55,000 | $70,000 |
| Staff Accountant | $58,000 | $68,000 | $80,000 |
| Tax Associate | $60,000 | $75,000 | $95,000 |
| Auditor | $65,000 | $85,000 | $110,000 |
| Senior Accountant | $78,000 | $92,000 | $110,000 |
| Tax Manager | $110,000 | $135,000 | $165,000 |
| Controller | $120,000 | $150,000 | $185,000 |
| Partner / CFO | $180,000 | $260,000 | $400,000+ |
Figures are national mid-market estimates in US dollars, excluding bonuses and busy-season overtime.
What moves the number
Credential
A CPA licence is worth roughly 10 to 15 percent in base pay at the same level, and considerably more at manager and above, because it unlocks sign-off authority and partner tracks. An EA lifts tax-specific roles but has a lower ceiling.
Specialisation
Generalist compliance work is the lowest-paid corner of the field. International tax, transfer pricing, technical accounting, forensic work and transaction advisory all command substantial premiums.
Firm type and ownership
Big Four pay well early and demand long busy seasons. Industry pays similarly at mid-level with better hours. The largest outcomes come from equity — partnership in a firm or owning a practice.
City adjustment
Rough premium or discount against the national base for the same role.
Salary questions
- How much does an accountant make a year?
- Most accountants in the United States earn between $60,000 and $100,000, with a national median in the high $70,000s. Entry-level roles start near $55,000, and controllers and partners routinely exceed $150,000.
- How much do CPAs make compared to non-CPAs?
- At the same level, a CPA typically earns 10 to 15 percent more. The gap widens with seniority because most manager and partner roles require the licence.
- Do accountants make more in public or industry?
- Public accounting pays more in the first three years and demands far longer hours. Industry catches up by the senior and manager level with better work-life balance; the highest lifetime earnings usually go to firm partners.
- How much do self-employed accountants earn?
- A solo practitioner with 60 to 100 recurring small business clients commonly bills $150,000 to $400,000 in revenue. Take-home depends heavily on pricing, software leverage and how much work is seasonal.
- What is the highest-paying accounting job?
- CFO and firm partner sit at the top, followed by specialised tax partners, transaction advisory principals and forensic accounting experts.