How Are Public Accounting Salaries Stacking Up For 2022? Part 1, Robert Half
Executives and directors in top-tier accounting positions can earn upward of $200,000 annually, more than four times the average starting salary for a general accountant. The following table shows the average salary for top accounting executive positions, excluding bonuses and incentives. The labor shortage is pushing employers to offer more money and benefits to accounting and finance employees as well as other sectors of the economy.
- Firms continue to struggle to fill positions for public accountants, and it’s quite common for even entry-level public accountants to field multiple job offers.
- Candidates for the tax accountant position must possess a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
- CPA Practice Advisor has products that deliver powerful content to you in a variety of forms including online, email and social media.
- As we noted above, the range of job roles in either of these industries is vast, and CPAs are in demand in locations around the world.
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- And according to this 2021 cost of living index, Atlanta is the 30th most expensive city when you factor in cost of living and rent.
Manager audit and assurance services
While the increase is welcome news, we need to do more to propel accounting ahead of other fields that started ahead of us and also boosted salaries in 2023. Keep in mind while reading this list that these salaries don’t contain bonuses, benefits, and other forms of compensation. And firms wonder why they’re having trouble recruiting and retaining talent.
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The guide includes some of the trends that the staffing agency has seen over the past year, including a survey of more than 1,400 accountants, hiring managers and decision makers. Robert Half finally released its 2022 Accounting & Finance Salary Guide late last week, and the good news is starting salaries in public accounting are expected to increase by more than 1% next year, unlike in Bob’s salary projections for 2021. Many employers index their pay rates to local living costs through cost of living adjustments or COLAs. It also helps to know how to use accounting software, such as QuickBooks, and spreadsheet programs, such as Excel.
Public Accounting Starting Salary Numbers Are In (UPDATED)
We’ll update it should we have more information, and keep an eye out for 2022 Big 4 compensation data as the new numbers roll out later this year. Robert Half also revealed that 51% of senior finance hiring managers plan to add new staff this year. The staff and recruiting firm also noted that firms face a steep challenge in growing their teams to expand business initiatives, as 54% of managers said they are seeing increased quits at their company. Peruse CPA certification requirements to learn about the education, experience, and exams you need to become a certified public accountant.
SEC Financial Reporting – Director Starting Salaries
In most cases, the individual is required to obtain a certain number of hours. These hours of continuing education can usually be obtained through professional associations that offer CPE hours in the form of seminars, courses, and programs. The task of an internal auditor involves a significant amount of detective work. Internal auditors examine an organization’s internal controls and investigate to detect mismanagement, inaccuracy, and fraud. However, to be granted a license, you must meet the required on-the-job work experience and ethical requirements.It should be noted that the average CPA accountant salary will vary based on a number of factors, including firm size, level of experience, and industry. Some CPAs work as auditors, while others work as tax accountants or assurance professionals.
Mean starting salaries for accounting and related services majors in stood at $60,698 in 2022, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Often forgotten in any discussion about COL is the lower end of that but don’t worry, we looked at projected salaries for eight medium cost of living cities as well. CPA Practice Advisor is the definitive technology and practice management resource for accounting and tax professionals. CPA Practice Advisor has products that deliver powerful content to you in a variety of forms including online, email and social media.
Some roles in the Hays report are exactly the same as the year prior while tax directors in New York can rejoice as they top the increases with an eye-watering 44.7% salary increase over 2021. While pay raises are returning to pre-pandemic levels across all industries, rising prices mean higher salaries may not keep pace with inflation. CPAs who live and work in less expensive areas may earn lower salaries, while those who live in costlier areas typically receive COLAs.
CPA Salary by Experience
On the topic of cost of living locales, we also have 10 Cities Where Starting Pay In Public Accounting Will Be the Highest In 2022 and that post’s depressing cousin 10 Cities Where Starting Pay In Public Accounting Will Be the Lowest In 2022. Starting pay is expected to increase between 2.3% and 5.8% in 2023 based on data from Robert accounting starting salaries for 2022 Half. Latest regarding compensation (exact $ amount) in both FSO/New York and Northeast/New York regions is discussions should start today and run for 2 weeks. Big push right now in all business units to try and appear to care about people; people advisory board members have been reaching out for ways the firm can improve.
Starting salaries for accounting and finance professionals
“There hasn’t been an expeditious way to replenish the supply of talent and that has created that enormous gap,” said Kaiman. The opposite may happen in situations where employers have large pools of capable candidates available. TPTB said to expect “substantial” base salary bumps for staff and seniors, but that they are moving toward a “base+bonus” structure for managers and up.
- Currently, these professionals can perform complex, technical, and analytical duties beyond automated capabilities.
- These firms also provide unparalleled exposure to diverse industries, setting the stage for long-term success.
- While the increase is welcome news, we need to do more to propel accounting ahead of other fields that started ahead of us and also boosted salaries in 2023.
- The heightened regulatory involvement is also fueling demand for controllers skilled in technology, analysis and management.
The highest pay for accountants ranged from $113,310-$133,140, according to the BLS. Top earners specialized in manufacturing and worked in New York or San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. According to Payscale data from August 2024, the average CPA base salary is $99,000 per year. In September 2019, the CPA Journal performed a detailed study to determine how education level affects CPA exam pass rates. Analyzing four years of CPA exam data, the authors found that examinees with master’s degrees had a pass rate of nearly 10 percentage points higher than test-takers with only a bachelor’s degree. Education, location, and employment industry can also impact your earning potential.
For example, a public accountant salary will usually be different from an accountant working as an auditor. Therefore, it should further be kept in mind that an entry-level CPA salary will usually be lower than that of someone with several years of experience. Beyond choosing an area of specialization, interested candidates will also need to understand the difference between a Certified Public Accountant and an accountant to choose the career path that best suits their career goals. Your salary package will vary depending on the type of accounting you choose, the field or industry you work in, your location, and your experience level. By choosing wisely for yourself, you can enjoy a satisfying and prosperous career as a CPA.

Cost Accountant Salary – The average cost accountant salary is about $58,000 per year. Quality Auditor Salary – The average quality auditor salary is about $34,000 per year. Bookkeepers are also more likely to be employed by a small organization or company. Whether it’s compliance, government reporting or policy implementation, payroll professionals have irons in many complex fires. Financial analyst hiring is on the upswing as firms look for guidance on how to increase efficiencies, keep costs in check and maximize the benefits of new and existing information systems.