Show me the Money!

We all know that you are becoming a CPA because of a pure, passionate, innocent love of the industry – right? The thought of an early morning audit, the smell of fresh balance sheets, the very notion of Excel. I mean, there is no way that anyone would consider becoming an accountant just for the dolla dolla bills (would they?). But regardless, we field a lot of questions here at Roger about the starting salary of CPAs versus non CPAs, or what a new hire can expect to be earning in 5, 10, or 20 years. That is if they don't have a mid-life crisis and have to go back 6 spaces.

On average, Robert Half reports that a CPA makes 10% more than a non-CPA in an equivalent job. On average, starting salary for a CPA in corporate accounting across all job titles is $55,825 – about $5,000 more than the starting salary of non-CPAs. Robert Half releases a yearly report on the average salary of different levels of accountants that quotes a CFO of corporate accounting at $266,250-$384,000 and a public accounting bookkeeper at $37,000-$51,000. Clearly the range of accounting salaries is vast and dependent on countless variables: what sector of accounting you chose to go into, what size company you work for, your exact job title, your supervisor's mood on the day of your review, the current economy, etc. etc.

Although I can't tell you exactly what your salary should or will be, Robert Half's salary guide can offer us some insights as to the industry norms. A higher salary can be found in larger firms, corporate firms, and the higher up on the ladder you are (managers obviously make more than those they manage).

Calculated from the Robert Half Salary Guide, we put together some average salaries of accountants based on their experience and sector:

Also, try checking the salary calculator on the side of Robert Half's salary page to get a better estimate on your personal situation. You can also check out which positions are in demand across the states. While we know that accountants never choose their careers just for the money… it never hurts to take a look :)

PS. As if you need another reason to become a CPA, often larger corporations (including the Big 4) will offer bonuses to new hires for sitting for and passing their CPA Exam. These bonuses can decrease over time, but we've heard they can reach up to $5,000. Add that on to your yearly salary and treat yourself to an extra little holiday shopping spree. Now you can buy those argyle socks we know you've been looking at.