CPA Salary Guide: How Much Can You Earn?

CPAs are in demand across a range of industries. Practically every organization needs public accountants and auditors.

Many CPAs also work as tax professionals or business consultants; their expertise and training ensure that they can command high salaries. Consequently, most companies do their best to retain their accounting talent by providing regular salary hikes and bonuses.

According to a survey conducted by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), a newly qualified CPA with less than one year of work experience can expect to earn an annual salary of about $66,000.

The average salary for a CPA based in the United States is $119,000. Those CPAs who have extensive experience of working in the accounting and finance fields can earn substantially more. An individual with 20 years of experience could command an average of $152,000 in annual pay.

It’s important to remember that these figures exclude bonuses, which could be in the range of 10% of annual salaries. Additionally, CPAs can expect to earn pay increases of 4% to 5% every year.

Of course, the amount that CPAs make depends on a host of factors. The number of years of experience that you have, the industries that you have worked in, and the nature of work that you have handled, all play a role in determining your salary level.