Accountant Salary
Updated: 31 Jan 2012
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National Accountant Salary Data
| National Salary Data ( ?XAll compensation data shown are gross, national 10th to 90th percentile ranges. Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey. ) | $0 | $21K | $42K | $63K |
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| Salary | $31,148 - $61,143 |
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| Bonus | $240.88 - $6,084 |
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| Profit Sharing | $506 - $5,071 |
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Total Pay (?XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare). ) | $29,555 - $62,587 |
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Country: United States | Currency: USD | Updated: 31 Jan 2012 | Individuals Reporting: 6,241 |
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Companies and Industries for
Accountant
Salaries
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Popular Employers
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Salary Range
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Popular Industries
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Salary Range
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| Accounting, Auditing and Tax Services | $32,768 - $59,153 |
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| Manufacturing and Distribution | $33,348 - $61,363 |
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| Healthcare | $32,392 - $60,567 |
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| Financial Services | $32,549 - $60,268 |
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| Education, College/University | $31,216 - $57,686 |
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Key Statistics for
Accountant
Salaries
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Female
68%
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Male
32%
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| Salary: | $37,662 - $51,700 | |
$36,665 - $51,056
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| Bachelor's Degree | $31,195 - $59,415 |
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| Bachelor of Science (BS / BSc), Accounting | $31,151 - $59,733 |
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| Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Accounting | $30,498 - $59,036 |
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| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | $34,527 - $60,715 |
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| Bachelor of Arts (BA), Accounting | $33,171 - $62,240 |
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Most Common Health Benefits
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Medical:
76% |
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Dental:
58% |
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Vision:
40% |
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None:
22% |
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Career Path for
Accountant
Jobs
Accountant
Salary Range
$29,555 - $62,587
Accountant
Salary Range
$29,555 - $62,587
Highest Salaries By City for Accountant Jobs
Top Cities by Popularity for Accountant Jobs
Sunnyvale, California (CA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$45,092 - $67,802
#1 Highest Paying Location
Santa Clara, California (CA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$14,707 - $70,467
#2 Highest Paying Location
San Jose, California (CA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$39,675 - $69,286
#3 Highest Paying Location
San Francisco, California (CA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$29,626 - $66,824
#4 Highest Paying Location
Washington, District of Columbia (DC)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$38,000 - $80,473
#5 Highest Paying Location
New York, New York (NY)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$33,425 - $71,230
#6 Highest Paying Location
Peoria, Illinois (IL)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$40,186 - $52,835
#7 Highest Paying Location
Alexandria, Virginia (VA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$20,608 - $93,080
#8 Highest Paying Location
Boston, Massachusetts (MA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$32,293 - $63,807
#9 Highest Paying Location
Irvine, California (CA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$32,549 - $62,361
#10 Highest Paying Location
Fort Worth, Texas (TX)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$25,532 - $60,964
#11 Highest Paying Location
Santa Monica, California (CA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$39,701 - $52,201
#12 Highest Paying Location
Charlotte, North Carolina (NC)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$33,000 - $60,000
#13 Highest Paying Location
Chattanooga, Tennessee (TN)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$33,000 - $51,834
#14 Highest Paying Location
Plano, Texas (TX)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$33,573 - $61,562
#15 Highest Paying Location
Houston, Texas (TX)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$37,685 - $61,219
#16 Highest Paying Location
San Diego, California (CA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$31,673 - $64,418
#17 Highest Paying Location
Los Angeles, California (CA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$33,267 - $74,574
#18 Highest Paying Location
Seattle, Washington (WA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$35,168 - $68,431
#19 Highest Paying Location
Irving, Texas (TX)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$43,509 - $58,958
#20 Highest Paying Location
New York, New York (NY)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$33,425 - $71,230
#1 Most Popular Location
Houston, Texas (TX)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$37,685 - $61,219
#2 Most Popular Location
Chicago, Illinois (IL)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$34,311 - $62,625
#3 Most Popular Location
Los Angeles, California (CA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$33,267 - $74,574
#4 Most Popular Location
Atlanta, Georgia (GA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$31,921 - $63,116
#5 Most Popular Location
Seattle, Washington (WA)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$35,168 - $68,431
#6 Most Popular Location
Dallas, Texas (TX)
Accountant
Salary Range:
$35,203 - $59,139
#7 Most Popular Location
Accountant
Job Description
Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports for the purpose of maintaining expenditure controls.
Compile data, compute fees and charges, and prepare invoices for billing purposes. Duties include computing costs and calculating rates for goods, services, and shipment of goods; posting data; and keeping other relevant records. May involve use of computer or typewriter, calculator, and adding and bookkeeping machines.
FAQs on Salaries for
Accountant
Jobs
How to Increase Accounting Salaries
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts outstanding growth for accountant jobs over the next several years. With such a positive job outlook, many people are wondering: how much do accounting jobs pay and what does it take to enter the field? The requirements needed for a job will vary depending on the specific Accountant Job Description, but may include earning a Master of Business Administration Degree or completing CPA requirements to become a certified public accountant. While it's standard for accountants to complete a bachelor's degree, the Accounting Salaries by Degree chart shows that there isn't much difference in accounting salaries based on undergraduate degree, but accountant salaries can be given a boost by getting a MBA. Whether you choose to stick with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or further your accounting education, it's now possible to complete Online Accounting Degrees, including an Online MBA Degree. Exploring accounting degree options is a strategic part of career planning; it's up to you to decide which accounting education path best suits your needs.
Accountant Salaries Add Up
Everyone has heard that old saying about the inevitability of death and taxes. For some people, it's almost a toss-up as to which they dread more! The upside to this little axiom is that accountants will always have plenty of business (so will morticians, but that's a topic for another time). An accountant can do wonders for an individual's peace of mind when it comes to sorting out their money matters, but there are also opportunities for accountants at the corporate level, where budgets must be drafted and monitored closely. When you spend all day handling other people's money, you naturally want to make sure your accountant salary is at the level it should be, compared to other accounting salaries in your geographical area and field of expertise. PayScale's accountant salary data can help. You can research accounting salaries by city, state, experience, and more.
Researching Accountant Salaries by State, we can see that New York and California currently offer the highest median accountant salary. Compare Accountant Salary Data by City and you'll see that New York City and Los Angeles continue the trend with high accounting salaries. However, a good accountant knows that how much money people make isn't the only thing that affects how much money they have. The cost of living in New York City and Los Angeles is high enough that it may be worth setting up shop in other areas. The PayScale Advice section for accountant salary also suggests getting your CPA license. As accountants spend more time on the job, they not only hone their accounting skills, but also build connections and receive client referrals, so it's no surprise that measuring Accountant Salaries by Years Experience shows a direct correlation between experience and a higher accountant salary.
Real-Life Accountant Jobs
To further your research into accounting salaries, and get an insider's perspective on the life of an accountant, read the interview with Christine White, " Accountant Career Path - Accountant Average Salary," in the Salary Stories blog. Christine shares her experience as an accountant after 20 years in the field.
More Charts for
Accountant
Jobs
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The latest career advice from people with this job:
Accountant
Jobs
Accountant - (City withheld for privacy), Massachusetts, United States
5 years ago I thought I would never get out of my dead end job. But I stuck with my classes and lucked into a great opportunity and now my career has taken off.
It always pays to get your CPA license
Accountant - (City withheld for privacy), California, United States
Even if you do not want to get into auditing, getting a CPA is very good for your knowledge and salary.
Accountant - (City withheld for privacy), Michigan, United States
This company has been so efficient with me that I have gone back to college and can manage a healthy family life. I recommend anyone to apply at robert half as a temporary agent. I am currently setting a goal for my bachealors in Arts.


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