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Message
What to expect for starting salary as an Accountant
Posted on 8/6/13 at 11:13 am
Posted on 8/6/13 at 11:13 am
I'll be graduating soon and was just wondering if the board could give me some figures on what I could expect. I've done a little research on my own below, but I'm not entirely sure how accurate my information is. I'm basing the Big 4 off of internship data, Government off of Civil Service website, and Industry off of Careers2Geaux.
Big 4: 42-45k
Government: 35-37k
Industry: 33-40k:
Big 4: 42-45k
Government: 35-37k
Industry: 33-40k:
10
Posted on 8/6/13 at 11:20 am to GreenTrout
What city are those numbers for? They look accurate for a small city, not sure there are many top public accounting firms with a presence in smaller cities.
I started out at Crowe Horwath (#8) in Atlanta at 52k, but had an offer in NYC from EY for 68k. So you can see the cost of living adjustment there.
You don't need to go BIG 4, but definitely go public accounting top 10 if you have the opportunity.
I started out at Crowe Horwath (#8) in Atlanta at 52k, but had an offer in NYC from EY for 68k. So you can see the cost of living adjustment there.
You don't need to go BIG 4, but definitely go public accounting top 10 if you have the opportunity.
Posted on 8/6/13 at 11:23 am to GreenTrout
Big 4 is 53k in Houston.
Posted on 8/6/13 at 11:30 am to GreenTrout
I'm guessing alright. I have a good friend who is interning in Dallas and makes $25 an hour. He's on one of the big 4.
Posted on 8/6/13 at 11:32 am to GreenTrout
Will you be pursuing a CPA? If you plan on doing accounting long term, that is pretty much a must. Some companies will even help you along in terms of paying for you take the test while you're working for them (probably with a promise you will remain with them afterwards). I'm not sure if you meet the requirements to sit for it yet though.
What type of accounting will you be going into? Corporate, Public, Tax, Audit, etc?
A lot of people think accounting is just a narrow field full of tightwads who count money all day. This could not be more false.
Not trying to scare you, but I went to school for accounting and worked in corporate sales tax for 3 years and I don't feel I even breached the surface of what the field as a whole entails.
On another note, make sure the company likes you as much as you like the company. Salary is a huge factor in employment decisions, but who you work with, how they treat their lower level employees (non executives/non dept heads), working environment, etc... all become important in the long run and can wear you down if it's not suited to you.
ETA: I didn't even really answer your question I guess
Just so many factors I would imagine matter when it comes to accurately giving you a salary figure for an "accountant"
What type of accounting will you be going into? Corporate, Public, Tax, Audit, etc?
A lot of people think accounting is just a narrow field full of tightwads who count money all day. This could not be more false.
Not trying to scare you, but I went to school for accounting and worked in corporate sales tax for 3 years and I don't feel I even breached the surface of what the field as a whole entails.
On another note, make sure the company likes you as much as you like the company. Salary is a huge factor in employment decisions, but who you work with, how they treat their lower level employees (non executives/non dept heads), working environment, etc... all become important in the long run and can wear you down if it's not suited to you.
ETA: I didn't even really answer your question I guess
Just so many factors I would imagine matter when it comes to accurately giving you a salary figure for an "accountant"
This post was edited on 8/6/13 at 11:34 am
Posted on 8/6/13 at 11:52 am to dcrews
Since some accountants or accountant users are around here, I'll throw in a question.
What should I reasonably expect to pay a CPA to run through my tax consequences/overall strategy for paying (or not paying) off my loans while I am on the IBR repayment plan.
Would like to have a ballpark figure of how much getting an informed opinion on that would run in New Orleans.
What should I reasonably expect to pay a CPA to run through my tax consequences/overall strategy for paying (or not paying) off my loans while I am on the IBR repayment plan.
Would like to have a ballpark figure of how much getting an informed opinion on that would run in New Orleans.
This post was edited on 8/6/13 at 11:52 am
Posted on 8/6/13 at 11:55 am to GreenTrout
quote:
Big 4: 42-45k
Government: 35-37k
Industry: 33-40k:
In cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge
Big 4: 52-55k
Smaller/Local CPA Firm: 42-45k
Industry: 42-45k
Government: 40-44k
Based upon offers I had right out of college and discussions with friends. I worked a year in government before moving to a smaller/local CPA firm.
Posted on 8/6/13 at 12:04 pm to GreenTrout
I started at about $65 right out of school last may
Make about $80k now
working on my cpa currently.
not big 4
Make about $80k now
working on my cpa currently.
not big 4
Posted on 8/6/13 at 12:04 pm to wegotdatwood
quote:
makes $25 an hour.
Plus OT, you make more than the staff does.
Posted on 8/6/13 at 12:09 pm to tigers102886
quote:
Big 4: 52-55k Smaller/Local CPA Firm: 42-45k Industry: 42-45k Government: 40-44k
I would agree, maybe a little higher for local CPA - depending on how big the local firm is.
Question for those Accountants or similar role, how much were you making 3 years later - assume senior role? How big a jump in salary is reasonable? Subjective question I know.
This post was edited on 8/6/13 at 12:11 pm
Posted on 8/6/13 at 12:25 pm to Mako
quote:
How big a jump in salary is reasonable?
Average of about 9% a year increase in base salary with Big 4 at the associate/senior level. Its higher in promotion years.
Posted on 8/6/13 at 12:27 pm to chickman1313
quote:
I started at about $65 right out of school last may
Was this a corporate gig with a Fortune 500 company?
Posted on 8/6/13 at 1:19 pm to Mako
quote:
Question for those Accountants or similar role, how much were you making 3 years later - assume senior role?
Lafayette 2003ish
28k out of school and about 35k 3 years later
ETA: currently you will make about 35k out of school here
This post was edited on 8/6/13 at 1:20 pm
Posted on 8/6/13 at 1:26 pm to yellowfin
quote:
ETA: currently you will make about 35k out of school here
Can people even live on that?
35k= 3k a month.
2350 after taxes?
That'd be tough.
Posted on 8/6/13 at 1:33 pm to LSUtoOmaha
quote:
Can people even live on that?
35k= 3k a month.
That was good pay 10-15 years ago out of school
quote:Not even after med, 401k etc.
2350 after taxes?
Posted on 8/6/13 at 1:38 pm to GreenTrout
quote:
What to expect for starting salary as an Accountant
Buyers remorse.
Posted on 8/6/13 at 1:40 pm to LSUtoOmaha
quote:
Can people even live on that?
35k= 3k a month.
2350 after taxes?
That'd be tough.
considering the per capita income in Louisiana is like 23k, I'd say yeah
Posted on 8/6/13 at 1:41 pm to Mako
Big 4, large market - went from as a new hire 52 to 80 as a new manager (5 years)... so about 9% annually.
This post was edited on 8/6/13 at 3:10 pm
Posted on 8/6/13 at 2:30 pm to GreenTrout
Does anyone here have access to a recent - last few years - to the AICPA National Map Survey? - its a survey for CPA firms and includes compensation benchmarks. Robert Half publishes a free comp survey, but it is clearly high. Looking for other resources that are realible.
Posted on 8/6/13 at 2:32 pm to sneakytiger
Apologies for the delay.
@schexyoung -> BR/Nola Area
@Dcrews -> I’ll be sitting for the CPA soon. I passed all four parts of the CIA when I did the program at LSU, but I don’t think I want to do audit.
@schexyoung -> BR/Nola Area
@Dcrews -> I’ll be sitting for the CPA soon. I passed all four parts of the CIA when I did the program at LSU, but I don’t think I want to do audit.
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