| The area of accounting currently experiencing | | | | accountants and auditors with up to one year |
| strong growth in the number of people | | | | of work experience earned $28,250 to $45,000 |
| employed in the field. In 2004, accountants | | | | annually. The average salary of an accountant |
| and auditors held about 1.2 million jobs in | | | | with one to three years of experience earned |
| the United States. These numbers are expected | | | | $33,000 to $52,000, and the average salary of |
| to grow at a faster than average rate through | | | | an accountant at senior level accounting or |
| 2014, mostly because of the increasing number | | | | auditing earned between $40,750 and $67,750. |
| of businesses, but also due to changing | | | | Accounting managers were reported to be |
| financial laws and regulations, as well as | | | | earning $48,000 to $90,000, and directors of |
| increased scrutiny of company finances.The | | | | accounting and auditing earned $64,750 to |
| average salary of an accountant can vary | | | | $200,750.When employed by the Federal |
| greatly through the many different fields of | | | | government, the average salary of an |
| accounting. An average salary of an | | | | accountant varies just as much. According to |
| accountant depends much on not only which | | | | the U.S. Department of Labor, the average |
| area of accounting the accountant is | | | | salary of an individual working as a junior |
| employed, but also the geographic region in | | | | accountant or auditor in 2005 was $24,677. |
| which the accountant is employed. For | | | | Those who had a superior academic record |
| example, accountants, and especially | | | | might start at $30,567, while accountants |
| Certified Professional Accountants (CPAs), in | | | | with a master's degree and/or two or more |
| large metro areas will earn more than CPAs in | | | | years of professional work experience as an |
| smaller cities nationwide.According to the | | | | accountant usually start at a salary of |
| United States Department of Labor, the | | | | $37,390. Initial salary bases were slightly |
| average salary of an accountant, or the | | | | higher in selected areas where the prevailing |
| median wage and salary earnings of an | | | | local pay level was higher, such as in large |
| accountant or auditor, was $50,770 in May | | | | metro areas. Accountants employed by the |
| 2004. The middle half of the occupation | | | | Federal government in a nonsupervisory, |
| earned between $39,890 and $66,900. The top | | | | supervisory, or managerial position made an |
| 10 percent of accountants and auditors earned | | | | average of $74,907 per year in 2005, and |
| more than $88,610 annually, and the bottom 10 | | | | auditors earned an average of $78,890 that |
| percent earned less than $32,320. The U.S. | | | | same year.Accountants and auditors that are |
| Department of Labor also collected median | | | | self employed or earn their own firms may |
| annual earnings from May 2004 in the | | | | have an upper end or lower end salary, |
| industries that currently employ the largest | | | | depending on the size of their firm, their |
| number of accountants and auditors, and the | | | | geographic location, the number of clients |
| average salary of an accountant in these | | | | serviced, and other factors. Earning |
| areas is as follows:Federal Executive Branch | | | | potentials and the average salary of an |
| of the government and the United States | | | | accountant who is self employed can vary |
| Postal Service - $56,900 | | | | greatly because of these reasons. A more |
| | | | experienced accountant has the opportunity to |
| Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, | | | | have a larger firm and more clients, thus |
| and payroll services - $53,870 | | | | earning more money, than an accountant who is |
| | | | just starting out in the field. It is because |
| Management of companies and enterprises - | | | | of this that many accountants begin their |
| $52,260 | | | | careers working for other firms, and start |
| | | | their own firm once receiving experience, as |
| Local government - $47,400 | | | | well as compensation, in the field.Other |
| | | | factors may play a key role in determining |
| State government - $43,400According to a | | | | the average salary of an accountant. Not only |
| salary survey reported by the National | | | | does geographic location and the job position |
| Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), | | | | or work experience affect the average salary |
| candidates for bachelor's degrees, soon to be | | | | of an accountant, but other things may also |
| graduating in the field of accounting, | | | | affect salary, such as level of education |
| received starting wage offers from a variety | | | | obtained by the accountant, as well as |
| of sources averaging $43,269 per year in | | | | Certified Public Accountant (CPA) |
| 2005, and master's degree candidates in | | | | certification. Generally, those with master's |
| accounting were offered $46,251 as an initial | | | | degree and more experience will receive |
| average wage.The varied salary levels of | | | | higher salary levels and obtain a higher |
| different positions in the accounting field | | | | level job responsibility position in the work |
| greatly affects the average salary of an | | | | place. Those that are CPAs also tend to |
| accountant. A 2005 salary survey by Robert | | | | receive higher salaries, and therefore, the |
| Half International, a staffing services firm | | | | average salary of an accountant is almost a |
| specializing in accounting and finance, | | | | gray area due to all of the factors involved. |