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