Your friends may get jealous (but what else is new).
A CPA salary is pretty hard to beat. New industries, more sophisticated technologies and expanding opportunities for the business add up to better opportunities for CPAs. High demand for CPAs means career stability, better salaries, and a steady upward growth. Just take a look at the average salaries for college graduates in public and private accounting. To see what you can get with CPA certification, add around 10 to 15 percent extra to the average starting salaries.
| Employer |
Jr. Level (0 - 3 yrs.) |
Sr. Level (4 - 6 yrs.) |
| Public Accounting (large firm) |
$47,500-$66,250 |
$64,000-$83,000 |
| Public Accounting (medium firm) |
$41,500-$59,500 |
$51,500-$76,250 |
| Public Accounting (small firm) |
$40,000-$53,250 |
$52,000-$66,500 |
| Corporate Accounting (large co.) |
$36,750-$55,000 |
$53,500-$71,250 |
| Corporate Accounting (medium co.) |
$34,500-$50,500 |
$49,250-$63,000 |
| Corporate Accounting (small co.) |
$32,000-$46,750 |
$45,000-$56,500 |
(Source: 2008 Robert Half Salary Guide)
Serious earning potential over time gives CPAs great job security. Here are some examples of upper-level salaries for Managers in corporate accounting:
| Position |
Large Co. |
Small to Medium Co. |
| Chief Financial Officer |
$177,750-$370,500 |
$91,000-$170,250 |
| Corporate Controller |
$102,500-$161,500 |
$64,250-$117,000 |
| Tax Manager |
$88,500-$123,750 |
$71,500-$95,250 |
(Geographic region, experience, education, CPA certification and company size
each play a role in determining salary.)
Order a complimentary copy of the 2008 Robert Half Salary Guide.
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Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons is a CPA.