Accountants and auditors
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Accountants and Auditors: Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records for the purpose of giving advice or preparing statements. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
Accountants and auditors held about 1.2 million jobs in 2004. They worked throughout private industry and government, but 1 out of 4 wage and salary accountants worked for accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services firms. Approximately 1 out of 10 accountants or auditors was self-employed.
Many accountants and auditors are unlicensed management accountants, internal auditors, or government accountants and auditors; however, a large number are licensed CPAs. Most accountants and auditors work in urban areas, where public accounting firms and central or regional offices of businesses are concentrated.
Some individuals with backgrounds in accounting and auditing are full-time college and university faculty; others teach part time while working as self-employed accountants or as accountants for private industry or government. (See teachers—postsecondary elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Median annual wage and salary earnings of accountants and auditors were $50,770 in May 2004. The middle half of the occupation earned between $39,890 and $66,900. The top 10 percent of accountants and auditors earned more than $88,610, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $32,320. In May 2004, median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of accountants and auditors were as follows:
| Federal executive branch and United States Postal Service | $56,900 |
| Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services | 53,870 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 52,260 |
| Local government | 47,440 |
| State government | 43,400 |
According to a salary survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor’s degree candidates in accounting received starting offers averaging $43,269 a year in 2005; master’s degree candidates in accounting were offered $46,251 initially.
According to a 2005 salary survey conducted by Robert Half International, a staffing services firm specializing in accounting and finance, accountants and auditors with up to 1 year of experience earned between $28,250 and $45,000 a year. Those with 1 to 3 years of experience earned between $33,000 and $52,000. Senior accountants and auditors earned between $40,750 and $69,750, managers between $48,000 and $90,000, and directors of accounting and auditing between $64,750 and $200,750. The variation in salaries reflects differences in size of firm, location, level of education, and professional credentials.
In the Federal Government, the starting annual salary for junior accountants and auditors was $24,677 in 2005. Candidates who had a superior academic record might start at $30,567, while applicants with a master’s degree or 2 years of professional experience usually began at $37,390. Beginning salaries were slightly higher in selected areas where the prevailing local pay level was higher. Accountants employed by the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions averaged $74,907 a year in 2005; auditors averaged $78,890.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Accountants and Auditors)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Accountants and auditors | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 690 mean earnings: $55,140 (def) (IG) | $34,420 | $41,230 | $52,510 | $65,970 | $81,000 |
| Forestry and Logging employment: 90 mean earnings: $44,670 | $26,550 | $30,590 | $42,410 | $55,820 | $68,770 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry employment: 600 mean earnings: $56,750 | $36,680 | $42,540 | $53,920 | $67,110 | $82,880 |
| Mining employment: 8,530 mean earnings: $57,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,540 | $42,390 | $53,650 | $70,060 | $87,560 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 5,710 mean earnings: $58,640 | $35,730 | $44,030 | $54,750 | $70,750 | $88,890 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 1,070 mean earnings: $56,510 | $31,520 | $39,490 | $51,240 | $68,130 | $86,810 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 1,750 mean earnings: $54,490 | $33,890 | $40,150 | $50,770 | $68,480 | $84,490 |
| Utilities employment: 6,890 mean earnings: $58,690 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,790 | $44,570 | $56,140 | $70,430 | $86,520 |
| Utilities employment: 6,890 mean earnings: $58,690 | $36,790 | $44,570 | $56,140 | $70,430 | $86,520 |
| Construction employment: 35,880 mean earnings: $59,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,030 | $43,440 | $54,690 | $69,610 | $88,560 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 13,310 mean earnings: $57,280 | $35,010 | $42,780 | $53,840 | $68,110 | $85,560 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 6,790 mean earnings: $59,810 | $36,680 | $43,680 | $55,180 | $71,650 | $90,860 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 15,780 mean earnings: $60,440 | $36,540 | $43,890 | $55,210 | $70,090 | $89,690 |
| Manufacturing employment: 92,030 mean earnings: $57,850 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,300 | $42,760 | $53,910 | $68,690 | $86,890 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 6,480 mean earnings: $54,290 | $31,280 | $40,130 | $51,290 | $66,210 | $83,620 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 1,210 mean earnings: $58,190 | $37,580 | $45,270 | $55,720 | $68,830 | $85,010 |
| Textile Mills employment: 1,080 mean earnings: $56,320 | $32,380 | $40,640 | $52,850 | $67,380 | $83,810 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 690 mean earnings: $56,410 | $32,080 | $40,150 | $51,670 | $66,410 | $89,490 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 1,050 mean earnings: $63,390 | $34,220 | $44,630 | $55,730 | $82,020 | $106,750 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing employment: 210 mean earnings: $57,620 | $34,640 | $42,220 | $53,470 | $67,710 | $89,310 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 1,980 mean earnings: $53,800 | $31,650 | $39,340 | $49,520 | $63,080 | $81,260 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 2,920 mean earnings: $58,490 | $36,600 | $44,180 | $54,860 | $69,300 | $86,840 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 4,280 mean earnings: $58,630 | $33,400 | $40,910 | $52,450 | $68,070 | $87,530 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 970 mean earnings: $63,710 | $36,240 | $46,610 | $56,680 | $77,190 | $97,360 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 8,240 mean earnings: $61,320 | $37,370 | $45,220 | $56,090 | $71,970 | $90,980 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 4,270 mean earnings: $56,220 | $35,940 | $42,470 | $52,390 | $66,050 | $82,850 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 2,560 mean earnings: $55,640 | $34,040 | $41,340 | $51,510 | $64,890 | $82,490 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 2,640 mean earnings: $56,520 | $34,390 | $42,420 | $53,530 | $67,590 | $83,900 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 9,600 mean earnings: $57,770 | $35,440 | $42,790 | $54,170 | $68,290 | $85,800 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 9,670 mean earnings: $56,100 | $35,480 | $42,210 | $52,780 | $66,640 | $83,390 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 13,950 mean earnings: $60,960 | $37,600 | $45,230 | $56,690 | $72,240 | $90,600 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 3,160 mean earnings: $57,230 | $35,290 | $42,810 | $54,390 | $67,750 | $84,840 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 9,670 mean earnings: $56,770 | $35,120 | $42,720 | $53,610 | $68,290 | $85,160 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 2,120 mean earnings: $52,910 | $32,450 | $39,570 | $49,130 | $62,120 | $77,840 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 5,320 mean earnings: $58,020 | $35,160 | $42,430 | $54,510 | $68,590 | $86,130 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 56,160 mean earnings: $58,880 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,340 | $42,460 | $53,810 | $70,000 | $90,140 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 29,580 mean earnings: $59,180 | $34,960 | $42,480 | $54,050 | $70,770 | $90,530 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 19,420 mean earnings: $58,010 | $35,050 | $41,820 | $53,140 | $69,160 | $89,770 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 7,170 mean earnings: $59,950 | $37,200 | $44,370 | $54,470 | $69,210 | $89,280 |
| Retail Trade employment: 32,640 mean earnings: $56,880 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,960 | $40,040 | $51,790 | $67,640 | $89,500 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 10,470 mean earnings: $62,390 | $33,610 | $42,550 | $54,990 | $75,300 | $104,080 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 1,970 mean earnings: $52,320 | $32,250 | $39,380 | $48,710 | $59,960 | $78,050 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 2,170 mean earnings: $56,090 | $33,180 | $39,910 | $51,270 | $67,920 | $86,580 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: n.a. mean earnings: $54,390 | $31,170 | $39,410 | $50,790 | $63,830 | $80,740 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 2,090 mean earnings: $49,740 | $28,300 | $34,350 | $45,220 | $57,110 | $76,180 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 1,620 mean earnings: $56,290 | $32,620 | $40,330 | $52,900 | $68,770 | $87,550 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 740 mean earnings: $47,160 | $29,070 | $33,300 | $42,700 | $56,750 | $71,400 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 2,840 mean earnings: $62,200 | $33,370 | $46,000 | $57,590 | $70,410 | $96,760 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 1,080 mean earnings: $51,510 | $31,030 | $38,520 | $47,550 | $61,140 | $79,290 |
| General Merchandise Stores employment: 690 mean earnings: $55,100 | $31,190 | $39,670 | $50,880 | $67,850 | $88,570 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 2,140 mean earnings: $51,430 | $30,830 | $38,660 | $48,870 | $62,380 | $74,780 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 2,780 mean earnings: $53,160 | $32,790 | $39,390 | $48,970 | $63,310 | $80,810 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 16,790 mean earnings: $54,050 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,850 | $40,170 | $50,430 | $63,980 | $80,650 |
| Air Transportation employment: 1,760 mean earnings: $54,490 | $35,700 | $43,030 | $52,840 | $64,470 | $77,920 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 450 mean earnings: $63,000 | $39,550 | $49,500 | $63,170 | $74,230 | $89,770 |
| Water Transportation employment: 660 mean earnings: $57,290 | $35,450 | $42,080 | $52,650 | $66,570 | $85,510 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 3,690 mean earnings: $51,580 | $32,210 | $38,760 | $46,740 | $58,290 | $76,660 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employment: 760 mean earnings: $52,630 | $32,390 | $39,510 | $48,970 | $62,940 | $77,790 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 1,090 mean earnings: $54,920 | $34,090 | $41,310 | $52,830 | $66,840 | $80,540 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation employment: 130 mean earnings: $47,590 | $28,550 | $37,390 | $43,650 | $55,980 | $72,160 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 4,520 mean earnings: $53,990 | $32,900 | $39,770 | $49,690 | $62,010 | $80,150 |
| Postal Service employment: 640 mean earnings: $68,990 | $48,860 | $55,480 | $65,820 | $80,970 | $98,050 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 830 mean earnings: $53,840 | $31,160 | $39,820 | $51,830 | $66,200 | $80,940 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 2,260 mean earnings: $51,370 | $30,110 | $37,470 | $48,310 | $60,110 | $75,810 |
| Information employment: 29,240 mean earnings: $58,850 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,280 | $42,310 | $54,190 | $70,830 | $90,160 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 9,580 mean earnings: $61,040 | $36,130 | $43,990 | $56,580 | $72,310 | $92,410 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 2,620 mean earnings: $59,340 | $36,750 | $42,460 | $52,840 | $69,640 | $91,200 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 2,960 mean earnings: $57,390 | $34,300 | $41,230 | $52,400 | $70,290 | $89,820 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 410 mean earnings: $66,820 | $39,570 | $48,400 | $62,210 | $80,620 | $104,840 |
| Telecommunications employment: 7,910 mean earnings: $58,350 | $35,780 | $42,530 | $54,150 | $70,510 | $88,640 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 5,400 mean earnings: $55,670 | $33,200 | $39,980 | $51,130 | $67,850 | $87,330 |
| Other Information Services employment: 360 mean earnings: $58,910 | $32,490 | $41,090 | $53,640 | $74,570 | $92,050 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 101,160 mean earnings: $58,300 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,750 | $41,040 | $52,400 | $68,740 | $89,520 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 490 mean earnings: $64,120 | $37,950 | $46,160 | $58,150 | $73,980 | $99,820 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 38,880 mean earnings: $55,590 | $31,980 | $39,150 | $49,860 | $66,100 | $87,280 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 20,390 mean earnings: $65,460 | $37,440 | $45,640 | $58,790 | $77,410 | $103,240 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 37,610 mean earnings: $56,820 | $34,020 | $40,940 | $51,590 | $66,120 | $84,770 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 3,790 mean earnings: $61,390 | $36,950 | $42,650 | $54,850 | $72,600 | $98,520 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 25,910 mean earnings: $57,670 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,430 | $41,790 | $53,380 | $69,160 | $87,400 |
| Real Estate employment: 21,990 mean earnings: $58,070 | $34,770 | $42,010 | $53,750 | $69,610 | $87,720 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 3,150 mean earnings: $55,070 | $33,400 | $40,710 | $51,210 | $65,910 | $84,610 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 770 mean earnings: $56,890 | $31,930 | $39,410 | $52,670 | $67,420 | $88,180 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 308,390 mean earnings: $63,350 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,660 | $42,130 | $54,340 | $73,340 | $104,800 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 308,390 mean earnings: $63,350 | $33,660 | $42,130 | $54,340 | $73,340 | $104,800 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 62,360 mean earnings: $57,510 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,790 | $42,120 | $53,370 | $68,940 | $87,970 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 62,360 mean earnings: $57,510 | $34,790 | $42,120 | $53,370 | $68,940 | $87,970 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 43,680 mean earnings: $56,590 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,090 | $39,700 | $50,030 | $65,030 | $86,940 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 41,640 mean earnings: $56,410 | $31,950 | $39,580 | $49,860 | $64,670 | $86,690 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 2,030 mean earnings: $60,270 | $35,740 | $42,390 | $53,860 | $70,770 | $90,520 |
| Educational Services employment: 38,700 mean earnings: $49,400 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,040 | $37,660 | $46,020 | $57,550 | $72,210 |
| Educational Services employment: 38,700 mean earnings: $49,400 | $31,040 | $37,660 | $46,020 | $57,550 | $72,210 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 48,240 mean earnings: $50,460 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,880 | $38,700 | $47,620 | $58,200 | $72,320 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 15,990 mean earnings: $53,600 | $33,550 | $40,290 | $49,780 | $61,780 | $78,290 |
| Hospitals employment: 15,430 mean earnings: $50,010 | $32,260 | $38,930 | $47,670 | $58,000 | $71,710 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 6,090 mean earnings: $49,360 | $31,130 | $37,630 | $46,800 | $57,520 | $71,900 |
| Social Assistance employment: 10,730 mean earnings: $47,020 | $30,190 | $36,760 | $44,950 | $55,270 | $67,670 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 8,980 mean earnings: $50,600 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,590 | $37,700 | $47,480 | $59,880 | $74,670 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 2,780 mean earnings: $54,780 | $34,110 | $41,090 | $51,320 | $64,380 | $79,480 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 890 mean earnings: $50,080 | $31,630 | $38,360 | $47,620 | $58,340 | $72,080 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 5,310 mean earnings: $48,490 | $29,200 | $35,740 | $45,500 | $57,490 | $72,980 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 12,340 mean earnings: $44,910 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,650 | $32,880 | $42,140 | $53,920 | $67,500 |
| Accommodation employment: 7,980 mean earnings: $43,620 | $25,990 | $32,160 | $41,350 | $52,900 | $65,070 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 4,360 mean earnings: $47,290 | $28,530 | $34,260 | $43,560 | $55,890 | $70,990 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 20,520 mean earnings: $54,300 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,850 | $40,710 | $50,950 | $64,320 | $81,390 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 2,790 mean earnings: $51,990 | $33,410 | $40,290 | $48,770 | $59,720 | $71,900 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 1,990 mean earnings: $58,090 | $32,450 | $40,960 | $52,830 | $69,040 | $97,040 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 15,740 mean earnings: $54,230 | $32,810 | $40,780 | $51,130 | $64,580 | $80,810 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 102,110 mean earnings: $52,540 (def) (IG) | $31,300 | $38,240 | $48,500 | $64,290 | $82,150 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 102,110 mean earnings: $52,540 | $31,300 | $38,240 | $48,500 | $64,290 | $82,150 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.