Accountants

According to PayScale.com, accountants earned an average salary of $57,765 in June 2024. Salaries ranged from $45,000 to $77,000 or more. Accountants and auditors had median annual earnings of $90,780 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $50,440, and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $137,280. The DOL reports the following mean annual salaries for accountants and auditors by employment area: accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services providers, $93,060; management of companies and enterprises, $93,580; local government, $79,220; real estate, $98,970; and management, scientific, and technical consulting services, $98,970.

Robert Half Inc. reports that salaries for general staff accountants in 2024 ranged from $53,750 or less to $81,000 or more, depending on job specialization and work experience.

Accountants receive a variety of benefits, including paid vacation and sick days; insurance; savings and pension plans; educational-assistance programs; performance bonuses; promotion bonuses; group legal plans; and employee discounts on car rentals, publications, fitness club memberships, tickets to cultural events, etc. Some accountants, especially those at top firms, receive signing bonuses. Employees in smaller companies generally receive fewer fringe benefits. Self-employed accountants must provide their own benefits.