Salaries for Careers in Accounting

Pay for jobs in accounting varies greatly depending on the type of position.

Careers in accounting require strong mathematical, analytical and computer skills, and jobs may include such duties as preparing financial reports, auditing individuals and businesses, keeping records and computing interest charges. Salaries in accounting depend on the job title of the worker, their industry or area of specialty and their geographic location.

Accountants and Auditors

Accountants and auditors provide advice or perform audits by analyzing and interpreting financial information. The average salary in the U.S. for accountants and auditors is $67,430 as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries range from $37,690 to $104,450, with the median salary for these workers at $60,340.

Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks

Bookkeepers are responsible for the general ledgers of businesses, in which they record all costs and income. Accounting and auditing clerks monitor loans and verify records of transactions. These workers earn an average salary of $34,750, according to the bureau. Salaries range from $21,280 to $50,450, with the median salary at $33,450.

Industry

The industry of accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services has the most accounting jobs, reports the bureau, and offers an average salary of $73,920 for accountants and auditors. In the management of companies and enterprises, accountants and auditors earn an average of $66,330 a year, while bookkeepers, accounting and auditing clerks earn an average of $35,970. The government also offers careers in accounting; accountants and auditors earn an average of $57,490 working for the local government and $54,040 working for the state government, while bookkeepers, accounting and auditing clerks earn an average salary of $35,830 working for the local government.

Location

New York is the highest paying state for accountants and auditors with an average salary of $84,280, according to the bureau. Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Maryland and Massachusetts also offer higher than average wages ranging from $73,290 to $79,990 for these careers. The highest salary average for bookkeepers, accounting and auditing clerks is in Washington, D.C. at $47,100, followed by Connecticut at $40,190. Alaska, Massachusetts and Maryland follow at salary averages ranging from $39,140 to $39,530.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants and Auditors Wages, May 2009
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Accountants and Auditors Wages, May 2009
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks, 2010-11
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks Wages, May 2009