Accountant makes how much money

Accountants can earn a lucrative salary, especially if they work in the sub-sectors or cities, or areas listed below. It is a job that is needed in most industries and for the most part, all businesses. Most individuals only need a bachelor's degree to get started in an accounting career. Actual wages might be higher or lower, depending on industry and location, but they are well above the national median average for occupations. The lucrative salary is based on demand and makes accounting one of the best business jobs.

Accounting offers great all-weather positions, and regulatory events in Washington have made this even more pronounced. The Dodd-Frank Act , for example, is still being parsed and understood, and accountants will be doing work on that for years.

In addition, accounting firms are excellent employers. Stuart Mease, former executive director of student advancement and career services at Virginia Tech's undergraduate business program, also feels that accounting is a promising field. This is why public accounting firms are so active on college campuses.

There is a race to acquire talent because of the huge financial upside. But where do accountants earn the most money? According to data from the BLS, these are the highest-paying industries and locations:. Accountants earn the highest median annual wage in the following four industries and sub-sectors:. The states that pay the highest salaries for accountants are mostly concentrated on the East Coast:. The top-paying metropolitan areas for accountants are as follows:. The top-paying rural areas for accountants are as follows:.

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Job Listings. Attention to detail is a must. You will need at least a bachelor's degree for this position, preferably in accounting or a related field. In some cases, a bookkeeper or account clerk with an associate's degree and experience may advance to a junior accounting position. A certified public accountant or CPA credential — requiring semester hours of college coursework — is often requested by employers.

Certification proves your professional competence and can massively boost your job prospects. The median represents the midpoint, so half of all accountants earn more than this per hour and a half earn less. However, this salary is typically reserved for those in senior positions, not entry-level accountants.