Salary Outlook
According to the Labor Department, the median annual salary for an accountant was $62,850 in 2011. The best-paid 10 percent earned roughly $109,870, while the lowest-paid made approximately $39,640. The best-compensated in the field are usually working within the federal executive branch, with securities and commodity contract intermediation and brokerage, or with financial investments. The highest-paid accountants work in the New York City metropolitan area, the San Jose, Calif., metropolitan area, and Nassau, N.Y.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $56,660.00 |
| 2004 | $55,930.00 |
| 2006 | $60,250.00 |
| 2008 | $66,170.00 |
| 2010 | $68,960.00 |
Average Accountant Pay vs. All Business Jobs
The average accountant earns $62,850 a year, which compares well with the average salary of a financial adviser or an HR training specialist. Other professions in the field of finance and marketing, such as a financial analyst, financial manager, and marketing manager, offer better compensation.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $116,010.00 |
| Financial Manager | $107,160.00 |
| Financial Analyst | $75,650.00 |
| Financial Adviser | $66,580.00 |
| Accountant | $62,850.00 |
| HR Specialist | $54,310.00 |
See Complete List of Best Business Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Accountants
The highest paid in the accountant profession work in the metropolitan areas of New York City, NY, Newark, NJ, and Nassau, NY. The San Francisco, CA area also pays well, as does the city of San Jose, CA.
New York City, NY
Average Salary: $89,720 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of an accountant working in New York City, NY is $89,720, which is $26,870 more than the average pay in the profession.
Newark, NJ
Average Salary: $87,120 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of an accountant working in Newark, NJ is $87,120, which is $24,270 more than the average pay in the profession.
Nassau, NY
Average Salary: $86,670 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of an accountant working in Nassau, NY is $86,670, which is $23,820 more than the average pay in the profession.
San Francisco, CA
Average Salary: $86,230 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of an accountant working in San Francisco, CA is $86,230, which is $23,380 more than the average pay in the profession.
San Jose, CA
Average Salary: $85,600 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of an accountant working in San Jose, CA is $85,600, which is $22,750 more than the average pay in the profession.
