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Accounting Majors’ Salary Over the Career
This figure shows median earnings by age for those who majored in Accounting but have a bachelor’s degree only: “This Major (BA only)”, and those who majored in Accounting but obtained a masters degree or higher: “This Major (Grad Degree)”. For reference, “All Majors (BA only)” contains the median income for all college graduates who have a bachelor’s degree only, and “All Majors (Grad Degree)” contains the median income for all college graduates who have a Master’s degree or higher.
This table highlights key outcomes for Accounting majors, compared to averages for all college graduates.
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Top 10 Early-Career Occupations (Bachelor’s only)
These are the top occupations for Accounting majors aged 25-35 who have a BA only (no graduate degree) and the median income they received in the occupation. The share indicates the percentage of Accounting majors aged 25-35 with a BA only who worked in that occupation.
| Share | Occupation | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Accountants and Auditors | 74,600 |
| 5 | Financial Managers | 101,000 |
| 4 | Unemployed | 0 |
| 3 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 46,500 |
| 2 | Managers, nec (including Postmasters) | 97,000 |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Sales Workers | 58,000 |
| 2 | Financial Analysts | 90,700 |
| 1 | Customer Service Representatives | 42,700 |
| 1 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 65,900 |
| 1 | Management Analysts | 98,900 |
Top 10 Mid-Career Occupations (Bachelor’s only)
These are the top occupations for Accounting majors aged 45-55 who have a BA only (no graduate degree) and the median income they received in the occupation. The share indicates the percentage of Accounting majors aged 45-55 with a BA only who worked in that occupation.
| Share | Occupation | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Accountants and Auditors | 95,800 |
| 7 | Financial Managers | 129,000 |
| 7 | Unemployed | 0 |
| 4 | Chief executives and legislators/public administration | 198,000 |
| 4 | Managers, nec (including Postmasters) | 139,000 |
| 2 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 45,400 |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Sales Workers | 81,400 |
| 1 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 84,300 |
| 1 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 44,200 |
| 1 | Computer Scientists and Systems Analysts/Network systems Analysts/Web Developers | 114,000 |
Top 10 Mid-Career Occupations (Master’s Degree or higher)
These are the top occupations for Accounting majors aged 45-55 who have completed graduate work (Masters, PhD, Professional Degree) and the median income they received in the occupation. The share indicates the percentage of Accounting majors aged 45-55 with graduate degrees who worked in that occupation.
| Share | Occupation | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Accountants and Auditors | 117,000 |
| 9 | Financial Managers | 162,000 |
| 6 | Chief executives and legislators/public administration | 235,000 |
| 5 | Lawyers, and judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers | 202,000 |
| 5 | Managers, nec (including Postmasters) | 181,000 |
| 4 | Unemployed | 0 |
| 2 | Elementary and Middle School Teachers | 70,600 |
| 2 | Postsecondary Teachers | 120,000 |
| 2 | Management Analysts | 143,000 |
| 1 | Personal Financial Advisors | 189,000 |
Top 10 Early-Career Industries
These are the top industries for Accounting majors aged 25-35 and the median income they received in the industry. The share indicates the percentage of Accounting majors aged 25-35 who worked in that industry.
| Share | Industry | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping services | 82,600 |
| 4 | Security, commodity brokerage, and investment companies | 98,900 |
| 4 | Banking | 70,500 |
| 3 | Insurance | 79,000 |
| 3 | All construction | 70,200 |
| 3 | N/A (not applicable) | 0 |
| 3 | Real estate, including real estate-insurance offices | 75,500 |
| 2 | Computer and data processing services | 90,300 |
| 2 | Management and public relations services | 96,200 |
| 2 | Eating and drinking places | 38,500 |
Top 10 Mid-Career Industries
These are the top industries for Accounting majors aged 45-55 and the median income they received in the industry. The share indicates the percentage of Accounting majors aged 45-55 who worked in that industry.
| Share | Industry | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping services | 103,000 |
| 6 | N/A (not applicable) | 0 |
| 4 | Insurance | 116,000 |
| 4 | Security, commodity brokerage, and investment companies | 152,000 |
| 3 | Elementary and secondary schools | 60,400 |
| 3 | Banking | 132,000 |
| 3 | All construction | 88,400 |
| 3 | Real estate, including real estate-insurance offices | 94,400 |
| 3 | Colleges and universities | 91,800 |
| 2 | Computer and data processing services | 140,000 |
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