All careersBusiness & finance

Accountant

$83,680
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Prepare and examine financial records, ensure accuracy, and handle taxes and reporting for people and organizations.

Where you work

Offices or remote; at a desk, busier during tax and closing periods.

The hours

Full-time; long hours during tax season and year-end.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$83,680
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~124,200
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+5%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
coming soon

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Accounting degree; the CPA multiplies pay.

License or certification

No license to start; the CPA credential opens higher-level roles.

What it takes

Attention to detailMath skillsAnalytical thinkingIntegrity

The honest take

The steadiest white-collar career there is — every organization needs one.

Standard Occupational Classification 13-2011. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.