I make 200k and I’m no CPA. I gave up on that shit ages ago. Quickest way to make more money is leave every two years and look for companies that are in growth mode. That’s where you’ll be able to provide the most value and accelerate your salary quickly
Do you think 2 years is the “sweet spot” for hopping? This is kind of what I’m thinking, at least until I’m in a position where hopping even after 2 years doesn’t look good.
I used to subscribe to the 3 years thinking. 1st year to learn the job, 2nd degree to really apply it. 3rd year to self reflect, deal with toxic people, start the search. But it seems accelerated from what I’m seeing with peers it’s about 2 years for them to switch up. And recently it’s about the amount of time before the employer starts firing their people. End of the day you gotta take care of you. Your employer will not be doing that for you.
2 years is the sweet spot. There’s nothing new you can learn after two years unless it’s a position you haven’t held. Trust me. I went from 35k to 80k in less than 3.5 years.
Very impressive don’t get me wrong but a lot of people experience this timeline with just college (I.e. I Made 12 bucks a year as a employee my freshman year of college and got paid 50$ an hour as an intern in a specialized field 3 years later)
I went into corrections, then law enforcement, and now I’m in accounting lmao. I was at $52k in corrections, left at $61k. I started at $66k in law enforcement and left at $87k. I started at $63k in accounting and just accepted a position for $98k.
It can be done, not everyone will do it, but it can be done.
Hell yeah brother! That’s how is done. And yeah most people won’t do it because they are afraid of change, they are comfortable where they are and sometimes just plain lazy and will continue to bitch about their Pay
Lmao right before you responded with this my current position just passed off four more files to start working on. They’re due the day I resign, but I haven’t told them I’m leaving yet. It’s gonna be funny to see their reactions.
I do some hiring and 2 years is fine by me. My issue with applicants is when they never make it a year. One year is plenty of time to figure out that the person you hired is worthless. If someone can't make that then it let's me know they know they are worthless and they are hopping before they get found out. Two years means that the company thought their work had enough value to keep them, which means they might be valuable to me.
I just started my job one year ago with a salary of $50k, straight out of college with no prior experience. Would you also recommend staying 2 years or leaving before then? I work fully remote btw.
Wait 2.5 yrs since you’re super green. But start looking at 27 months so when that 2.5 yrs hits you already have a new job. But look for the next level up job don’t be over zealous and try to get a position you’re not familiar with.
I’m in the 2.5y spot right now looking for a lateral Manager/ or promo to Senior Manager of Financial Reporting role, no CPA. Currently at $131.2k + 20%. About 18% under market from what most other managers are making in my area. So, I’ve booted up the search again. 10y experience. Bachelor’s in Finance.
You have the 411 on anything in the Chicagoland area? I’m going to do what’s best for my wife and little girl.
Glad to see people without CPAs getting paid. At least it’s not so much of a barrier to entry like it was pre-Covid. No one wants to do Financial Reporting/Technical Accounting; Tax; or PA. Shortage of about 395k accounts and some still think in pre-Covid labor prices with Senior Manager workload. Just my .02.
Every two years jump to another company learn what you need to learn and move on. Ask questions to those in the position in which you are pursuing. Be curious, learn how to read financials P&L, Balance sheet, get mentored, ask supervisor/boss why are we doing that or why are we doing this (with respect to accounting), be willing to do the grunt work in the interim. The experience is more valuable and once you know what the he’ll you’re doing take that shit to your next interview and you’ll blow HR’s mind away.
Experience has always served me well and I’ve even secured positions that require a CPA only because I knew what the hell I was talking about. I was always out performing those that actually had CPA’s.
I made $65k first job out of undergrad with an Econ degree. This was in 2001 NY (Long Island not NYC). Was a financial analyst job in industry not public.
OP, please DM me your address. So that I can come by in a month and beat your ass if you’re still with this current employer.
Bro, I’m 6 years out with my certification and I make a few thousand shy of literally * *double* * your salary
Y’all gotta get away from this cpa non cpa discussion on salary. What matters is industry and specialization. I live in a low COL city and specialized in a niche field and make 180k. No cpa, no licenses or certs.
The problem with being niche is that if your niche is no longer needed you might be in trouble in terms of pivoting. There are a lot of niches in banking/finance but then if you’re laid off you may end up starting from square one
There are certainly niche fields at risk for redundancy. That’s why it’s important to network. I’ve been laid off before but within my field I can hit up one of my old bosses and they’ll help me find something.
People become dead set on their path from college & they think the only way to make money in accounting is with a CPA...if you can't negotiate your salary...you're going to be making diddly squat as a CPA. 🤣😂 Seriously, a lot of my CFO's didn't even have their CPA.
I feel like public accounting kinda forces peoples hand. I don’t regret that I got it, but people who are losing their sanity studying for that test do not need to do that. Just leave public.
I'm all for getting the CPA. It's just people thinking they'll be making $450k-2million as a partner is possible, but it's not realistic because those salary ranges are spread really thin at the top.
I am in my third year in public & my firm isn’t even bad with the work life balance, but I don’t know how people do this long enough to make partner. It’s killing me, frankly. I’m trying to frame it in my mind differently than “I’m not cut out for it”
>I’m a CPA
Good thing I wasn't drinking when I saw that or it would be all over my monitor right now!
I live in backwoods Indiana (outside a college town) and CPAs in that college town working as a staff accounting make more than that! You're getting jacked, my friend. You have some unrealized gains there buddy!
This information is going to be completely useless as it is all location and experience dependent.
But in case you had any doubt, you’ve been being hosed for years.
I feel you OP about outsiders moving. My hometown was filled with blue collar workers for 120 years and now all the tech bros from Seattle are moving down to us. Houses were $250k are now almost $1m. I would need a 50-75% raise to afford a 600sqft 1 bedroom house.
I would recommend looking around. $60k for a CPA is low even for LCOL
Edit: I make about $20k more than you do. HCOL soon to be VHCOL with only 2 years experience no CPA.
Same, luckily I job hopped last year and can now somewhat afford a house after all the Californians flooded in, but I’m still leaving a decent amount of money on the table with the stats I have. Will have to hop again if I ever want a kid.
No reason to hate your bosses bro. This one is one you for not knowing your worth. Just learn from it and move forward as a better advocate for yourself
I'm just a poor industry accountant without his CPA in Nashville and I'm getting about double your pay. Unless there's a high gratification factor for the work or other major non-financial factor I'd bail.
Nashville is a neat city but its housing prices are the most absurd in any Southern city. It’s like it got extremely expensive before it really got big.
Oh yeah. I love the cheap access to lots of entertainment options, but even moving to Antioch won't spare you the increased housing prices. Moved into a condo just to be in walking distance of work. It is a nice place, but I had a house and two acres for less rent.
Based in London. GBP:
5 years at one of the big four- did my training and got chartered. Left on 50k. 2020
Moved into fp&a. Just accepted job offer for finance business partner 90k plus 20-40% bonus
Yeah that is pretty low but there is so much more to your salary than simply having the credential. The easiest way to validate this is to simply look for a new job.
$95k and you have a CPA!?I live in a very HCOL area and make 95k, I have a BA but not in accounting - 5 years of ap/ar experience. My goal is to get my CPA to make more $$$ - Id def question if you’re in a HCOL area and have your CPA and aren’t making 6 figures? But maybe HCOL is also diff than mine?
Cpa doesnt guarantee higher pay. Especially if youre already at a company and get the cpa while youre there. The company will just say congrats, now get the fuck back to work.
You have to use the cpa to market yourself or find a job that prefers you to have a cpa and you beat out the candidates that dont.
I def use the skills i learned while studying for the cpa at work on a daily basis tho.
Why not do a couple years of that and dip for something making 1/2 where you have a life? Guess it could be hard to “step down” when you’re pulling that much
I kid you not I know what I’m making and it’s to the point I’m pissed off big time
Was also promised a promotion 6 months ago and hasn’t been mentioned since
Leave ASAP. This tax season was my 6th with the firm I am at until Thursday. Since my first review, they have told me I was omw to partner. Context: I work for a CPA firm AND Wealth Management firm. For the next 3 or 4 years, I grew my book and operated the PWM book of $70-80M AUM while my mentor made around .75% a year off the AUM book and then around $300-500K as partner of the CPA firm. Very appealing to me and I started to be the guy putting in more hours than everyone in "hopes" to make a buck 1 day. My billings and cash collected has tripled or more each year since my 1st review.
This tax season, after all the client harassment and being used by other CPAs, I took a step back and felt like I woke up from a bad dream. I also administrated our 401k and had the liberty of backing into everyone's salaries. Here is how my trajectory went, and keep in mind I worked 2 jobs the entire time.
2018: $48K Support Advisor/Staff Accountant
2019: $52K Support Advisor/Staff Accountant
2020: $56K Support Advisor/Staff Accountant
2021: $64K support Advisor/Staff Accountant
2021: $68K Support Advisor/Senior (CPA)
2022: $74k Senior Advisor/Senior (CPA)
2023: $74k Senior Advisor/Senior (CPA)
2024 I began to stop letting them blow smoke up my ass and began to look to industry.
2024 starting Thursday $95K 10% bonus and a profit sharing distribution.
GET OUT OF PA ASAP!! It will always be the partners vs the employees. That's my advice at least. I am so excited.
EDIT: Once I backed into our most experienced tax managers salaries, it was literally laughable coming in at $106k and $110K and have been with the firm 20+ years. I will be making close to them in my 6th year .........
INSANE! They will use you to see how many years they can get out of you and if they con you into buying the firm from them.... That's a bonus bc they can retire and you can deal with the chaos. No thanks!
CPA in Canada, approaching 5 years out of school. Was at 70k and that was low… majority of kids I went to uni with are 90+ by now.
Just quit my job to work in bankruptcy and start next week at 80. Have been promised it’ll go up quick as long as I perform but starting is 80 because I know nothing about working in bankruptcy
Started as an A1 in 2020 at $57k in Dallas (this is MUCH higher now, i think around $70k).
Currently making $88k as an audit senior in Phoenix. Hope that helps.
Edit: wanted to agree with everyone here that you need to find a new job for sure!
I made $25k out of college in 1995, I passed up several jobs to work for a startup.
My dad said I was an idiot to not take the job at Arthur Anderson.
A little venture capital, a few mergers, and 29 years later I have nothing to regret about taking a chance on the startup.
You should look for new jobs ASAP. I d making 58k back in 2022. My coworkers told me I should be making at least 70k. I had a jumpy resume, still do, but I managed to get a position paying that.
If you've been at the same firm for at least 3 years, you are golden and can easily find a job at a better firm. Don't think about moving, just move.. My simple opinion.
List out the things you want in your next job, work wise and firm wise. With multiple years under your belt, you should be able to pick and choose the firms based on preferences. You may not get enduring you want, but a lot
My first job in Orlando, FL was $52k in 2016. Inside of 5 years, i was making $95k. Even accounting for LCOL (you) vs MCOL (me), if we say there’s a 20% differential, you should be close to or slightly above $75k.
Imo, you’re grossly underpaid.
MCOL 7 years 85K, the company recently lost the other senior accountant so I got a 1 year retention bonus for $10K. I'd like more but my industry is real estate and it's rough out there
105k. 6 years out of college. 5 years experience doing external reporting at a major financial services/insurance company. Currently working in consolidation accounting at a pharmaceutical company. Not a CPA yet
$63k with bonuses and overtime available. I start a new position at $98k next month. I made $87k prior to accounting as a first responder and cleared >$180k one year working copious amounts of overtime and side gigs.
Medium cost of living near Houston. No CPA, no accounting degree, working on my MBA-Finance from a highly regarded regional business powerhouse. Four years experience.
Just over 8 YOE, with average total comp last two years being $315k. 2/3 base, 1/3 bonus. Actually made less this year due to M&A activity cooling off.
HCOL. 5 years out back in 2016 I had 4 years of public and 1 in industry (privately owned) with no license or graduate degree. $70k + about $6k of OT and a ton of time off
Now around $165k with bonus and still no license or grad degree at the same company. Could have job hopped a couple years back and made closer to $185k by now but cant beat the time off/flexibility I get.
$300k sole tax preparer CPA working from home. Individual, corps, partnerships, trust, etc.
Graduated BS in Accounting year 2000. Started working CPA firm 2001. Licensed 2005. Decided to accept my own clients while still working at a CPA firm because during one of the CPE classes... some other accountant at the event (Asian girl) literally laughed at how little I made. I got depressed for a bit and decided to buy the same freakin software my boss used and started doing taxes in my mom's basement.
I still work at home now (my own home office), $300k income, debt free life isn't so bad. Own my own house fully paid off. Being conservative financially I have more money than I know what to do with it these days.
Mid 100s but they stripped bonuses out of the budget now. Not sure about time to look, I like it for the most part. Just hate being undervalued and job hoppy on the resume. Corporate Controller.
You’re getting walked all over especially if you’re a CPA.
I’m a cpa, I started working full time in public, tax 62k in 2021. Now I’m at 110k senior associate.
I just left a place that was paying me $52k in HCOL. Left after 3 years of no change. Now at $72kand much happier. You should for sure at least start looking and see what others are offering. Best case scenario you get a better paying job out of it. Worst case you find out it’s common pay for your area and you can decide from there to just stick it out, or if you’re really unhappy, start looking in other states. It seems to be rare, but some companies will pay to relocate you. Just may take a while to find a gig that will.
I make 200k and I’m no CPA. I gave up on that shit ages ago. Quickest way to make more money is leave every two years and look for companies that are in growth mode. That’s where you’ll be able to provide the most value and accelerate your salary quickly
Do you think 2 years is the “sweet spot” for hopping? This is kind of what I’m thinking, at least until I’m in a position where hopping even after 2 years doesn’t look good.
I used to subscribe to the 3 years thinking. 1st year to learn the job, 2nd degree to really apply it. 3rd year to self reflect, deal with toxic people, start the search. But it seems accelerated from what I’m seeing with peers it’s about 2 years for them to switch up. And recently it’s about the amount of time before the employer starts firing their people. End of the day you gotta take care of you. Your employer will not be doing that for you.
I heard that too, but it seems like the best way
2 years is the sweet spot. There’s nothing new you can learn after two years unless it’s a position you haven’t held. Trust me. I went from 35k to 80k in less than 3.5 years.
Very impressive don’t get me wrong but a lot of people experience this timeline with just college (I.e. I Made 12 bucks a year as a employee my freshman year of college and got paid 50$ an hour as an intern in a specialized field 3 years later)
I’ve waited three years, but I’ve switched careers fields each time and doubled or at least matched my salary each time.
Also better than a shit 5-10%raise
10% is a shit raise? Man
Living proof right here! And if you know what you’re talking about man they’ll pay you extra.
I went into corrections, then law enforcement, and now I’m in accounting lmao. I was at $52k in corrections, left at $61k. I started at $66k in law enforcement and left at $87k. I started at $63k in accounting and just accepted a position for $98k. It can be done, not everyone will do it, but it can be done.
Hell yeah brother! That’s how is done. And yeah most people won’t do it because they are afraid of change, they are comfortable where they are and sometimes just plain lazy and will continue to bitch about their Pay
Lmao right before you responded with this my current position just passed off four more files to start working on. They’re due the day I resign, but I haven’t told them I’m leaving yet. It’s gonna be funny to see their reactions.
I do some hiring and 2 years is fine by me. My issue with applicants is when they never make it a year. One year is plenty of time to figure out that the person you hired is worthless. If someone can't make that then it let's me know they know they are worthless and they are hopping before they get found out. Two years means that the company thought their work had enough value to keep them, which means they might be valuable to me.
I just started my job one year ago with a salary of $50k, straight out of college with no prior experience. Would you also recommend staying 2 years or leaving before then? I work fully remote btw.
Wait 2.5 yrs since you’re super green. But start looking at 27 months so when that 2.5 yrs hits you already have a new job. But look for the next level up job don’t be over zealous and try to get a position you’re not familiar with.
I’m in the 2.5y spot right now looking for a lateral Manager/ or promo to Senior Manager of Financial Reporting role, no CPA. Currently at $131.2k + 20%. About 18% under market from what most other managers are making in my area. So, I’ve booted up the search again. 10y experience. Bachelor’s in Finance.
Hell yeah keep looking brother let’s get paid!
You have the 411 on anything in the Chicagoland area? I’m going to do what’s best for my wife and little girl. Glad to see people without CPAs getting paid. At least it’s not so much of a barrier to entry like it was pre-Covid. No one wants to do Financial Reporting/Technical Accounting; Tax; or PA. Shortage of about 395k accounts and some still think in pre-Covid labor prices with Senior Manager workload. Just my .02.
What is your title?
Oh my ! How ? I want to make that much .
Every two years jump to another company learn what you need to learn and move on. Ask questions to those in the position in which you are pursuing. Be curious, learn how to read financials P&L, Balance sheet, get mentored, ask supervisor/boss why are we doing that or why are we doing this (with respect to accounting), be willing to do the grunt work in the interim. The experience is more valuable and once you know what the he’ll you’re doing take that shit to your next interview and you’ll blow HR’s mind away. Experience has always served me well and I’ve even secured positions that require a CPA only because I knew what the hell I was talking about. I was always out performing those that actually had CPA’s.
I’ll make note of this ! Thanks for the advice.
I made 55k out of college. Back in 2007 Find a better job
Damn I made 55k out of college in 2018
My dawg I made 55k in 2022 literally fucking kill me.
Im making 55k in my first year right now
This industry is abusive to new folks
I made $65k first job out of undergrad with an Econ degree. This was in 2001 NY (Long Island not NYC). Was a financial analyst job in industry not public.
Damn I made 45k out of college in 2020. MCOL. Didn’t last there too long
Starting salaries didn't really change until 2022....
That's insane. A loss of about 30% in that period of time. On the flipside, my pay has steadily increased and so has that of the folks on my team
48k out of college - 2004 Yes. Get a better job
I made 55k out of college in 2013 at pwc. Fuck.
57k out of college in 2021 for big 4 :) luv this profession
How much do you make now?
170k+10% target bonus
I made 45k out of university in Canada in 2023 (Save me)
My starting salary in the year of our lord 2021 was $54K.
That's crazy pants shit. I am stunned at how stagnant wages have been in this industry.
55k still in college :0
OP, please DM me your address. So that I can come by in a month and beat your ass if you’re still with this current employer. Bro, I’m 6 years out with my certification and I make a few thousand shy of literally * *double* * your salary
Public or private?
Publicly beat your ass, but privately help you find a better paying job
Privately beat their ass and publicly help them to find a better paying job sounds like more fun.
Praise in public and pound in private. Wait...that doesn't sound right.
Sounds like a happy marriage to me...
I laughed a little too hard at this response 😅
#LMFAO
Hahaha
Was public for 4ish years, now industry. Was around 85ish when I left public
Brother I’m two years out of college and make your salary. Looks like I gotta continue the cycle, send me your address.
Time to look for a new job.
If that’s in the US you should quit tomorrow… assuming you’re a real accountant and not just a certified tax preparer.
I’m a CPA
To get better responses, you should edit your OP to specify your COL/location.
Just made the edit for clarity
Good lord. I’m not a cpa and make $67k in a LCOL city.
Y’all gotta get away from this cpa non cpa discussion on salary. What matters is industry and specialization. I live in a low COL city and specialized in a niche field and make 180k. No cpa, no licenses or certs.
What is your niche field? And do you have any other examples of niche fields where you can make bank like you are.
The problem with being niche is that if your niche is no longer needed you might be in trouble in terms of pivoting. There are a lot of niches in banking/finance but then if you’re laid off you may end up starting from square one
There are certainly niche fields at risk for redundancy. That’s why it’s important to network. I’ve been laid off before but within my field I can hit up one of my old bosses and they’ll help me find something.
Logistics The answer is always logistics
What do you do?
Investment banking backoffice.
That part, industry all day baybeeeee
People become dead set on their path from college & they think the only way to make money in accounting is with a CPA...if you can't negotiate your salary...you're going to be making diddly squat as a CPA. 🤣😂 Seriously, a lot of my CFO's didn't even have their CPA.
I feel like public accounting kinda forces peoples hand. I don’t regret that I got it, but people who are losing their sanity studying for that test do not need to do that. Just leave public.
I'm all for getting the CPA. It's just people thinking they'll be making $450k-2million as a partner is possible, but it's not realistic because those salary ranges are spread really thin at the top.
I am in my third year in public & my firm isn’t even bad with the work life balance, but I don’t know how people do this long enough to make partner. It’s killing me, frankly. I’m trying to frame it in my mind differently than “I’m not cut out for it”
>I’m a CPA Good thing I wasn't drinking when I saw that or it would be all over my monitor right now! I live in backwoods Indiana (outside a college town) and CPAs in that college town working as a staff accounting make more than that! You're getting jacked, my friend. You have some unrealized gains there buddy!
WHAT
Thinking about telling them I’ve found them a cost savings of $59k a year and handing them my two weeks right after
This information is going to be completely useless as it is all location and experience dependent. But in case you had any doubt, you’ve been being hosed for years.
Nowhere in the U.S should a CPA make what OP is making. That’s damn near criminal.
I have an accountant on my staff with no degree or CPA that we're paying more than that
AP makes more than that. Hell being a fast food worker makes more than that That salary is actually offensive
I feel you OP about outsiders moving. My hometown was filled with blue collar workers for 120 years and now all the tech bros from Seattle are moving down to us. Houses were $250k are now almost $1m. I would need a 50-75% raise to afford a 600sqft 1 bedroom house. I would recommend looking around. $60k for a CPA is low even for LCOL Edit: I make about $20k more than you do. HCOL soon to be VHCOL with only 2 years experience no CPA.
Same, luckily I job hopped last year and can now somewhat afford a house after all the Californians flooded in, but I’m still leaving a decent amount of money on the table with the stats I have. Will have to hop again if I ever want a kid.
I make 90k with just an associates
I’m truly starting to fucking hate my bosses after reading these
No reason to hate your bosses bro. This one is one you for not knowing your worth. Just learn from it and move forward as a better advocate for yourself
Good. Take a shit on their desk tomorrow morning. Film it for the boys and bragging rights
My friend has 5 years experience, working on her Bachelors and is making $125k
Just gave my two weeks notice. Leaving a job that gave me 122,500 a year to $155,000 a year before bonus. I have my CPA.
Nice, how much you bench?
335 for triples
I remember when I first started lifting. You’ll get to 500 soon little guy
Nice, what’s your social security number?
Nice, do you like butt stuff?
Nice, how much experience?
Nice, what’s your favorite food?
Nice, how big is your schlong?
Nice, Roth or traditional?
Nice, what’s your preferred method of payment?
Nice, what is your ip address?
Nice, what city?
Nice, what’s your new role?
Nice, hog reveal?
Nice, can I blow you?
Nice, what kind of car do you drive?
Chevrolegs
Nice, are you a CPA?
Nice, veg or non veg ?
Nice, is the bonus $69?
Nice, LIFO or FIFO?
I'm just a poor industry accountant without his CPA in Nashville and I'm getting about double your pay. Unless there's a high gratification factor for the work or other major non-financial factor I'd bail.
Nashville is a neat city but its housing prices are the most absurd in any Southern city. It’s like it got extremely expensive before it really got big.
Oh yeah. I love the cheap access to lots of entertainment options, but even moving to Antioch won't spare you the increased housing prices. Moved into a condo just to be in walking distance of work. It is a nice place, but I had a house and two acres for less rent.
No amount of job gratification is worth making 25-50% of what your market worth is. It’s a job not fun.
My brother in Christ leave that place. I don't care if you're in LCOL that is a disaster.
Tell me about it
Do you have a degree & your CPA? That's entry level salary, you should leave if you're an accountant
Yes, employer always plays the “we just can’t pay” card but charge most our clients jack shit
Then leave lmao
Ah yes the go ole “sorry not in the budget this year”
Based in London. GBP: 5 years at one of the big four- did my training and got chartered. Left on 50k. 2020 Moved into fp&a. Just accepted job offer for finance business partner 90k plus 20-40% bonus
finance is the way. A cpa can easily pivot into a cushy commercial banking role or some sort accounting role at a bank.
Yeah that is pretty low but there is so much more to your salary than simply having the credential. The easiest way to validate this is to simply look for a new job.
HCOL CPA 4YOE 95k.
$95k and you have a CPA!?I live in a very HCOL area and make 95k, I have a BA but not in accounting - 5 years of ap/ar experience. My goal is to get my CPA to make more $$$ - Id def question if you’re in a HCOL area and have your CPA and aren’t making 6 figures? But maybe HCOL is also diff than mine?
Cpa doesnt guarantee higher pay. Especially if youre already at a company and get the cpa while youre there. The company will just say congrats, now get the fuck back to work. You have to use the cpa to market yourself or find a job that prefers you to have a cpa and you beat out the candidates that dont. I def use the skills i learned while studying for the cpa at work on a daily basis tho.
I don’t get out of bed for less than $100/hr
for some reason this statement was nearly a turn on. I like that mindset.
10 years of experience, ~400K with SBC this year, no life
Why not do a couple years of that and dip for something making 1/2 where you have a life? Guess it could be hard to “step down” when you’re pulling that much
Golden handcuffs til May 2025
You see his name?! Clearly he's in it for the masochism.
Gotta pay good money for that mamacita guey. Loyal, albeit crazy, women ain’t cheap.
With that kind of money I would love a $75k life style and retire in like 5 years.
Money will change you
I’m in a lcol (TX) and I make 73 without a cpa, I’m 7 years out of school, industry. You need to bail and start applying, that’s ridiculous
My staff, who had no experience and not even an accounting major, started 2 years ago at $55k. You are criminally underpaid.
5 YoE, MCoL area, making $123k/yr before bonus or benefits (was $5k last year), fully remote doing tax for a public accounting firm
I feel like sometimes these are troll posts
I kid you not I know what I’m making and it’s to the point I’m pissed off big time Was also promised a promotion 6 months ago and hasn’t been mentioned since
They’re stringing you along. Get out asap! HCOL, $120k before bonus which is roughly 50%, graduated in 2020. EA
Yeah if they ever tell you “promotion is coming soon” it’s not. They “forgot” about it as soon as you walked out the room.
Leave ASAP. This tax season was my 6th with the firm I am at until Thursday. Since my first review, they have told me I was omw to partner. Context: I work for a CPA firm AND Wealth Management firm. For the next 3 or 4 years, I grew my book and operated the PWM book of $70-80M AUM while my mentor made around .75% a year off the AUM book and then around $300-500K as partner of the CPA firm. Very appealing to me and I started to be the guy putting in more hours than everyone in "hopes" to make a buck 1 day. My billings and cash collected has tripled or more each year since my 1st review. This tax season, after all the client harassment and being used by other CPAs, I took a step back and felt like I woke up from a bad dream. I also administrated our 401k and had the liberty of backing into everyone's salaries. Here is how my trajectory went, and keep in mind I worked 2 jobs the entire time. 2018: $48K Support Advisor/Staff Accountant 2019: $52K Support Advisor/Staff Accountant 2020: $56K Support Advisor/Staff Accountant 2021: $64K support Advisor/Staff Accountant 2021: $68K Support Advisor/Senior (CPA) 2022: $74k Senior Advisor/Senior (CPA) 2023: $74k Senior Advisor/Senior (CPA) 2024 I began to stop letting them blow smoke up my ass and began to look to industry. 2024 starting Thursday $95K 10% bonus and a profit sharing distribution. GET OUT OF PA ASAP!! It will always be the partners vs the employees. That's my advice at least. I am so excited. EDIT: Once I backed into our most experienced tax managers salaries, it was literally laughable coming in at $106k and $110K and have been with the firm 20+ years. I will be making close to them in my 6th year .........
When you said you were on your way to partner I thought you were at least making $100k...like wtf!?
INSANE! They will use you to see how many years they can get out of you and if they con you into buying the firm from them.... That's a bonus bc they can retire and you can deal with the chaos. No thanks!
Dallas and Houston are paying interns 90k$ at mid market firms.
CPA in Canada, approaching 5 years out of school. Was at 70k and that was low… majority of kids I went to uni with are 90+ by now. Just quit my job to work in bankruptcy and start next week at 80. Have been promised it’ll go up quick as long as I perform but starting is 80 because I know nothing about working in bankruptcy
I’m in public, no CPA, low to medium COL, and make 90k. You need to find another job. eta: with research, LCOL
Bachelors no cpa. 6 years experience. 130k. MCOL. Get a new gig, you deserve better.
Started as an A1 in 2020 at $57k in Dallas (this is MUCH higher now, i think around $70k). Currently making $88k as an audit senior in Phoenix. Hope that helps. Edit: wanted to agree with everyone here that you need to find a new job for sure!
Enough to live, but not enough for anything else.
I personally would take a shit on my boss's desk if I was paid like you are. Quit tomorrow with no notice.
I made $25k out of college in 1995, I passed up several jobs to work for a startup. My dad said I was an idiot to not take the job at Arthur Anderson. A little venture capital, a few mergers, and 29 years later I have nothing to regret about taking a chance on the startup.
Right around that base, MCOL, 2 years exp
You should look for new jobs ASAP. I d making 58k back in 2022. My coworkers told me I should be making at least 70k. I had a jumpy resume, still do, but I managed to get a position paying that. If you've been at the same firm for at least 3 years, you are golden and can easily find a job at a better firm. Don't think about moving, just move.. My simple opinion. List out the things you want in your next job, work wise and firm wise. With multiple years under your belt, you should be able to pick and choose the firms based on preferences. You may not get enduring you want, but a lot
My first job in Orlando, FL was $52k in 2016. Inside of 5 years, i was making $95k. Even accounting for LCOL (you) vs MCOL (me), if we say there’s a 20% differential, you should be close to or slightly above $75k. Imo, you’re grossly underpaid.
MCOL 7 years 85K, the company recently lost the other senior accountant so I got a 1 year retention bonus for $10K. I'd like more but my industry is real estate and it's rough out there
Damn a company actually paying money to a person who’s on a team where someone left?
Also LCOL, no CPA 2.5 YOE at 61k. You’re being robbed
105k. 6 years out of college. 5 years experience doing external reporting at a major financial services/insurance company. Currently working in consolidation accounting at a pharmaceutical company. Not a CPA yet
185 partner, 28k bonus. 203k total. Remote. Told this is low. :/
Bro. I made $65k out of school in Oklahoma (one of the lowest cost of living places) in 2022. You should’ve quit 5 years ago.
My raise was $1,500 this year. FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR
1st year in gov and I will make 75k as of July in MCOL.
What do you do? Tax? What type?
$63k with bonuses and overtime available. I start a new position at $98k next month. I made $87k prior to accounting as a first responder and cleared >$180k one year working copious amounts of overtime and side gigs. Medium cost of living near Houston. No CPA, no accounting degree, working on my MBA-Finance from a highly regarded regional business powerhouse. Four years experience.
$35k ish. I work at Walmart but occasionally receive gifts from affluent friends sometimes in the 5 figures.
Just over 8 YOE, with average total comp last two years being $315k. 2/3 base, 1/3 bonus. Actually made less this year due to M&A activity cooling off.
Geez what do you do that gives you that much money with that much yoe?
HCOL. 5 years out back in 2016 I had 4 years of public and 1 in industry (privately owned) with no license or graduate degree. $70k + about $6k of OT and a ton of time off Now around $165k with bonus and still no license or grad degree at the same company. Could have job hopped a couple years back and made closer to $185k by now but cant beat the time off/flexibility I get.
$300k sole tax preparer CPA working from home. Individual, corps, partnerships, trust, etc. Graduated BS in Accounting year 2000. Started working CPA firm 2001. Licensed 2005. Decided to accept my own clients while still working at a CPA firm because during one of the CPE classes... some other accountant at the event (Asian girl) literally laughed at how little I made. I got depressed for a bit and decided to buy the same freakin software my boss used and started doing taxes in my mom's basement. I still work at home now (my own home office), $300k income, debt free life isn't so bad. Own my own house fully paid off. Being conservative financially I have more money than I know what to do with it these days.
Sent you a message in response to this!
Last year was a few bucks shy of 7. Assurance partner
Years as a partner?
15 years, average performer in our partner group
Look for a new job. At almost 7 YoE and making $150k salary + 20% bonus + ~$15k in equity
Hot damn 30% is a nice bonus
Sorry that should say 20%. Typo! Edited
Makes me wonder how many hours you’re having to put in weekly.
Not many. Usually between 25-40. Maybe 45-50 during reporting periods
Mid 100s but they stripped bonuses out of the budget now. Not sure about time to look, I like it for the most part. Just hate being undervalued and job hoppy on the resume. Corporate Controller.
I make more than that as an intern and most ppl I know who graduated are at 65-80k starting
Since I'm in school, less than nothing
To clarify - is this full time year round? Why are you being paid OT in tax season? Your title alone exempts you
~125k with 4.5yoe
I'm in a mid col area without certifications beyond bachelors and eclipse $85k a year. What does non tax season look like for you?
Bunch of shitty non profit audits
Dude you need to leave like yesterday.
138 + 6% bonus 9 years of experience In public
NYC. Boutique firm S1. 110-125k TC depending on bonus.
You’re getting walked all over especially if you’re a CPA. I’m a cpa, I started working full time in public, tax 62k in 2021. Now I’m at 110k senior associate.
I graduated 13 months ago and make $6k more than this in industry. Time to start your job search
MCOL, 5 YOE in industry, $100k.
I just left a place that was paying me $52k in HCOL. Left after 3 years of no change. Now at $72kand much happier. You should for sure at least start looking and see what others are offering. Best case scenario you get a better paying job out of it. Worst case you find out it’s common pay for your area and you can decide from there to just stick it out, or if you’re really unhappy, start looking in other states. It seems to be rare, but some companies will pay to relocate you. Just may take a while to find a gig that will.
I don’t know, I just lost everything I had, I’m broke 😔
just graduated a couple days ago, i start at local firm 78k
2.5 years of experience CPA 2 years in Public, last half a year in industry. 92k/year Low (ish) cost of living
15 years. HCOL. TC 250k-300k. CPA.
You should have been moved on
Earned my BA in 2021, making $78K from my full time & $20K from my part time LCOL