Accountant Salary Guide – What Factors Influence Accountant Salary?

With a steady supply of skilled workers and a strong demand for their skills, accounting professionals continue to get well-compensated. But as is the case with any job, salary prospects vary depending on a number of factors, including location, experience level, industry and specialty.

For example, the 2021 Robert Half Salary Guide reveals that accountants with more years of experience earn higher salaries. And those who have CPA certification and a graduate degree are in even better standing.

But the job market can be a little more volatile than for other fields. For instance, the employment rate for accountants and other finance and accounting professionals bucked the general trend of occupations in 2023, dropping to lows for months at a time.

In addition, the type of accounting role matters a lot. For example, general entry-level staff accountants typically earn less than those who work in public accounting. However, those who start in a specialist role like a budget analyst or financial controller will earn more than their counterparts in other roles.

Other factors that impact accountant salary include the industry in which they work and the size of a company. For example, the Salary Guide reports that accountants in a midsize company with $25 million to $250 million in sales earn more than those at small companies. Similarly, tax accountants are in high demand as new regulations require companies to review their taxes and file them correctly. And senior accounting managers are also in great demand.Accountant salary guide