[CPAmePLS]

I recently got a job offer for 45K a year that will be pushed to 55k once I’ve passed the rest of my CPA exams. It’s at a small venture capital firm. I will essentially be the Accounting department. I am supposed to respond by this coming Monday and I’ve been very conflicted. I’ve seen varying reports for CPA salaries and I’ve been told by some that it’s good to start with a small firm while others have said almost the complete opposite – that I should go into public accounting for a big firm (not necessarily BIG 4).
Any suggestions?

[CPWAT]

The number can flux a lot from different region. I mean if you compared to the low cost of living state it's a good starting salary. But if you compare to high cost places like Silicon Valley then that's a salary for an entry level accounting clerk.

[Anonymous]

I hate how accountants (even CPAs) don't make that much money unless they have 10+ years of experience. And usually by then you are a exempt controller or assistant controller anyways that puts in OT. I don't know, I guess in public accounting (at a decent firm) you can make good money before 10 years but all the crap you have to deal with…

[Anonymous]

It really just depends.. I'm fresh out of college, first job, and I'm at 52k salary ignoring bonus. I've heard a 5-15k pay bump by adding the CPA to it all on top of that. But again, it just depends how long you're willing to look for a job/salary you want.

[Anonymous]

@eMeRGed

5K bump makes sense after CPA. 10-15K wow never heard of that..

[Fratty Redneck]

@Adam a CPA in downtown Chicago with 3 years experience? Only 60k? Yikes. I'm in the Southeast and just passed my last section and make 75k plus bonus with same experience.

[Kat]

It's heavily dependent on the state that you are working in / the actual workload of your firm. Small CPA firm in NYC (that took on more work than they could handle) started me at 60K – Masters degree, no CPA license. Raise year 1 was 5K, raise year 2 was 8K. Bonus year 1 was 8K, bonus year 2 was 13K. The raises were based on a percentage of current salary. The bonuses were based on performance and work hours. I only worked there for two years so I was at 73K base salary by the end of 2 years experience. I moved out of NYC and my salary took a dramatic nosedive. I am virtually back to my starting salary that I was in NYC. However, comparatively, I am not even doing half of the workload that I was pulling in NYC. So it's a give and take. Yeah, the money feels little, but my quality of life has increased tenfold.

I'd say you need to analyze your salary in terms of your workload. 45K starting + 10K bump for CPA is a good deal for a starting employee for a small CPA firm with 40 hour weeks and 50-60 hour tax season weeks. It's not a good salary for a firm where your off season hours are 60 and your tax season hours are 80-90. If you are comparing your current firms offer with the Big Four, you need to compare the level of work too.

Hope this helps.

[Nate]

Mid tier firm in NYC office, master's in accounting, 3/4 of cpa exam and with little real experience, they started me at 54 plus benefits but I negotiated to 55 plus a 2k signing bonus. You should always try and negotiate, even if they can't give you a higher base salary they usually can give you a signing bonus because that shows up in a different place. Note: This position is an advisory role so doesn't have a busy season. Also take a look at what the benefits are.

[TerriSilva]

depends on your experience, really. I was making 43K as an accounting specialist when I started at my job 11 years ago, but I didn't even have a degree. Almost 10 years later was only making 48K and still an accounting specialist, but then I got to my BS in business admin/accounting in 2016 and got an immediate 7K raise to 55K. Last year almost left company for a senior accountant position but was offered that title in my current role plus another 15k if I wuould stay. Made 67K last year and will hit 70K this year. I don't even have my CPA yet! 🙂

It's all gonna be worth it.

[Author]

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