[MrCPA2B]

Hey Ninjas! Hadn’t posted in a while! I am in my final days of my Masters in Accounting program and will graduate next weekend! Recently, I have been interviewing and applying to different accounting jobs that more closely align with my career goals. Now I work as an accounting clerk or as they like to say at my job accounting associate for $12 bucks an hour. During my last 2 final interviews i had with 2 different companies last week they wanted to discuss salary and asked how much are you worth? He stated I’m not sure how much per hour typically a person of your caliber is worth. I completely blanked and said the stupidest thing “I honestly can care less about salary, I am more focused on the experience and growth”. My question is How much should I be expecting with a Masters in Accounting? Also, how can i explain to employers that working as an accounting clerk will make me valuable to their position? Sorry but this has been on my mind ever since the interview and now im depressed because I feel worthless! Mostly because i didn’t secure a job in public accounting right after undergrad.

I live in Virginia BTW…

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[matt]

Depends on where you live. Boston, NYC, etc will be a lot more than Tampa, etc.

Go to salary.com or Robert Half salary guide (search on Google) and you'll get a better idea.

FAR: 89
BEC: 88
REG: 81
AUD: 76

CPAexcel, NINJA 10 point combo, & NINJA MCQ

"Pain is temporary, it may last for a minute, or an hour, or a day, or even a year...but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit however, it will last forever."

[matt]

Depends on where you live. Boston, NYC, etc will be a lot more than Tampa, etc.

Go to salary.com or Robert Half salary guide (search on Google) and you'll get a better idea.

FAR: 89
BEC: 88
REG: 81
AUD: 76

CPAexcel, NINJA 10 point combo, & NINJA MCQ

"Pain is temporary, it may last for a minute, or an hour, or a day, or even a year...but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit however, it will last forever."

[Java230]

Exactly, it depends on where you live, after a master, I would say you are worth 1.5X median income. For example in Seattle, I think the avg income per persons is like $35 thousand, so you would be worth atleast $50 thousand right out of masters with limited experience. That's is ~ how they priced all the new hires at my work, folks who went to San Fran. started at about $70 thousand for the same exact skill as Seattle for $50 thousand, folks in the South got about $45 thousand. Hope that helps.

In DC (don't know how close you are to DC), I think the new hires (after masters with limited experience) start at $60 thousand.

Licensed WA CPA 2/2015
Government Auditor Since 2007

[Java230]

Exactly, it depends on where you live, after a master, I would say you are worth 1.5X median income. For example in Seattle, I think the avg income per persons is like $35 thousand, so you would be worth atleast $50 thousand right out of masters with limited experience. That's is ~ how they priced all the new hires at my work, folks who went to San Fran. started at about $70 thousand for the same exact skill as Seattle for $50 thousand, folks in the South got about $45 thousand. Hope that helps.

In DC (don't know how close you are to DC), I think the new hires (after masters with limited experience) start at $60 thousand.

Licensed WA CPA 2/2015
Government Auditor Since 2007

[Java230]

now to fully answer your question, you asked how much your worth… if you make $12 an hour in a 40hr work week, that's $24,900 thousand a year, I think the current cap rate on humans is near 8%, it might be slightly lower now (lower is better). So economically your life (based CF) says you would be worth $300 thousand, but your probably worth way more than that! So have confidence and ask for more pay!

You can also work backwards, ask your self how much do you think your economic worth is multiplied by the cap rate of .08= your annual salary 🙂 just kidding. I am bored waiting for the scores to release, should be studying, it has been a month long wait.

Licensed WA CPA 2/2015
Government Auditor Since 2007

[Java230]

now to fully answer your question, you asked how much your worth… if you make $12 an hour in a 40hr work week, that's $24,900 thousand a year, I think the current cap rate on humans is near 8%, it might be slightly lower now (lower is better). So economically your life (based CF) says you would be worth $300 thousand, but your probably worth way more than that! So have confidence and ask for more pay!

You can also work backwards, ask your self how much do you think your economic worth is multiplied by the cap rate of .08= your annual salary 🙂 just kidding. I am bored waiting for the scores to release, should be studying, it has been a month long wait.

Licensed WA CPA 2/2015
Government Auditor Since 2007

[MrCPA2B]

LOL! @Java230 Thanks and you have a great sense of humor i can tell! Yeah but you're right! Right now i'm so low on confidence it's ridiculous.. Knowing that you are worth more and more capable than an accounting clerk has drained me for the past year since graduation and now i'm just out of confidence after this experience

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[MrCPA2B]

LOL! @Java230 Thanks and you have a great sense of humor i can tell! Yeah but you're right! Right now i'm so low on confidence it's ridiculous.. Knowing that you are worth more and more capable than an accounting clerk has drained me for the past year since graduation and now i'm just out of confidence after this experience

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[Java230]

Yep, that how I stay sane while studying, find humor in anything 🙂 Good luck with your job search!

Licensed WA CPA 2/2015
Government Auditor Since 2007

[Java230]

Yep, that how I stay sane while studying, find humor in anything 🙂 Good luck with your job search!

Licensed WA CPA 2/2015
Government Auditor Since 2007

[MrCPA2B]

@Java230 Thank you and good luck on your studies!

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[MrCPA2B]

@Java230 Thank you and good luck on your studies!

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[Skynet]

@MrCPA2B – with tax season over, i say you should be marked down to Clearance at 80% off the retail price.

so at $12 per hour clearance price should be $2.40 per hour.

[Skynet]

@MrCPA2B – with tax season over, i say you should be marked down to Clearance at 80% off the retail price.

so at $12 per hour clearance price should be $2.40 per hour.

[MrCPA2B]

Thanks @Skynet I'll keep that in mind when i go to my next interview!

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[Author]

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