[lastsection4mee]

As a second year I’ve been thinking what kind of percentage raise I will get as my career progresses. This is just some basic calculations I did.

1st yr $58,000

2nd year $60,900 5%

senior 1 $66,381 9%

senior 2 $71,691 8%

senior 3 $77,426 8%

manager $88,265 14%

manager 2 $94,444 7%

manager 3 $100,110 6%

Yes i do work in a major metro area. But regardless of the salary, what does everyone think about the percentages? Reasonable?

Please include any adjustments, recalcs, opinions if you want. I’d be interested to see what everyone has to say. These are just based on research, talking with people, and me looking into my crystal ball. Obviously some jumps may occur do to moving firms, and such. But lets just keep this simple.

[Sir Study Alot]

While I would like to see this post progress further those who are impatient can also look at Glassdoor. Big 4 has a good sample of Salaries even if you search by major city. For example managers at Big 4 and large nationals are closer to 120k.

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[Sir Study Alot]

While I would like to see this post progress further those who are impatient can also look at Glassdoor. Big 4 has a good sample of Salaries even if you search by major city. For example managers at Big 4 and large nationals are closer to 120k.

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[Whatdidyou]

@lastsection4mee: IF you stay in public accounting, those are very reasonable (@ least at the staff level, not sure once you make manager). Although you'll probably get promotion bonuses that will make your total pay as a 1st year senior much nicer than 9% (hopefully!).

I am not sharing my salary info with you all, stop being so pushy! lol. Glassdoor is really your best reference guys or one of those massive goingconcern raise posts.

Realistically, most are probably looking at raises between 5-10% until you get to the manager level. Also a CPA bonus, a promotion bonus (i.e. from staff to senior), and potentially random smaller bonuses spread throughout (if your firm does that sort of thing).

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[2B.CPA]

EX:

Size of firm: top 10, midsize, small, etc

Location: Chicago, new york, etc

Salary increases: 1st year audit = $xx,xxx

2nd year audit = $xx,xxx

1st year audit senior = $xx,xxx

[Anonymous]

Since I'm currently feeling distracted during my FAR studying for the evening…

Size of Firm: Local CPA firm (2 partners, 5 full/part-time accountants, 1 admin)

Location: Near Richmond, Virginia

Salary Increases:

– Year 1 (2010): Administrative Assistant @ $10.40/hour

– Year 2 (2011): Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper @ $11.00-$11.50/hour

– Year 3 (2012): Staff Accountant @ $12.00/hour

– Year 4 (2013): Staff Accountant @ $36,000/year

– Year 5 (2014): Staff/Senior Staff Accountant @ $46,000/year

– Year 6 (2015): Senior Staff Accountant/Hopefully CPA @ $50,000-$60,000/year

– Year 7 (2016)+: Hopefully CPA/Partner (eventually) @ $60,000-??

I've seen some substantial increases in my pay over the last few years, but my actual job has also changed along with it. I was originally hired as an administrative assistant but broke into some of the bookkeeping work at my firm fairly quickly before eventually getting my MSA and putting myself on the CPA track. The managing partner at my firm is a strong believer in advancing from within and working with the staff he already has, so my salary limit is really up to how hard I'm willing to work. In addition to my present salary, I also have 100% employer-paid health insurance, retirement plan with a 3% company match, CPA exam fees and study materials allowance, 2 weeks paid vacation, paid holidays, the ability to telecommute, and my cell phone is on my firm's business plan. I have no complaints so far!

[Author]

Replies