[Anonymous]

On an average how much salary does a CPA with 5 year work ex make in chicago/new york area?

[jasonrobbins]

Just to clear the air, making between $100,000 to $130,000 is not “stupid money” in NYC. If you're not making that much after 5 or 6 years of good accounting/finance experience in NYC and have a CPA, you're doing something wrong and should regroup to figure out what's going on with your career.

I define good accounting experience as working your butt off, networking, and putting in long hours at a mid to large size firm. Don't come to NYC, if you can't do this, it's not worth it.

Working anywhere else besides Manhattan is a different ballgame (unless you work at Goldman in Jersey City) and is not applicable to the discussion.

I've been apart of the hiring and firing process for ~20 people in the past two years.

AUD- 97 1x
REG- 81 1x
BEC- 79 1x
FAR- 88 1x

DONE!

10/1/12 to 2/28/14

[jasonrobbins]

Just to clear the air, making between $100,000 to $130,000 is not “stupid money” in NYC. If you're not making that much after 5 or 6 years of good accounting/finance experience in NYC and have a CPA, you're doing something wrong and should regroup to figure out what's going on with your career.

I define good accounting experience as working your butt off, networking, and putting in long hours at a mid to large size firm. Don't come to NYC, if you can't do this, it's not worth it.

Working anywhere else besides Manhattan is a different ballgame (unless you work at Goldman in Jersey City) and is not applicable to the discussion.

I've been apart of the hiring and firing process for ~20 people in the past two years.

AUD- 97 1x
REG- 81 1x
BEC- 79 1x
FAR- 88 1x

DONE!

10/1/12 to 2/28/14

[mla1169]

This entire conversation is silly. Are we talking 5 years in big 4, regional, or industry. After 5 years have you made senior or hopefully even manager?

5 years experience can mean a wide variety of things. Avg CPA salary in NYC is 104k. That means as many people make only $70 as make $130. You can put yourself on either end of that range, depending on what and where your experience is. The metro area and your credentials alone don't place you at 6 figures. Your employer and performance are just as significant.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

This entire conversation is silly. Are we talking 5 years in big 4, regional, or industry. After 5 years have you made senior or hopefully even manager?

5 years experience can mean a wide variety of things. Avg CPA salary in NYC is 104k. That means as many people make only $70 as make $130. You can put yourself on either end of that range, depending on what and where your experience is. The metro area and your credentials alone don't place you at 6 figures. Your employer and performance are just as significant.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[samdiegoCPA]

Oh my!

I was going to post a few hours ago that 60k is nothing in NYC. One of my best friends is in marketing and out in NYC and started at 60k and still had to borrow from her parents. Rent was $3000 total for a tiny 2 bedroom she shared with another girl. In regards to being a CPA with 5 years experience making only 60k in NYC, I would definitely re-evaluate what I am doing wrong as well.

You start off in San Diego between 30-60k after graduating with BS in finance/accounting. I had three years prior experience and a BS in accounting doing CPA route and one company offered me $15.50/hour (I almost threw a brick at them), another company I almost got a job with was $55k. So it depends. Once I pass my next exam and get my next job (still need my experience for licensing) then I will take no less than $60,000, unless it's a superb opportunity with room for huge growth. I'm making that now with salary + other misc income so I won't downgrade.

Maybe I will think differently after I am done studying, but all this stress is making me want to demand $1,000,000 starting salary. 😉

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[samdiegoCPA]

Oh my!

I was going to post a few hours ago that 60k is nothing in NYC. One of my best friends is in marketing and out in NYC and started at 60k and still had to borrow from her parents. Rent was $3000 total for a tiny 2 bedroom she shared with another girl. In regards to being a CPA with 5 years experience making only 60k in NYC, I would definitely re-evaluate what I am doing wrong as well.

You start off in San Diego between 30-60k after graduating with BS in finance/accounting. I had three years prior experience and a BS in accounting doing CPA route and one company offered me $15.50/hour (I almost threw a brick at them), another company I almost got a job with was $55k. So it depends. Once I pass my next exam and get my next job (still need my experience for licensing) then I will take no less than $60,000, unless it's a superb opportunity with room for huge growth. I'm making that now with salary + other misc income so I won't downgrade.

Maybe I will think differently after I am done studying, but all this stress is making me want to demand $1,000,000 starting salary. 😉

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[megasaurus]

@Study monk – I'm tax at a big 4 in the Bay Area, most new staff with a MST come in just under 60K. Hope that helps!

[megasaurus]

@Study monk – I'm tax at a big 4 in the Bay Area, most new staff with a MST come in just under 60K. Hope that helps!

[Study Monk]

thanks megasaurus!

You think the CPA will get me the extra 10k? Trying to stay out of Golden Gate University 😉

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

thanks megasaurus!

You think the CPA will get me the extra 10k? Trying to stay out of Golden Gate University 😉

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[megasaurus]

Study Monk – No unfortunately I don't think it will. If you come in as entry level (as you will since your background is audit) there are 3 pay grades, bachelors, masters, or law degree. Regardless of whether or not you have the tests passed (bar or CPA) the pay is the same. What they do offer you is a bonus of 5K for passing within a year of your start date (before or after).

I came in w/o an MST and I've already over taken some of my peers that came in at higher pay than me. Once you get your foot in the door it is about performance. Unfortunately the starting off point is what type of degree you hold. That was consistent among all of the big 4 (I interviewed with 3 of the 4). Sorry :(.

[megasaurus]

Study Monk – No unfortunately I don't think it will. If you come in as entry level (as you will since your background is audit) there are 3 pay grades, bachelors, masters, or law degree. Regardless of whether or not you have the tests passed (bar or CPA) the pay is the same. What they do offer you is a bonus of 5K for passing within a year of your start date (before or after).

I came in w/o an MST and I've already over taken some of my peers that came in at higher pay than me. Once you get your foot in the door it is about performance. Unfortunately the starting off point is what type of degree you hold. That was consistent among all of the big 4 (I interviewed with 3 of the 4). Sorry :(.

[mgnyc]

In NYC 5 Years experience with CPA in NFP will get you 50-70, as a Senior Accountant/Accounting Manager dependent on if you have management experience. If you have management and a CPA there's nothing stopping you from becoming a controller by 7-10 years at 100K. I can say with some certainly that this is true for nonlisted industry positions as well.

Making or expecting to make 100K after 5 years sounds above average, and is probably at a big firm or in finance.

Aud 73, 79
Reg 70, 60, 67, 76
Far 70, 66, 72, 87
Bec 77

[mgnyc]

In NYC 5 Years experience with CPA in NFP will get you 50-70, as a Senior Accountant/Accounting Manager dependent on if you have management experience. If you have management and a CPA there's nothing stopping you from becoming a controller by 7-10 years at 100K. I can say with some certainly that this is true for nonlisted industry positions as well.

Making or expecting to make 100K after 5 years sounds above average, and is probably at a big firm or in finance.

Aud 73, 79
Reg 70, 60, 67, 76
Far 70, 66, 72, 87
Bec 77

[Author]

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