[jamesjohnson11]

I have an offer at a small firm around 30-50 people and the position is entry level audit associate, but I am not happy with the salary.

When asked what salary i am looking for I said around the low 50’s no less than high 40’s and he told me thats unrealistic. I told him I am coming off a 150 credit program and will be a cpa soon and low 40’s is too little but he said it doesnt matter.

I would like to know from anyone who knows starting salary for audit at a small firm.

If you don’t want to say an exact number I don’t even care just give me a general range because I certainly feel I am being lowballed and should be getting more.

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[markiux88]

I would say 39-43k is realistic for an entry-level audit position…. being a CPA is the standard these days and many people would be willing to start at even lower salaries..

[jamesjohnson11]

I have never seen an entry level audit salary in NY for any less than 47,000.

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[mla1169]

Is the job you received an offer for in NY? When you say you've never seen an offer less than $47 do you mean from big 4?

Sadly right now the market is awful and people are willing to work for $39k just to have something.

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Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[sacredtheory]

Since you mentioned NY in your second post I'm assuming that's your location. In my area, south-central PA, depending on the size of the firm, I'd say the average would be 38-42k.

I have no idea what your personal situation is like, but I do know the market still stinks, and I'd be perfectly happy with that salary if I was entry-level. If you're fresh out of college, that's not a bad starting salary.

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Jared

[pinkpink114]

My husband is a manager at a firm in the Philly metro area, about 65 employees. He said entry level, passed all four parts but needs to complete the work experience is around $38-$42K

[sacredtheory]

@pink

Hey, we're close. Is your husband hiring? 😉

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[Anonymous]

I dont know….is it a non-exempt position where you can expect to get paid overtime? or do they have a bonus structure in place to compensate for extra hours worked? Will you get a bump once you are licensed?

Have you passed any parts of the CPA? Just because you will be a cpa eventually does not mean you are entitled to any kind of extra compensation now.

You said you were looking at least high 40's, and they offered low 40's? so say you and the firm are $5,000 apart…thats like $2.4 an hour…are you really going to turn down the only opportunity you have for $2 an hour? You can also move to a different firm later if you get a better offer somewhere else, but for now this sounds like something you might want to really consider.

[RalphDoggy]

Im in Portland, OR and I started at a small firm (17 professionals) at 42k

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[Anonymous]

I guess it depends what the raises are like. Do they give decent raises (5-10%) every year even to average performers? If so, you can move up in salary quickly. I started in the low 40's at a top 10 national firm (but a very small office in a small town in Southern CA) 5 years ago…but the market was better then. Plug the numbers into salary.com, but imo that site is a little generous right now because of the job market.

[sacredtheory]

You can also check out Robert Half's 2011 salary guide. You can customize it to the size of the firm and your location. It should give you a good estimate.

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[sacredtheory]

https://www.roberthalffinance.com/SalaryCenter

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[Herbieherb]

I don't think thats too bad. Look at all your classmates…do you really think they are all getting jobs after they graduate? Ask around before you reject these guys. You might see them at the Occupy Wallstreet protest.

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[hopefulcpa28]

One of my friend majored in Finance, one in Information Technology…bachelor degrees, no other advance educations.

The one who majored in Finance is working as financial analyst at Intel ($55k+) and other one is working at Boeing as an IT person (high $40k)…

They are both smart but didn't graduate with 4.0 nor 3.7, etc…One who works at Boeing worked at a grocery store until 6months after graduation and the other one had internship at Scottrade for 6months before grad, otherwise worked at a grocery store.

I'm not saying they don't deserve their pay or that they are lazy, stupid, etc…(they are my best friends, after all). However, how is it that they are making way more than entry level CPAs? Not fair, at all. These exams are nothing short of challenges (he**), even then some of us will/are making less then them?

[Anonymous]

I agree that your expectations may be slightly unrealistic. I do hiring of accountants for my small firm in Ohio and we start our accountants off around $40K right out of college. Things to consider are the fact that cost of living is not very high here and we only require our staff to work 40 hrs a week. However, we don't offer much in the way of benefits outside of full individual health coverage and 2 weeks vacation.

I don't think he's low-balling you…there are a ton of good applicants out there so hiring managers pretty much have their pick of good candidates and if you won't do it for $42K, they'll find someone who will. It's tough out there right now. It doesn't mean they can't afford to pay you more, but why would they if they don't have to?

[misanthrope87]

The firm I work at is the same size as yours. 42k to start and there was no raise after the first year. =( IMO they are low balling us but can get away with practically anything due to the situation of the economy. Keep in mind that living costs are high around here too.

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[Author]

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