[bear]

Currently have a job with the federal government. I am not using my CPA or education in accounting (I have a masters). I am working in contracting which only requires a business degree in general.

I primarily took this job to get my foot in the door. I am now almost to receive a promotion to a GS-12 in my career field. I don’t really like the work and I want to switch to something more familiar and comfortable in accounting. Plus, I would actually like to get paid for my CPA license. I see on USAjobs.gov that pay for an accounting position can go up to a GS15.

Does anyone have any experience or know more or less what the pay potential is for someone working for the federal government with a CPA in an accounting role?

[Recked]

I have no relevant information to share but I would be curious as well.
I'm guessing its not as good as you are hoping.

[Mission CPA]

I am not 100% sure if the federal government is the same as state and local, but I am working towards a career in a local school district or city government. The pay for a CPA in a CFO/Director position could be anywhere between $100,000 (small) to upwards of $250,000 or more (large). People knock the government, but you sit pretty in a high up administrative position, and retire young and happy!

[Accounting_is_Taxing]

I haven't worked for the government but I know plenty of people who do. I even applied to one of the agencies and got pretty far. I would say that the federal government pays pretty high. An experienced senior or manager could easily clear 100k. You also get tons of great benefits and PTO. You also don't work overtime very much (if at all). Overall, I would say working for the federal government is a pretty sweet gig.

[rugger246]

Federal government pay is way different than in the private sector. Pretty much everyone knows what you make because it follows the GS payscale. Most vacancy announcements will tell you the payscale range and the promotion potential – meaning the highest level that you can earn. Most I have come across are GS-12. I tend to find most GS-14 and GS-15 level positions are more supervisory in nature or mid-level management. Those are still good paying positions, but may be few and far between depending on the particular department or agency in which you work.

All federal government accounting jobs are found in the OPM Series 0500 so that is what you are looking when searching postings.

Overall government pay and benefits are pretty good. I know I could make more money probably in the private sector. Working virtually no overtime (and getting paid or comp time if I do) and good sick and vacation leave is a real bonus for my situation.

I will say though – sometimes there can be headaches working in a bureaucratic environment – the current shutdown being one of them.

AUD - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed (Perfect Score of 75 to finish it off)
REG - Passed

[bhunt815]

I work for state, not federal. I do pretty well, but I'm at the Director level. I have staff accountants making anywhere from $50k to $80k. My understanding has always been that federal pays better than state but I have no firsthand knowledge.

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[ipasscpa]

I am a current Federal Employee at GS 12 around DC area. My current role will take me to GS 13 without compete ting with other candidates which is around 98k in DC area. After you have one year of experience under GS13, you can qualify for GS14 and then same for GS15. GS15 is the highest pay scale for most federal agencies and current starting pay is around 134K. GS15 in Accounting is consider as Controller in private. Then you have an option to go for senior executive positions, such as CFO. That is around 170k. However, some agencies have their own pay-scale and pay extremely well. Such as SEC. Accountants working there make over 200k. To my knowledge, Federal pays more than state.

CPA- VA

[iceman]

Right now my CPA friend in the Dept of Energy is making $0…

Meanwhile my brother works for the DoD and its business as usual.

[Author]

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