Accounting & CPA
Accounting records, checks and explains the financial information that businesses, governments and people rely on. Accountants and auditors prepare statements, taxes and audits; Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are licensed by state boards.
Where Accounting & CPA can lead
A field of study is not one job. These are the occupations BLS tracks for this pathway, with median annual pay (May 2025) and projected change in employment (2025–35); total U.S. employment is projected to grow 3.5%.
| Occupation | Median pay | Outlook | Openings / year | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and auditors | $83,680 | +5% Faster than average |
115,300 | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial managers | $166,570 | +10% Much faster than average |
65,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Median: half of workers earned more, half earned less. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, checked 2026-10-07.
Key numbers to know
What accountants and auditors earn
Pay varies widely with experience, employer and location. BLS figures for May 2025.
Often new graduates
Half earned more, half less
Often senior or specialized roles
Median pay by industry
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services | 21% | $81,490 |
| Finance and insurance | 8% | $93,290 |
| Government | 8% | $83,350 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6% | $91,940 |
Where they work: 5% of accountants and auditors are self-employed.
Source: BLS, accountants and auditors (pay and work environment tabs).
What the work is really like
From O*NET, which surveys people working in the job. Most work full time; longer hours are typical during tax season and quarterly audits.
Common tasks
- Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
- Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
- Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
What workers report
| Share of workers who… | Share |
|---|---|
| Use email every day | |
| Say being exact is extremely important | |
| Sit continually or almost continually | |
| Work more than 40 hours a week |
Technology used on the job
Interests that fit this work (Holland codes): Conventional, Enterprising, Investigative. Source: O*NET OnLine, 13-2011.00, checked 2026-10-07.
How to get there, step by step
A typical route. Many people reach the same job in different ways.
- Step 1
Numbers and business
Math, economics and spreadsheets.
- Step 2
Bachelor's in accounting
120 credits; some states require 150 for the CPA.
- Step 3
Uniform CPA Exam
Three Core sections plus one Discipline you choose.
- Step 4
1 or 2 years
Depends on your state's licensure pathway.
- Goal
CPA license
Granted by your state board of accountancy.
High school preparation
- Algebra and statistics
- Business, economics or personal finance courses
- Spreadsheet skills (Excel)
- Writing — reports and client emails are daily work
Course suggestions are Margdarshan's guidance; what you can take depends on your school. See the high school guide for GPA, AP and dual enrollment.
Degrees and what you study
A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field; some employers prefer a master's in accounting or an MBA with an accounting concentration. A CPA license is required for anyone filing reports with the SEC.
Education workers say their job requires (O*NET)
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | |
| Associate's degree | |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate |
Costs and aid: see College & Money. Important qualities BLS lists for accountants and auditors: analytical and critical-thinking skills, communication skills, detail oriented, math skills, organizational skills.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license
Granted by state boards of accountancy. Education, experience and ethics-exam rules differ by state. Since 2025 more states let a 120-hour bachelor's plus 2 years of experience qualify, but not all. Check your state board.
Not always required: Many accounting jobs do not require a CPA license; BLS says anyone who files reports with the SEC must be a licensed CPA.
Full step-by-step licensing route →Why demand is changing
BLS expects demand to grow with the economy and new businesses; technology will automate routine work but raise demand for advisory and analytical duties.
Faster than average
Accountants and auditors
Average over the decade, including replacements
Studying from outside the U.S.? Education and immigration are separate pathways — see the international student guide.
Advice for getting in
Margdarshan's guidance, based on the data above.
- Check your state's CPA pathway before you choose a master's: more states now accept a 120-credit bachelor's plus 2 years of experience.
- Plan for busy seasons — O*NET reports half of accountants work more than 40 hours a week, with peaks at tax time and audits.
- Learn Excel deeply; it tops O*NET's in-demand technology list for accountants.
Frequently asked questions
Related career pathways
Where these facts come from
Official sources only, checked on the dates shown.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Accountants and auditors checked 2026-10-07
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Financial managers checked 2026-10-07
- O*NET OnLine: 13-2011.00 · U.S. Department of Labor checked 2026-10-07
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates via the BLS Public Data API checked 2026-10-07
- New CPA Licensure Pathways and CPA Mobility · NASBA checked 2026-10-07
- What is the Uniform CPA Examination? · NASBA checked 2026-10-07
- Exploring the CPA Exam disciplines · AICPA (This Way to CPA) checked 2026-10-07
- Occupational Outlook Handbook · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics checked 2026-10-07