Accounting Salaries

Tennessee's finance and accounting professionals are using the FREE 2009 Salary Guide from Robert Half International. This essential and unbiased booklet features:

  • The latest salary ranges;
  • The hiring outlook;
  • In-depth regional salary analysis; and
  • Top skills in demand.

To request your FREE copy of the 2010 Salary Guide, click here.

2010 Salary Guide At-A-Glance

A CPA salary is pretty hard to beat. New industries, more sophisticated technologies and expanding opportunities for the business add up to better opportunities for CPAs. High demand for CPAs means career stability, better salaries and a steady upward growth. Just take a look at the average salaries for college graduates in public and private accounting. To see what you can get with CPA certification, add around 10 to 15 percent extra to the average starting salaries.

 
Employer Jr. Level (0 - 3 yrs.)
Sr. Level (4 - 6 yrs.)
Public Accounting (large firm)
$49,000-$70,000
$67,750-$160,750
Public Accounting (medium firm)
$43,000-$62,750
$60,750-$137,500
Public Accounting (small firm)
$41,200-$56,750
$54,500-$113,250
Corporate Accounting - General Accountant (large co.)
$37,500-$57,750
$56,000-$97,000
Corporate Accounting - General Accountant (medium co.)
$35,250-$53,750
$51,000-$80,000
Corporate Accounting - General Accountant (small co.)
$33,250-$48,750
$46,500-$73,000

Serious earning potential over time gives CPAs great job security. Here are some examples of upper-level salaries for managers in corporate accounting:

Position
Large Company
Small to Medium Company
Chief Financial Officer
$183,000-$384,000
$93,750-$176,500
Corporate Controller
$160,500-$182,000
$80,500-$135,750
Director of Finance
$118,000-$200,000
$83,750-$137,250
 
(Source: 2010 Robert Half Salary Guide. Geographic region, experience, education, CPA certification and company size each play a role in determining salary.)
 
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