Top Jobs With an Accounting Degree

Q: Can you make $500,000 a year as an accountant?

It is possible, but labor market data suggests it is rare for accountants to earn such a lofty annual salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants at the 90th percentile of annual earnings made $141,420 per year.

Q: What is the highest-paying accounting job?

C-suite jobs available to accounting professionals, such as the chief financial officer role, tend to offer the highest financial rewards. Ascending to such positions usually requires a master's or professional degree, plus extensive work experience. With a bachelor's degree, you could target CMA or CPA roles: These typically pay six-figure salaries.

Q: Are accounting degrees worth it?

Accounting degrees often deliver excellent returns thanks to their practicality, versatility, and consistent demand among employers. Professionals with a bachelor's degree in accounting earn an average annual salary of $82,000.

Updated on June 6, 2025

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CMA
Financial Planner
CPA
Budget Analyst
Compliance Officer
FAQ

Accounting degree jobs are versatile and can offer high salaries. Consider some of the paths you can pursue with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

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Key Takeaways

Earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting can lead to some of the highest average annual salaries of any undergraduate major.
Accounting degree jobs pay annual salaries ranging from about $80,000 to $100,000.
Graduates can pursue roles in accounting, financial planning and management, compliance, and business.

Accounting jobs tend to pay well. The average base salary of a professional with a bachelor’s degree in accounting is $81,000 per year, according to May 2025 data from Payscale. That outperforms most other college majors, and is nearly 4% higher than the average salary of business management bachelor’s graduates.

This career guide explores five top-paying accounting jobs you can pursue with a bachelor’s degree.

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Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

Certified management accountants (CMAs) are credentialed professionals with a specialized certification issued by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). They focus on the strategic and business development applications of management accounting. You need a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant work experience to qualify to become a CMA.

Job Outlook (2023-33): +6%
Average Annual Salary (May 2025): $103,000

Sources: BLS, Payscale

Financial Planner

Financial planners mainly work with individuals and families, helping them identify financial goals and build sound long-term strategies for achieving them. A bachelor’s degree in accounting makes a strong foundation for this career path, especially since you will develop deep technical knowledge of taxation and tax-advantaged money management strategies.

Job Outlook (2023-33): +17%
Median Annual Salary (May 2024): $102,140
Additional Credentials: Certified financial planner

Source: BLS

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Certified public accountants (CPAs) are accomplished accounting specialists who provide a diverse suite of financial reporting, advisory, tax management, and auditing services. They hold state-issued licenses, for which you can qualify with at least a bachelor’s degree, 1-2 years of accounting experience, and passing scores on the Uniform CPA Examination.

Job Outlook (2023-33): +6%
Average Annual Salary (May 2025): $101,000

Sources: BLS, Payscale

Budget Analyst

This mid-level position focuses on financial planning at the organizational level. Budget analysts help create operating, departmental, and project budgets. They track and monitor spending, evaluate internal requests for financial resources, and work alongside other finance colleagues to manage organizational financial health over the short, medium, and long terms.

Job Outlook (2023-33): +4%
Median Annual Salary (May 2024): $87,930
Additional Credentials: Certified budget analyst

Source: BLS

Compliance Officer

Compliance officers are regulatory specialists who ensure their employers adhere to all legal requirements that apply to their activities. They commonly work in finance and insurance, given the extensive regulatory regimes in these industries. With an accounting degree, you could qualify for compliance officer roles related to financial tracking and reporting.

Job Outlook (2023-33): +5%
Median Annual Salary (May 2024): $78,420

Source: BLS

Common Questions About Accounting Degree Jobs

What kinds of jobs can I get with an accounting degree?

You can work as an accountant, auditor, budget analyst, financial analyst or advisor, compliance officer, tax specialist, or business consultant, among other possibilities. Accounting is often called the “language of business,” and accounting degrees therefore transfer well to many business and finance occupations.