Accountants and auditors
SOC Code: 13-2011Also known as:
Account Auditor, Accountant, Accounting Associate, Accounting Auditor, Accounting Consultant
Median Annual Salary
$81,680
+4.6% growth (2024-2034)
124K
Openings/Year
1.6M
Current Jobs
What Accountants and auditors Do
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
💰 Salary
$81,680
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+4.6%
Faster than average
🎓 Education
Bachelor's degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
124K
Projected average per year
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
1,579,800
Projected Employment (2034)
1,652,600
Related Careers
Financial managers
$161,700 •
+14.8% growth
Financial examiners
$90,400 •
+18.5% growth
Tax preparers
$50,560 •
+4.5% growth
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
$49,210 •
-5.8% growth
Top Skills Required
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Writing
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
- Examine records and interview workers to ensure recording of transactions and compliance with laws and regulations.
- Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Bachelor's degree
Most common requirement
Degree Programs for Accountants and auditors
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a accountants and auditors:
Accounting
58,956 degrees awarded •
1,356 colleges offer this program
Accounting and Finance
3,502 degrees awarded •
131 colleges offer this program
Accounting and Business/Management
1,270 degrees awarded •
105 colleges offer this program
Taxation
1,238 degrees awarded •
90 colleges offer this program
Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation
324 degrees awarded •
36 colleges offer this program
Auditing
178 degrees awarded •
17 colleges offer this program
Accounting and Computer Science
36 degrees awarded •
6 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Accountants and auditors
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become accountants and auditors.
Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do accountants and auditors make?
The median annual salary for accountants and auditors is $81,680.
What education do accountants and auditors need?
Most accountants and auditors positions require a bachelor's degree.
Common degree programs include Accounting, Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Business/Management.
Is becoming accountants and auditors a good career choice?
Accountants and auditors is projected to see +4.6% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 124,200 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for accountants and auditors?
Top colleges for aspiring accountants and auditors include
The University of Texas at Austin, University of Georgia, University of Florida, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, Texas A & M University-College Station.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to accountants and auditors?
Accountants and auditors may also be known as: Account Auditor, Accountant, Accounting Associate, Accounting Auditor, Accounting Consultant, Accounting Methods Analyst, Accounting Officer, Accounting Systems Analyst, Asset Analyst, Audit Associate, Audit Partner, Auditor, Auditor-In-Charge, Bank Accountant, Budget Accountant, Bursar, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), City Auditor, Compliance Analyst, Compliance Auditor.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.