A beginning accountant starts out with a comfortable salary.
For new accountants fresh out of a college with a bachelor's degree in accounting, an entry-level position either as an assistant or bookkeeper are the most typical entry level positions. The average salary new accountants earn depends not only on their job title, but on location and type of employer as well.
Average Accountant Salary
According to PayScale, the national average salary range for entry-level staff accountant jobs is $33,237 to $44,560 per year. The most popular industries for entry-level accountants, all of which fall into this salary range, are accounting, auditing and tax services, financial services, property management, healthcare and manufacturing and distribution.
Bookkeeper
Starting out with a position as a bookkeeper is common for many aspiring accountants, as it gives them the opportunity to understand the basic tasks an accountant is expected to understand. According to PayScale, the average salary range for bookkeepers as of December 2010 is $25,286 to $39,586 per year, which is slightly less than those with entry level staff accountant jobs.
Employer Type
Several types of organizations employ entry level accountants, each with a different average salary. Those employed by a company earn a salary range of $33,763 to $45,091 per year, while those in private practice earn $32,500 to $45,696. Non-profit organizations also employ entry level accountants, and have a salary range of $31,592 to $40,229. A new accountant employed by the state or local government earns a salary of up to $43,779, while those hired by the federal government earn up to $49,692.
Location
Salaries for accountants on any level of experience vary depending on the state in which the worker lives. New York is the highest paying state according to PayScale, with a yearly salary range of $35,109 to $50,006. California is second with a range of $36,354 to $48,361, and Illinois is third with $33,627 to $45,824. Ohio comes in fourth with an entry level accountant salary range of $34,699 to $43,578.
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