Accountants and Auditors
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others.
Accountants and Auditors examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. The role reports a median annual salary of $81,680 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $50,440 and $132,690 and is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.70 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Writing, Mathematics.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Economics and Accounting
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Personnel and Human Resources
A day in the life
You start your morning logging into accounting software like QuickBooks or SAP, reviewing journal entries, and reconciling accounts before the daily requests start rolling in from managers and clients. A large portion of your day is spent analyzing financial statements, preparing tax filings, or auditing transaction records for accuracy and compliance, often cross-referencing regulations and internal policies. You interact with clients, CFOs, and department leads to clarify discrepancies, explain tax implications, or present audit findings, toggling between spreadsheets, ERP systems, and regulatory databases. The work is deeply satisfying during busy season when everything balances perfectly, but the pressure of deadlines, especially around quarterly closes and tax season, demands meticulous attention and long hours.
Frequently asked questions
What does Accountants and Auditors do?
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others.
What does a typical day look like in Accountants and Auditors?
You start your morning logging into accounting software like QuickBooks or SAP, reviewing journal entries, and reconciling accounts before the daily requests start rolling in from managers and clients. A large portion of your day is spent analyzing financial statements, preparing tax filings, or auditing transaction records for accuracy and compliance, often cross-referencing regulations and internal policies.
How much does Accountants and Auditors earn?
The median annual salary for Accountants and Auditors in the US is $81,680. The middle 80% of workers earn between $50,440 and $132,690 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $62,200 and $101,360.
What is the job outlook for Accountants and Auditors?
The role is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 1,579,800 workers.
How do I become accountants and auditors?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Accountants and Auditors need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Writing, Mathematics, Speaking. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Accountants and Auditors?
Our AI-durability model gives Accountants and Auditors a score of 0.70 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Accountants and Auditors has very high barrier to entry — very highly gated — extended graduate education, licensure, or years of specialised training are required.
Is Accountants and Auditors right for you?
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