What is the salary and career path for a staff accountant?
Staff accountant is the entry-level rung of Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), the close-matching BLS code that houses it; the OEWS May 2025 median for the code is $83,680 a year ($40.23 an hour), but staff accountants sit nearer the $56,020 10th percentile early on, with the code ranging up to $144,090 at the 90th percentile for seniors and managers. BLS projects 4.6% growth for the code over 2024–2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 124,200 openings a year. The role starts with an accounting degree, and a CPA speeds the climb to senior and manager.
- Staff Accountants earn a national median $83,680/yr ($40.23/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2011); the top 10% clear $144,090.
- Staff accountant is the entry rung of Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011); new staff sit nearer the $56,020 10th percentile than the code median early on.
- BLS projects 4.6% growth for the code through 2034 — about average — with roughly 124,200 openings a year.
- Pay runs from a new staff accountant near $56,020 to an accounting manager or controller at the $144,090 top decile, with the CPA as the accelerator.
Career Path
How do you become a staff accountant?
Staff accountant (entry)
Recording entries and reconciling accounts, a new staff accountant starts near the $56,020 10th percentile.
Staff Accountant
Owning full reconciliation and close support for an area earns toward the $83,680 code median.
Senior accountant
Owning the close and financial reporting pushes pay toward the $109,810 75th percentile.
Accounting manager / controller
Managing the accounting function reaches the $144,090 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays staff accountants the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2011. National median: $83,680. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does staff accountant pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles staff accountants most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: staff accountants rank 3 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +4.6% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly staff accountants clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2011 (staff accountants) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do staff accountants need?
The standard entry credential for a corporate staff-accountant role. See all state licences →
The AICPA/state-board Certified Public Accountant credential that speeds advancement from staff to senior and manager.
The IMA credential valued in corporate and cost-accounting environments.
Demonstrated command of GAAP and the month-end close expected as staff mature.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do staff accountants use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-2011
Salary Levers
How do staff accountants earn above the $83,680 BLS median?
CPA progress
Starting or completing the CPA moves pay off the $56,020 entry band toward the $83,680 median.
Full-cycle close ownership
Owning reconciliations and the close for an area lifts pay toward the upper percentiles and the senior tier.
Advancement to senior and manager
Moving up the ladder pushes pay toward the $144,090 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a staff accountant worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-2011. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Staff Accountant Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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