Accounting Degree Jobs and Salary

01Accounting degree jobs by education level

Accounting is unusual among business fields because the line between degree levels is sharp. The table shows the main accounting degree jobs and the education the BLS lists as typical for entry. Pay is the May 2025 median; outlook is projected change from 2025 to 2035.

The pattern: roles open to people without a bachelor's are shrinking as software automates data entry and reconciliation, while roles that require judgment, analysis and a bachelor's are growing.

02Accounting jobs with a bachelor's degree

A bachelor's in accounting is the standard credential for professional accounting work. Accounting jobs with a bachelor's degree fall into three main settings:

• Public accounting firms: audit associate (reviewing clients' financial statements), tax associate (preparing and planning business and individual taxes), and advisory roles. This is the classic route to the CPA and offers structured training and fast learning, with heavy busy seasons.
• Industry (corporate accounting): staff accountant, general ledger accountant, cost accountant, revenue accountant, internal auditor, and later senior accountant, accounting manager, controller and CFO.
• Government and nonprofit: government accountant, auditor at a state or federal agency, revenue agent, budget analyst, grant accountant.

Accountants and auditors are a very large occupation (1,595,200 jobs in 2025), so even moderate growth of 5% from 2025 to 2035 produces many openings, including replacements for retiring accountants. Typical first-year coursework that employers look for includes intermediate accounting, cost accounting, auditing, taxation and accounting information systems. Our accounting degree guide covers the full curriculum, and the online accounting degree page compares online formats.

03The CPA path and why it matters for pay

The CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license is required to sign audit opinions and is valued across corporate finance, tax and advisory work. CPAs generally advance faster and qualify for more senior roles, though we do not quote a specific CPA salary premium because no verified figure is in our data.

Education requirements are changing:

• Traditional rule: 150 semester hours of education, which is 30 more than a typical 120-credit bachelor's. Students often reach 150 through a master's in accounting, a combined bachelor's and master's program or extra coursework.
• New alternative: in May 2025, the AICPA and NASBA approved model legislation adding a second path: a bachelor's degree (120 hours) plus two years of experience plus passing the exam. A large and growing number of states have adopted versions, with effective dates through 2027. Check your state board through NASBA before planning your credits.

The CPA Exam has three Core sections (AUD, FAR and REG) plus one Discipline section you choose (BAR, ISC or TCP). For a full breakdown, see our CPA degree requirements guide.

Worked example: if you finish a 120-credit bachelor's in a state that offers the new path, you can work for two years under the experience requirement instead of paying for 30 more credits. In a state that still requires 150 hours only, you would need those 30 extra credits, about a year of full-time study, before licensure.

04Accounting jobs with an associate degree

Accounting jobs with an associate degree are mostly in bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, billing and accounting clerk roles. The BLS groups many of these as bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks, with a median of $50,670 in May 2025 and a typical entry education of some college, no degree. Common titles include:

• Full-charge bookkeeper at a small business
• Accounts payable or accounts receivable specialist
• Payroll clerk or payroll specialist
• Billing coordinator
• Junior accounting assistant
• Seasonal tax preparer

The outlook is the honest concern: employment in this group is projected to decline 6% from 2025 to 2035 as accounting software automates routine work. Because the occupation is large (1,532,400 jobs in 2025), openings still arise from turnover, but competition for them will rise.

The best use of an associate degree in accounting is as a launchpad. Choose a program designed to transfer into a bachelor's, so your 60 or so credits count toward the roughly 120 you need. Read how long it takes to get an associate degree and plan the transfer before you start.

05Accounting jobs with no degree

Yes, there are accounting jobs with no degree, including remote ones. Entry points include accounts payable clerk, data entry for accounting departments, payroll assistant, bookkeeper for small businesses and seasonal tax preparer. Employers in these roles look for spreadsheet skills, accuracy, familiarity with common small business accounting software and reliability.

Remote accounting jobs with no degree exist but are competitive, because location no longer limits the applicant pool. Certifications in bookkeeping or specific accounting software can help you stand out.

Without a degree, the ceiling arrives quickly. Earnings data shows why: in 2025, BLS reports median weekly earnings of $966 for high school graduates, $1,062 for some college with no degree, $1,135 for an associate degree and $1,578 for a bachelor's degree. Many people start in a clerk role and use employer tuition assistance (employers can provide up to $5,250 a year tax-free under Section 127, if they choose) to finish an online degree while working.

06Moving up: from bookkeeper to controller

A realistic progression for someone starting without a bachelor's might look like this:

1. Bookkeeper or AP/AR clerk while completing an associate degree or transfer credits.
2. Staff accountant after finishing a bachelor's in accounting, often at the same employer.
3. Senior accountant after a few years, handling month-end close and reconciliations independently.
4. CPA license via the 150-hour route or, in states that offer it, bachelor's plus experience.
5. Accounting manager, then controller, managing the close, financial reporting and a team. Controllers fall within the BLS financial managers group, with a median of $166,570 in May 2025.

The skills that accelerate each step are the same: accuracy, strong spreadsheets, accounting software, and the ability to explain what the numbers mean. If you want to compare accounting with adjacent paths, read finance degree jobs or the broader jobs with a business degree guide.